Coleridge Adult Training Program

Program Description

The Coleridge Adult Training Center is a day training program serving adults, age 21 and older, with developmental disabilities in workshop settings: weaving, music, woodworking, a bakery, three arts oriented workshops, and a maintenance skills and home economics workshop. Workshops meet Monday through Friday, 9:00 am until 2:30 pm. The program's emphasis is on helping trainees to view themselves as contributing members of the community, fostering independence and enhancing self-esteem. Pre-vocational activities in each of the workshops are designed to equip trainees with basic skills necessary for increased independence and for some trainees the transition to paid employment. Specific goals and objectives of each trainee are also integrated with weekly leisure and athletic activities such as, aerobics, eurythmy, and frequent theatre productions.

Community integration and involvement in the arts are valued highly at Coleridge, and trainees are encouraged to share their unique gifts with the community. Artistic mediums include acrylic, oil and watercolor painting, paper crafts of different cultures such as pinatas and paper mache, candle dipping, weaving, wood carving, baking, and the list goes on. At Coleridge, people with developmental disabilities are encouraged to set goals and to achieve them.

Target Areas

The target area for the Coleridge program is quite widespread including communities such as Pilsen and West Town, and spanning as far north as Belmont Ave. and as far west as Central Ave.

Clients Served

The trainees in the Coleridge Program are adults at least 21 years old with developmental disabilities ranging from mild mental retardation to profound/severe. There is no maximum age in the program, so our trainees remain in the program as long as they are physically able.

List of Services

Developmental training including:

• Self care skills
• Independent living skills
• Community integration
• Communication skills
• Assessments to determine individual needs
• Individual case management
• Nutrition program providing lunch
• Transportation services
• Art classes with professional arts facilitator

General Information