We all know and understand that at some point our children will not be able to live with us. Finding the best residential facility becomes an emotional task for parents with children with disabilities. This task can be daunting and is in no way easy but there are certain things parents should look for when looking for a good residential facility.

What to look for when visiting

Once you have decided which facilities to visit let’s talk about what you should be looking for in each facility. This may vary by opinion, but I’ve found most parents are looking for the same things for their student.

1. Safety of the facility
   1. Where are the doors located?
      1. Can you student easily get out while no one is watching?
      2. Does your student elope and therefore the doors need to be constantly monitored?

• Are there alarms on the doors just in case?

1. Are the cameras?
   1. You have to decide if you want a facility that has cameras up.
   2. If there are cameras, how do they work?

• Can you log in to see the days activity or are they there just in case of an incident?

1. How is the furniture arranged?
   1. Is it easy to get around? Is it cluttered? This is important for students who are in a wheelchair or who do not walk very well on their own.
2. Are they full staffed? You want to make sure that your student is going to be safe and looked after and a facility cannot accomplish that if they do not have the staff.
   1. Will the staff be able to handle the number of residents at the facility?
   2. How are they vetted and hired?

• How are they trained?

2. Structure
   1. Is there a plan in place for the residents of the facility?
      1. How is the day structured so your student will not just be sitting around with nothing to do?
   2. Look for schedules on the walls or with the residents that you see there. If you do not see anything, ask for it.
      1. Are there activities or outside events throughout the week?
      2. Will your student be able to do the activities?

• Is there a schedule that includes everyone’s needs?

1. How will the facility cater to the needs of your student? Come prepared with a list of questions that is tailored to your child.
   1. Does your child have medical needs that will need to be addressed? Is there an onsite medical person that is trained to administer medication?
   2. Do they have restroom needs that will need to be addressed?

• Do they provide breakfast, lunch, and snack? You know your child!

1. Is the place clean? You want to make sure that the place is tidy but remember that if you are visiting during the day, there is a chance there is some sort of mess and that is ok.
   1. Look for overfilled trash cans, food laying out that looks old, and visit the bathroom to see if it is clean.
2. Opportunities – What are the opportunities for your child to be out in the community?
   1. Does the facility provide job coaching or shadowing in the community?
   2. Are there recreational opportunities for the residents do to do things? Activities such as going to the park, the movies, grocery shopping or swimming?
   3. If this is a new facility is there a future plan to add these opportunities?

You are the best one to advocate for you child and you know them the best. If you have a bad feeling just politely say thank you and leave. Not every facility is appropriate for every child and that is ok. You want the beset facility for your child that will be safe but also provide continued opportunities for learning.  

Do you remember when we talked about the process to go through regarding questions to ask when choosing a residential facility? Well the process is similar here when you are preparing to meet and talk with your student’s job coach. The key is to be prepared in what you want to accomplish in the meeting! What are you looking for?

Questions to Ask

Questions are always good to ask but you need to be prepared for all the answers, even the most difficult ones. Not every student should have a job coach and not every student will always need a job coach. Be prepared to go the direction that is best for your student. Here are some general questions that I have been asked about job coaching.

1. What is your role as a job coach?
   1. To start a job coach is here to assist the student in identifying possible jobs within the community.
   2. A job coach is not there to do the job for your student. So, if you student is unable to meet the basic requirements of the job position, it is probably not the right job for them.
   3. A job coach is there to assist the student in learning the position so they can eventually do the work with minimal assistance.
   4. Your job coach should discuss other topics as well:
      1. Hygiene
      2. Building a resume

• Conduct mock interviews

1. Social Skills
2. Meeting with both your student and you on a regular basis

2. How will you support my student at the job site?
   1. Again, remember the job coach is there to support not do the work. They should be able to identify the job duties based on a job description provided by the company.
   2. Customize the position for the student. Job coaches should be able to speak to employers and tailor the position to better meet the needs of the individuals. Companies that consistently work with students with special needs will understand this and are willing to help. If a company is not willing to budget or assist, it is probably not the best company to have your student work at.
   3. Answer questions regarding the position. The job coach should be able to answer your student’s questions regarding the position and help them work through any issues that may arise.
3. What happens if there is an issue at work?
   1. The job coach is also responsible for talking to the employer regarding any issues that may arise at the workplace.
   2. Issues such as calling in sick or going home sick. Your job coach should be able to discuss these issues both with your student and with the employer.
   3. Teaching your student how to deal with unexpected issues is also another responsibility of your job coach. We all know and understand that things happen at work that are unexpected.
4. What happens if the employer has concerns?
   1. Your job coach is there to discuss any issues that may arise and answer the questions from the employer.
   2. Your job coach should also be there to assist the employer in working with your student and getting to know them.
5. How often are you available?
   1. Your job coach should be there at the beginning of each job assignment for your student. Depending on the level of independence, your job coach may leave the job site to go visit others or remain at the job site to assist your student.
   2. Don’t expect your job coach to be available 24/7 but they should be accessible during the time they are with your student.
   3. Meetings should take place regularly with your job coach and this should be discussed at the initial meeting as to how often you will meet. Please do not expect to meet every week as that will take away from the job coach’s responsibilities at the job sites. Set reasonable expectations.

Congrats! You have taken so many steps to prepare your student for living and working as independently as possible. You’ve developed a vocational plan and you have found a part-time position, now what? Now, you need to work on preparing your adult for working, how to get ready, and what to do! This article is packed with helpful information to get you started. 

Pre-Workday Routine

All of us have routines that we live by on a daily basis and our adults with disabilities are no different! Some adults made needs visual reminders while others it is just practicing the routine over and over again. Do what is best for your child and develop that plan! Think about how you go about your day? What does it look like? What things can you not skip before going to work? Let’s talk about a simple pre-workday routine that you could implement!

1. Always have a hygiene plan in place! We all know that we have to go to work clean and smelling good.
   1. Are you clothes clean? Make sure that your child knows how to see if their clothes are clean. Some kids like to wear the same thing day after day and we need to teach our children that wearing dirty clothes, especially to work is not acceptable.
   2. Is your body clean? Showering everyday is a necessity in life, whether you work or not, but your child needs to know and understand that they cannot go to work with body odor.
   3. Are your teeth clean? Teach your child that brushing two times a day will not only keep their teeth healthy but it well also have them smelling minty fresh when they go to work!
2. Morning Routine – When I was teaching, we always had a morning routine that we followed. First, we would all have breakfast and then we would all follow our hygiene plan. It is just as important when you are at home to have this morning plan. Now this may seem a little daunting, but some students need specifics.
   1. Wake up!
      1. Turn off the alarm
      2. Turn on lights
   2. Make your bed
   3. Get your cloths out and check them, are they clean? Do they smell clean?
   4. Take a shower
      1. Make sure you wash your hair
      2. Make sure you clean your body

• Make sure your nails are clean

1. Get dressed

1. Cook and eat breakfast
   1. Clean up after yourself
2. Brush your teeth
3. Brush your hair
4. Pack your lunch
5. You are ready for work!

This routine really can vary depending on your child and what their needs are. Your schedule maybe longer and even more detailed with pictures or yours maybe simpler. The important thing is you need to develop a schedule that works best for your child.

Our mission is to provide a day activity center that continues to deliver innovative and individualized programs to advance the achievement and knowledge for adults living with disabilities in the areas of vocational, life, and social skills.