Our Residential Services department provides supports to individuals living in homes located throughout the community. This program provides 24-hour supports with an emphasis on maximizing daily living skills to achieve the highest possible level of independence. Our staff educate and support individuals in healthcare, hygiene, financial management, shopping, nutrition, cooking, meal planning, housekeeping, social skills, community awareness, laundry and clothing care, functional academics, transportation, recreation and leisure and communication.

Vocational Services

Our Vocational Services department provides adults with developmental disabilities the opportunity to learn the skills needed to gain employment and complete work contracts both within and outside of our facility. The Supported Employment component of our Vocational Services provides supports to businesses that employ people with intellectual disabilities.

Supported Independent Living

The Supported Independent Living program offers our clients the supports they require in their own homes in accordance with their individual needs. The degree and type of supports required are determined by the individuals themselves, their families, various service professionals and the individual’s Community Support Worker. Support can vary from a few hours a week to 24 hours per day. This program is similar to the Residential program in the supports it provides. Both the Residential and SIL programs are tailored to meet a variety of healthcare, behavioural and emotional challenges.

Transitions

The goal of our Transitions program is to assist young adults with a developmental disability to make a successful transition from school to the community. This program engages participants and their families in a self-directed process to access employment related training opportunities and explore linkages in the community. Our Transition Facilitator focuses on the individual’s strengths, needs and preferences and ensures each participant has an exit plan from the public school system.

Community Connections

The goal of our Community Connections program is to provide our clients who are retired or semi-retired with a place to gather during the day for socialization. We promote friendship, and offer a variety of crafts and leisure activities. Community Connections also aims to connect individuals with volunteers, thus allowing them to become active members of the Dryden community.

Video Conferencing Program

Our Video Conferencing Program assists every one of our programs currently in place by providing our clients with easy access to high quality psychological and psychiatric services from Surrey Place Centre in Toronto. Previously, our clients had to be driven to Thunder Bay, International Falls and various points west for this kind of assistance. Furthermore, our staff will now have readily available access to educational opportunities previously unavailable due to logistical constraints.

The Video Conferencing Program greatly improves the manner in which we provide services to the citizens of Dryden and the surrounding area. Both our clients and staff benefit a great deal from having previously inaccessible professional services and educational opportunities made easily accessible right here in Dryden itself.

CBC Interview with Executive Director, Michael Hull regarding Video Conferencing