Community-BasedAdult Day Program


Designed for Individuals
with Special Needs

Learning happens
where life happens

Support worker helping two individuals with special needs

Community-Based

Person-Centered

Real-World Learning

1:2 Support

Young adult in the Ariya program watering a plant

Living and LearningFrom and In the Community


Ariya is a community-based Adult Day Program (ADP) that helps young adults build confidence and develop real-world skills. Rather than focusing only on classroom instruction, the program emphasizes inclusive community experiences, such as baking, practicing daily living tasks, developing self-advocacy skills, and participating in work experiences.

Our goal is to support each individual in expressing their choices, strengthening independence, and building meaningful relationships with peers within the program and with people in the broader community.

  • The program is designed to be engaging, practical, and tailored to each young adult's path toward independence.
  • The program serves adults with autism and other intellectual and developmental disabilities.
  • We provide individualized support in a safe and inclusive environment, focusing on community integration, vocational exploration, independent living skills, self-advocacy, communication, social development, and recreational activities that build confidence.
  • As our young adults may have extensive support needs, we offer a one-to-two support ratio.
  • For individuals with additional behavioral needs, trained behavior specialists collaborate with staff to implement positive support strategies that encourage participation, independence, and skill-building throughout all aspects of the program.

Beyond the Classroom,Extensive Community Experiences


Two young adults practicing a routine together at a table

Live

Practice everyday skills in meaningful routines.

Young adult working on a laptop with a mentor

Work

Explore contribution, work habits and vocational interests.

Group walking together outdoors in the community

Connect

Build communication, relationships and confidence in the community.

Six Pillars forGreater Independence


Each participant's schedule can be shaped around goals, strengths, preferences and support needs.

Young adult cooking and preparing food in the kitchen

Independent Living

Baking, budgeting, shopping, cleaning, laundry, planning and daily routines.

Young adult exploring workplace and vocational skills

Vocational Exploration

Job sampling, workplace habits, soft skills, volunteer and work experiences.

Young adult practicing community navigation

Community Integration

Navigation, transportation practice, local businesses, parks and community resources.

Young adult practicing self-advocacy and communication

Self-Advocacy & Communication

Choice-making, asking for help, expressing preferences, social communication and confidence.

Peers building social connections together

Social Development

Peer relationships, teamwork, shared activities and meaningful community connections.

Young adult practicing recreation and wellness activities

Recreation & Wellness

Movement, fitness, art, leisure, nature, games and age-appropriate recreation.

Sample Day: A Day With Purposeand Room for Choice


A consistent daily rhythm combines independent living, community participation, work exploration, wellness and personal choice.

Young adult boarding a school bus

7:45 AM

Transport
Pick Up Time

Group walking together outdoors

8:00 AM

Walk & Outdoor
Activity

Young adult using a tablet with a mentor

8:30 AM

Academics & Digital
Skills in the Classroom

Young adults preparing vegetables together

9:30 AM

Independent Living &
Self-Advocacy

Young adult baking with a mentor

10:30 AM

Community & Vocational
Experience

Group sharing lunch together

12:00 PM

Lunch
in the Community

Young adult bowling

1:00 PM

Recreation, Wellness &
Personal Choice

Young adult stepping off a school bus

2:00 PM

Transport
Drop Off Time

Sample Week: Learning, Workand Community Woven Together


A practical weekly rhythm repeats essential skills while rotating real-world experiences across community settings.

Sample week chart showing how daily skill blocks and community experiences rotate from Monday to Friday

Sample Month: A Month That BuildsSkills Through Repetition and Variety


A practical, flexible month of real-world learning and community participation.

Sample month chart showing how weekly themes and community outings vary across four weeks