Day Services

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Making a future, beginning today

Since 1979, the YAI Network’s Day Services have been helping adults with developmental disabilities achieve their fullest potential for independence, individuality, productivity and inclusion in their communities. Today, we serve more than 1,200 people each day across 13 programs throughout New York City and Westchester County. We believe that each individual, at every age and level of ability, has the potential for growth and is entitled to the same dignity, respect and opportunities as all other members of society. Our day habilitation programs offer a variety of opportunities tailored to meet the interests, needs and values of the individuals we serve. To learn more about Day Services at the YAI Network, please contact YAI LINK, our information and referral service, at 1-866-2-YAI-LINK, 212-273-6182 or TDD 212-290-2787. Our information and referral specialists will happily assist you!

YAI believes that every person with a developmental disability is able to make meaningful contributions to his or her larger community. To this end, we center our curriculum around volunteerism. Through a wide range of volunteer opportunities at more then 170 non-profit organizations in our local communities as well as center-based community service projects, the people we serve learn fundamental skills in areas of self-awareness, communication, community safety, socialization, personal care, mobility, sensory integration and employment readiness. At the end of each day, our program participants leave feeling a great sense of pride knowing that they have helped others and have made a valuable contribution to their local community.

The 3 R’s: Reading, Writing and Real Life

At YAI, opportunities for learning and growth never end. We are committed to enhancing our participants’ functional academic skills to the fullest. The people we serve learn the skills necessary to be as independent and productive as possible. At our day habilitation programs, our staff teach people with disabilities reading, writing, math and computer skills – not in a classroom, but through day-to-day, real life experiences.

Each day, our participants are receiving hands-on training in

Money skills
Community travel
Clerical work
Utilizing public transportation
Computer use
Developing friendships
Functional reading skills
Problem solving
Community service
Personal care
Professionalism

YAI program participants learn the necessary skills that will allow them to integrate into their communities and continue to develop building blocks for future independence. Our model of programming, along with our partnership with parents, professionals, businesses and local community members, affords the people we serve the opportunity to do just that.

Paving the Road to Employment

Employment is one of the central activities in our lives. For people with developmental disabilities, the opportunity to work gives life new meaning and dimension. YAI’s Day Services is committed to facilitating part-time employment opportunities for adults with disabilities who have demonstrated the skills, motivation and level of independence to do so. Through a variety of blended services models (part-time day habilitation/part-time employment, internships, day habilitation without walls), we provide continual supports to pave the road to employment. These program participants are provided with job coaching, travel training and professional skills development. Hands-on supports and training are provided to meet each individual’s needs so that she will have the opportunity to obtain and maintain competitive employment. Our goal is that each person will develop the necessary skills to achieve his maximum potential for employment.

Employers of our participants include

Queens Extended Care Center
Walgreens
CVS
Polytech University
Heartland Brewery
Marshall’s
Material for the Arts
Barnes & Nobles

“Our lives should be valued not by what we take…but, by what we give.” Edgar Allen, founder of Easter Seals

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