• sits, crawls, stands, or walks
• babbles, talks, gestures
• feeds, dresses, drinks from a cup
• plays with others, smiles, expresses feelings
• thinks and solves problems

Some of the services offered by Early Intervention are:

• Service Coordination
• Physical Therapy
• Occupational Therapy
• Speech Therapy
• Special Instruction
• Family Trainer
• Assistive Technology

Early Intervention provides developmental evaluations and individual therapy sessions, as well as parent training.  Sessions may be provided in the home, your child's daycare, or in the mother's day out program.  We also offer outpatient services at the Marion Bankhead Grant Center.

EARLY HEAD START

Early Head Start works in conjunction with UAB to provide inclusive center-based childcare for one, two and three year olds for an eleven month period.  Priority is given to families who fall below the poverty level, families at risk of abuse, mothers of a certain age and children with developmental delays.  Specialized services are offered for children with special needs.

REACH PRE-KINDERGARTEN

The purpose of the Pre-K program is to prepare 4-year olds in Walker County for 5-year old kindergarten.  Children are taught the necessary building blocks to prepare them for the years ahead.  Enrollment is first come, first served and is not financially restrictive.  Cost is $25.00 per week but assistance is available if the family is eligible.

ADULT SERVICES

The overall purpose of The Arc of Walker County is to promote the general welfare of persons with cognitive, intellectual, and developmental disabilities.  All programs, goals, and objectives are organized toward this goal.  The focus of all training is intended to assist the individuals to reach their maximum potential in every area of their lives.

Eligibility for adult services includes a primary disability of mental retardation.  Additional developmental disabilities must be secondary to the diagnosis of mental retardation.  Applicants must, as measured by an adaptive behavior instrument, have sustained functional limitations in at least two major skill areas.

DAY HABILITATION

The purpose of the Arc of Walker County Adult Day Habilitation Center is to provide intensive habilitation training in a variety of areas such as self care, self direction, receptive and expressive language, learning, and the capacity for independent living.  The overall goal of the program is to assist individuals to become as independent as possible in every area of their lives. 

Through training in activities of daily living, done both one-on-one and in groups, consumers may learn to prepare a meal, clean a room, use a washing machine, and balance a checkbook.  Staff support and encouragement provides consumers daily opportunities to increase self esteem and a positive self image.

SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT

Our Supported Employment Program is an effort to increase the placement of capable, dependable workers into competitive jobs.  Each individual in supported employment will be accompanied by a job coach, whose responsibility is to become thoroughly familiar with the job and the employer.  Job coaches then provide the intensive training and support the employee needs in all aspects of the job. 

Supported Employment is dedicated to provide the best possible services not only to our consumers but also to their respective employers.  We offer careful job matching, analysis, assessments, and training as needed.  As a result, the company/employer and the program provide the opportunity for individuals who are mentally and physically challenged to become productive, confident members of our community.

We believe that work is an essential part of life that should be available to all.  Supported Employment is an opportunity for individuals to continue to successfully intergrate into the community, to interact with non-disabled individuals, and to contribute one's skills in the workplace.

All consumers deemed potential candidates for supported employment must first go through Vocational Rehabilitation for eligibility determination.  A meeting will be set up with the Rehabilitation Counselor for any needed testing to determine eligibility by the funding source.

RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM

Consumers with cognitive, intellectual, and developmental disabilities, who cannot live alone or with their families, for whatever reason, rent a home and share expenses.  The Arc of Walker County provides 24 hour care in the home to enable these individuals to live in the community, as independently as possible with supports.  The Arc of Walker County provides these support services.  Our consumers receive care and assistance with every aspect of their daily living, such as meal preparation, medication administration, health, safety, doctor's appointments, transportation, etc.  As well as receiving care with everyday living issues, each individual has a training plan tailored for their needs to help them learn things that will help them be as independent as possible.  Training occurs in their home each day.

Many of the individuals we serve have no family, so the individuals with whom they share their home and the employees of The Arc of Walker County are their family.  Without this "family," many of these individuals would have to remain in an institution or in a group home setting, without the freedom of being part of the community.

The Arc of Walker County assumed management of six residential homes in December 2001.  Today we have eleven homes and serve more than 30 individuals.

SEMI-INDEPENDENT LIVING

With The Arc of Walker County's Semi-Independent Living program, consumers benefit from a wide variety of activities and services.  Individualized plans are developed depending upon the wants and needs of a particular consumer.  These services may include socialization in a variety of environments, assistance with shopping, financial management, and activities of daily living at home.

Companions assist in the home with daily activities when needed, but also assist with intergration and adjustment into their community.  Sometimes, companions are just a shoulder to lean on while developing new friendships.

Our continuing goal is to provide assistance and opportunities to increase independence, enhance community involvement, and help each consumer to improve their own quality of life.

Applicants for companion, personal care, and semi-independent living must meet the same guideline for admission to other Arc adult programs.