Ala-Costa Center

THE MISSION OF ALA COSTA CENTERS IS TO PROVIDE EACH STUDENT OR PARTICIPANT WITH THE ACCESS, SKILLS, AND OPPORTUNITIES NEEDED TO BECOME SUCCESSFUL AND PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY, AND TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO HAVE SOME FUN ALONG THE WAY.

ADULT PROGRAMS - SEE SCHEDULE O

ALA COSTA CENTERS AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS OFFER SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN WITH INTELLECTUAL/DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES A FORUM TO ADDRESS AREAS OF ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL SUPPORT THROUGH ENRICHING ACTIVITIES THAT FOCUS ON STUDENT CHOICE AND AN ENVIRONMENT OF SELF-DETERMINATION, WHILE PROMOTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF SKILLS THAT WILL HELP PRIME SUCCESS IN LIFE. FAMILIES RELY ON ALA COSTA TO PROVIDE SERVICES THAT ENABLE CHILDREN WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES TO ACCESS A SAFE PLACE TO WORK ON INTERPERSONAL SKILLS AND ADDRESS COMMUNICATION BARRIERS WHILE ALSO BECOMING ENGAGED, ACTIVE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY IN WHICH THEY LIVE. THE PROGRAM CURRICULUM TARGETS INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS, MOBILITY SKILL TRAINING, COMMUNITY ACCESS, FINE ART, EXPRESSIVE/RECEPTIVE LANGUAGE SKILLS, SOCIAL SKILLS, AND SELF-DETERMINATION/ SELF-ADVOCACY. ALA COSTA CENTERS PROVIDES STUDENTS INDIVIDUALIZED HELP WITH SCHOOLWORK, OPPORTUNITIES TO FOLLOW THEIR OWN INTERESTS, EXPOSURE TO LEARNING ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF NUTRITION AND EXERCISE, AND TO ESTABLISH CONNECTIONS WITH PEERS AND ADULTS IN AN ENVIRONMENT OF SAFETY. IN ADDITION, PARENTS AND FAMILY MEMBERS ARE GIVEN SUPPORT AND TRAINING IN DEALING WITH THE FAR-RANGING AND COMPLEX ISSUES THAT IMPACT A CHILD WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND NAVIGATING THE SYSTEM OF SPECIAL EDUCATION. THE AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM SERVES STUDENTS AGES 5-22 WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES SUCH AS AUTISM, CEREBRAL PALSY, DOWN SYNDROME, INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY, ETC. PROGRAM HOURS ARE AFTER-SCHOOL FROM 2-6PM AND FROM 9AM-6PM ON SCHOOL CLOSURE DAYS (I.E. HOLIDAYS, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAYS) AND SCHOOL BREAKS - WINTER, SPRING, SUMMER. ALA COSTA CENTERS SERVE ALAMEDA AND CONTRA COSTA COUNTIES; SITES ARE LOCATED IN ALAMEDA AND BERKELEY.ALA COSTA CENTERS ADULT PROGRAMS SERVE STUDENT AGES 18-22 WITH INTELLECTUAL/DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (IDD) FROM THE BERKELEY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT AND NORTH REGION SELPA, THROUGH THE ALA COSTA ADULT TRANSITION (ACAT) PROGRAM, AND IDD ADULTS 22 YEARS OR OLDER IN THE ADULT COMMUNITY TRAINING PROGRAM (ACT), REFERRED BY REGIONAL CENTER OF THE EAST BAY.ALA COSTAS ADULT TRANSITION (ACAT) PROGRAM SERVES STUDENTS AGES 18-22 WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES FROM THE BERKELEY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT AND NORTH REGION SELPA. STARTED IN AUGUST 2009, ACAT IS A PERSON-CENTERED, COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAM WHICH FOCUSES ON SELF-DETERMINATION SKILLS, VOCATIONAL SKILLS, AND COMMUNITY INTEGRATION. THE ACAT PROGRAM EMPOWERS STUDENTS THROUGH A PROCESS OF MEASURABLE, EVIDENCE BASED INSTRUCTION IMMERSED WITHIN COMMUNITY BASED EXPERIENCES WHICH PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS TO PRACTICE SKILLS, GAIN EXPERIENCE, AND LIVE A MORE SELF-DETERMINED LIFE. ACAT IS A PERSON-CENTERED PROGRAM GUIDED BY INDIVIDUAL CHOICE AND INTERESTS, AND THE PRESUMPTION OF COMPETENCE. ACAT PROVIDES A SAFE SPACE TO TRY NEW EXPERIENCES WITH CONFIDENCE AND SUCCESS.ALA COSTAS ADULT COMMUNITY TRAINING (ACT) PROGRAM SERVES PARTICIPANTS AGES 22 AND OLDER, REFERRED BY REGIONAL CENTER OF THE EAST BAY. STARTED MAY 1, 2007, ACT IS A PERSON-CENTERED, COMMUNITY BASED PROGRAM WHICH FOCUSED ON SELF- DETERMINATION SKILLS, VOCATIONAL SKILLS, AND COMMUNITY INTEGRATION. LIKE ACAT, THE ACT PROGRAM EMPOWERS STUDENTS THROUGH A PROCESS OF MEASURABLE, EVIDENCE BASED INSTRUCTION IMMERSED WITHIN COMMUNITY BASED EXPERIENCES. SIMILARLY TO ACAT, THE ACT PROGRAM PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS TO PRACTICE SKILLS, GAIN EXPERIENCE, AND A PATH OF SELF-DETERMINATION AND SELF-ADVOCACY. ACT IS A PERSON-CENTERED PROGRAM GUIDED BY INDIVIDUAL CHOICE AND INTEREST, AND THE PRESUMPTION OF COMPETENCE. FOLLOWING THE SAME PRINCIPLES AS ACAT, ACT PROVIDES A SAFE SPACE TO TRY NEW EXPERIENCES WITH CONFIDENCE AND SUCCESS.

AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS - SEE SCHEDULE O