Community Integration

Accessing the community is the core element of integration. CIWP provides skills training in performing basic community-based tasks as well as any specific community activities a participant desires to learn. Community integration training is done in community locations. These activities are meaningful for the individual participant and focus on the skills necessary to be independent in a variety of settings. Common scenarios include ordering food at a restaurant, planning a trip with use of public transportation, utilizing library resources, managing personal finances through interactions at the bank, planning and completing shopping trips, and remaining safe and aware while accessing the community as a pedestrian.

Example: A participant at CIWP has a goal of being more independent in the community with his friends, he would receive skills training in planning and taking the bus to a restaurant, ordering at the restaurant, and paying for the meal. This would involve sitting at a computer to plan a rout, finding out how much the bus costs, and taking practice trips until he is able to go through all of the steps independently. The support team would continually assess the participant’s needs and encourage him to access the community independently as soon as he can do so safely.