Coleridge Achievements

In our Coleridge Adult Day Program, 94% of participants made progress or achieved their learning goals last year, and 100% achieved their mobility goals (things like motor skills, coordination and exercise). They’re learning and growing their skills in so many ways.

James is a participant in the Coleridge Adult Day Program at Esperanza Community Services. One day recently, he sat concentrating on a book that he had open to the first page. James said each word he saw, carefully but confidently, out loud. James was reading without help for the first time.  At Esperanza, James has built the skills that he has used to reach this goal. By working intensively with his instructor, James learned to identify letters and the sounds associated with each, as well as how to combine these sounds to create words. “Today my class goes to the Sea Park,” James said, reading from the book. “It has so many fish!” It’s a breakthrough when an adult learns to read.  When that adult has a developmental disability like James, the achievement is even more remarkable.

Roberto is outgoing and full of enthusiasm, but has had difficulty staying focused during tasks with multiple steps. In recent months, Roberto and his instructor have discovered that when he is helping others, he is better able to stay focused and complete the task at hand. This has led to a tremendous breakthrough – Roberto now leaves his classroom every day just before noon and travels, unassisted, to the kitchen across Marshfield Avenue where he picks up lunches for his classmates. This is a huge achievement for Roberto, and he feels like a hero when he brings lunch for his classmates.

John, a non- verbal adult who communicates through sounds and gestures, is now able to use picture-based communication to express himself to others.  Maritza, a participant who not long ago avoided interacting with others, now greets her instructor and friends with a warm smile and a friendly Hello!