Community Day Services

About

Little Friends Community Day Services program seeks to provide adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities with meaningful ways to spend their days. Our program provides individuals with opportunities to pursue a variety of personal goals and lead empowered lives.

Community Day Services Program, Spectrum Vocational Services, has provided individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities the opportunity to achieve personal goals for nearly 50 years. This Community-Based Program provides a variety of programming opportunities that allow individuals to choose from activities that they consider meaningful to develop an individualized experience that best meets their needs.

Services are based on each individual’s preferences and support needs. This can include group and individual programming designed to address personal and social needs through skill acquisition and participation in a variety of experiences. Group and individual programming can take the form of daily living skills instruction, recreational activities, and educational groups that include fitness groups, music appreciation groups, or self-directed discrete skills tasks

Individuals are supported in accessing all of the amenities of their community through community engagement opportunities that are offered on a regular basis.

What is the Dignity in Pay Act?
The Dignity in Pay Act is an Illinois law that sunsets the payment of subminimum wage for individuals with disabilities in Illinois. Subminimum wage work will end on December 31, 2029. With the passage of this legislation, Little Friend’s goal is to help the individuals we support earn competitive wages, build skills, and be part of their community in ways that feel meaningful to them.

How does this impact Little Friend’s day programs and the work that is performed? Little Friends will be phasing out the Production element of our Community Day Services program. Individuals currently working on piece rate or subminimum wage production work will transition into other aspects of our day services or competitive integrated employment if they so choose.

Little Friends is committed to supporting those we serve throughout this process. We understand the importance of the structure and purpose that this production work has provided for individuals. Our staff will help those we support to assess their interests and guide what path they might take. We will transition thoughtfully and provide support every step along the way.

When this work ends in the program, what will happen instead?
Although we are still working on our transition plans, the intent is for the program to provide alternatives to center-based work. Current programs in development include the following:
Assistance in obtaining and maintaining jobs in the community for those interested in a job in the community
Development of meaningful day opportunities that connect individuals to volunteer and other opportunities in the community that are meaningful to the individual. This could include assisting an individual to join a community group, connecting to volunteer opportunities, researching and exploring a specific hobby or interest, etc.
Recreation and socially based activities focused on fun while building and maintaining friendships with peers
What about transportation?
We will continue to provide transportation services to and from the day program services as they currently operate. For those individuals seeking a job in the community, access to reliable transportation to and from work will be part of the job search process. Transportation to and from a community job is typically not a funded service.

Will you continue to be open Monday through Friday for my family member?
Yes. We do not anticipate any changes to our days and hours of operation.

Are individuals with disabilities expected to get full-time jobs in the community?
Community employment looks different for every individual. Some individuals may want to work full-time, while others may want to work less. Work opportunities depend on a variety of factors, including where an individual lives, the types of employers in the local community, etc. We also recognize that some people don’t want to work in the community, and that’s okay, too.

How will staffing change at the day programs?
Staff duties will undergo some changes as we move away from center-based work opportunities to meaningful day activities. We also know that additional training will be needed to help them adjust to the changes. This training will be part of our transition plan.

We recognize that these changes in our adult programming represent a significant transition for those we support and their families. This shift may bring up a range of emotions and questions, and we want to assure you that our team is here for you every step of the way. As we reimagine our service model, we look forward to fostering open conversations and keeping you regularly updated with relevant resources and information.

Enrollment & Funding Process

Eligibility

Those who attend our program have a diagnosed disability and would benefit from a communal environment; generally behave in a manner that does not endanger the safety of others or disrupt the program; are independent enough that one-to-one staff assistance is not required; must have third-party funding or be able to accept responsibility for program fees.

Access to Services

Little Friends Community Day Services program utilizes the Illinois DHS-Division of DD Medicaid Waiver, Services for Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD).

Register on the waiting list (PUNS) through your Independent Services Coordination agency. The PUNS list is a waiting list for Medicaid waiver funding to pay for services, provided through the IL DHS Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD). Individuals are selected from the PUNS waiting list and invited to apply for DD Waiver services. The Independent Service Coordination Agency is the “doorway” to PUNS and funding for services

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