Raising Expectations for Students ages 14-21 with 
Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities

Educational Programs Build Self-Advocacy Skills:

Picture

  • Small group sessions led by Arc staff and community volunteers
  • Hands-on self-awareness activities to identify strengths and challenges
  • Group discussion about disabilities encourages communication and sharing
  • Goal development for future planning
  • Role-playing activities to build self-confidence and self-esteem
  • Take home projects become "talking tools" to express needs and wants

I'M EMPOWERED! Teen Mentoring Program:

Picture
Arc mentors help students set educational and employment goals....and make a PLAN to achieve them!
  • Assessment of students interests and needs
  • MAPS or PATH project to create a person-centered plan
  • Attend the students's annual Individualized Education Plan (IEP) Meeting with student and parents
  • Soft skill development through interactive activities
  • Exploration of volunteer and career opportunties
  • Collaborate with community agencies to provide needed services
  • Presentation of MAPS/PATH to parents and support team                                                 
Picture


MAPS​

Making Action Plan (MAPS) is a program presented to 8th grade students to support and assist them as they begin to think about their future. It is often the first opportunity students have to start thinking about their opportunities and potential. This activity encourages students to talk and think about who they are and what they like to do outside of school and responsibilities. Students can explore their creative side in the process. 
Picture
​PATH
 
The PATH program encourages students to talk and learn about themselves in a positive and empowering manner. It provides students the opportunity to explore and their goals and dreams. They are then share with their parents, friends and teachers who they are and what they want and hope for their future.   In the PATH program, the student and the individual administering the program discuss what the student’s strengths and weaknesses are, determine who in their lives will help them along their journey, establish what their dreams are, consider where they want to live and work.  Students take the time to explore who they are.  The goal of the PATH program is for the student to share with their circle of support who they are as individuals and what they want for themselves as they transition into adulthood. This project becomes a significant step for the student to become a self-advocate for themselves.
Picture
Pieces of Life
 
Pieces of Life is an activity that encourages the communication between students and the facilitator to talk about strengths as well as their weaknesses. The goal is for the students to understand everyone, regardless of disability, has talents as well as skills they struggle with. The activity utilizes four puzzle pieces. The blue pieces represent strengths and the green represents weaknesses. Once ideas are written on the pieces, the pieces are connected to represent the students.  The facilitator then has the students further evaluate their weakness and encourage them turn that weakness into a positive. For example, if the student states, “I struggle with math,” a positive viewpoint could be, “I struggle with math but I’m good at reading.” To emphases the impact of the activity, the facilitator completes this activity alongside the students. As a result, the students can relate more to the facilitator and recognize that everyone, even people without a disability, struggle with certain things in life. The goal is to reinforce the positive skills they possess and look at their weaknesses from another perspective
​
Picture
Tree of Life

Tree of Life was created to motivate students to think about themselves. It is an inspiring activity that gives students the opportunity to communicate out loud who they are, what their strengths are, what they like to do for fun, and what their interests are. Tree of Life not only gets students to focus on themselves, it also provides the opportunity to share with their classmates and friends who they are. As a result, others share the same interests or qualities that the presenting student might have building relationships and opening up opportunities to collaborate beyond the classroom.