United Way Donor
Choice #02962
About Us
Social interaction is at the heart of the human experience. Yet, some of the simple activities many of us take for granted — a ride on the bus, a trip to the store, a phone call from a friend, a meal at a restaurant — are significant accomplishments for men and women with developmental disabilities.
Adults with Developmental Disabilities, Inc. (ADD) helps make these accomplishments possible. Organized in 1973, ADD is a social, recreational, and educational group for individuals with developmental disabilities. We give our members the opportunity to meet with people their own age, while simultaneously helping them become productive members of the community.
Sessions
These are the cornerstones of the services offered by ADD. They are held in three strategic locations (Main Line, Elkins Park, and Springhouse) allowing members from all over the Tri-county area to participate.
The Rap Sessions provide an opportunity for members (ages 20 and up) to identify and resolve concerns, discuss peer interaction and gain socialization skills. Members bring questions about friends, family, work, relationships, finances, intimacy, religion, etc. to these sessions.
Most of our members have no other source of information and support outside of their families. The Rap Sessions provide a safe environment for our members to learn and make friends. This also provides a sense of relief for their families, who know that their adult child has his/her own friends and a solid support system.
Supervised Community Recreational Activities
ADD's members appreciate the same pastimes as others in the community. The weekly outings to concerts, sporting events, theaters, movies, etc. help to enrich our members' lives. At these outings, others see our men and women behaving appropriately and enjoying the same events they do; helping to break down stereotypes and build community awareness.
In addition, our members are able to practice their skills in listening, following directions, working together, and learning to communicate with others beyond the safety of the Rap Sessions' sheltered environments. With time these skills help to enhance our members' self-esteem and increase their ability to become active members of the community.
Follow Along Advocacy Services (FAAS)
This service helps our members to successfully make the transition from comprehensive family support to reasonable independent living.
Those to whom we provide supported living assistance have jobs and are able to transport themselves to work and other places. However, they would be unable to live independently without ongoing guidance and training.
Our FAAS worker sees each client for approximately one hour each week. In addition, members are given a task to practice between visits that further develop their sense of independence and fine-tune their life skills.
Job Power
Work is an essential element in the lives of people with developmental disabilities. Members learn how to become "employable" at weekly meetings that take place in conjunction with Rap Sessions.
With the responsibilities of employment come feelings of pride and accomplishment. The socialization and camaraderie of co-workers enhances their self-esteem while the tasks of job performance expand their physical and mental capability. Through Job Power our members share these feelings with one another, trade tips for finding employment, lend encouragement to their friends and receive guidance from a facilitator.
Crisis Intervention
This is individual counseling for members with significant needs that cannot be addressed within the context of Rap Sessions. These members meet with a facilitator on an individual basis to work on a personal goal plan that will allow the member to build his/her self-confidence and help guide them through a crisis situation.
Seminars
Seminars that are open to the public are held throughout the year and are advertised throughout the community. Past seminars have featured speakers on estate planning and independent living, sexuality, AIDS, focusing on the future, family driven support services, the funding stream of the future, and social security entitlement benefits and incentives.
How to Become a Member
Click here for membership application information.