New Jersey Day Programs: Working as a Team to Meet Individuals’ Goals

“Where you start is not as important as where you finish.”

These words by American author Zig Ziglar continue to inspire Dungarvin I.S.P. Coordinator Donn Zeigler. In the past year, he has been responsible for the development of strategies, objectives and activities to enable consumers receiving day habilitation and soon-to-be pre-vocational services at three Day Programs in New Jersey. “What makes our Day Programs so special is that we have a diverse population of individuals we serve and an even larger diversity among our staff from various parts of the world,” believes Donn. “That diversity crates an opportunity for a higher level of learning for the individual, like learning new languages and developing a greater tolerance for other cultures, often without even knowing it!”

“I work with a team of Program directors, Area directors, Behavioral Support Specialists and other staff to develop and implement the right mix of Day Program activities as well as to evaluate skill acquisition and the behavior reduction plans of those individuals we support,” says Donn. “We have well-trained staff who care about our individuals’ needs and are always seeking ways to help them reach their goals.”

Take Jimmy, for example. For months he has been working on a bird house kit he wanted to put together. “This activity helps Jimmy reach many of his goals, such as building self-confidence, focusing on a task and completing it,” shares Donn. “Jimmy put it together himself and chose to stain it rather than paint it. I believe that Jimmy can later translate these skills in independence and project management into the community, giving him valuable feelings of greater self-sufficiency and independence.”

Donn referenced a smorgasbord of opportunities and activities that individuals in New Jersey can experience at one of the Dungarvin Day Program. From fun arts and crafts, to useful everyday life skills, to technology know-how, to cooking for oneself, to self-sanitization skills, even furthering ones academic career. “We meet our individuals where they are, but we do try to help prepare them to be individually self-sufficient and to help them to reach achievable goals that they or their families/caregivers hope to accomplish.”

“We absolutely try to get our individuals out into their communities, so that might include day trips, bowling, movies, museums, libraries, parks, even attending different sporting events if the individuals enjoy that particular activity,” Donn continues. “Because New Jersey is itself so diverse, we have a little bit of everything here, so our Day Programs reflect that diversity and it ends up providing so much more to the individuals served and staff as well. For example, we incorporate a lot of music in our programming – everything from the American genre to Latin to South African – and we host parties for people to enjoy and learn from one another while experiencing community.”

To offer these Day Program activities requires anywhere between 15-17 staff at each program. “That may seem like a lot, but we serve approximately 50 individuals at each location, and we are always looking to welcome new qualified staff to our team!” In New Jersey, Dungarvin has Day Programs in New Brunswick, Marlboro and Rancocas. If you live in New Jersey and are interested in Day Program services, or joining the Dungarvin team, please contact our Sommerset office at 732-463-7227.