OUR MISSION
Our Vision
For so many adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, it is very difficult for them to maintain a job or a social schedule without a family member or aide with them at all times. This becomes exhausting and defeating for families. While there are many groups in our community that offer occasional activities, I have not found anything that provides what I am looking to offer our friends. My adult day program will offer consistency, continued education, friendship, exercise, job training, life skills, and a place of belonging. It will meet the needs of those who are ages 18 and older, who have an intellectual or developmental disability, and can participate in a group setting with minimum to mild support.
Founder: Erin Long
Hi! My name is Erin Long. I have lived in Wilmington for 27 years. I have been married to my wonderful husband Jonathan for 15 years and we have two beautiful children, Brighton (8) & Grady (5). And let’s not forget our fur baby Maddie (14), Border Collie/Lab Mix of perfection! My hobbies consist of traveling with my family, working out, long walks on the beach, reading, and drinking yummy coffee!!
I am a UNCW graduate with my degree in Special Education. My heart led me to this career because my brother Brian (42) has Down Syndrome. After graduation, I pursued my career as a special education teacher at Codington Elementary in the SDA-FA classroom for 8 years. I then had my first child and chose to take some time to be at home. As the kids grew older, I worked with other adults and children with disabilities within my home and private school setting. Now that my children are both school age, I am ready to pursue my passion and dream for Wilmington’s IDD community by starting a day program!
As a special educator and sister to a brother with Down Syndrome, I have had a front row seat into the life of children and adults with IDD and how it affects their families in both positive and difficult ways. I am ready to open the doors to a program that will strive to meet the needs of so many of my friends in this community whose needs go unmet. I cannot wait to see so many familiar faces and meet new ones along this journey.
How it Works
Adults with disabilities are able to find jobs in our community but unfortunately they are often not full time and they typically require an aid to be with them. So what are they and their families supposed to do on days that they have nothing? My adult day program is a solution to this problem. We will offer a 5 day a week program from 9AM-2PM. What makes us different from other programs is our adults can sign up for however many days a week they need. For some it may be 1-2 days and for others it may be all 5. Possible activities during our day:
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Gathering & Social Meeting
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Volunteer in community
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Cooking
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Daily Life Skills
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Shopping trips to the Mall & Grocery Store
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Healthy living education
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Exercise Classes
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Eat Out & work on social and money skills
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Movie Field Trips - Work on social and money skills
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Field trip Days
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Visitors & volunteers from our community to present
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Game Days
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Book Club
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Personal Goals & Education
Program Costs $50/Day - Some field trip days will require extra cost but they will be posted on the calendar. Students will bring lunch every day except Tuesdays lunch will be provided at the Activity Center for $5 & Fridays we will go out to lunch!
How You Can Help
To make this program possible and affordable to an underserved community I will need to rely on generous grants and local donors. If you are interested in donating please click the link below. It will take you to FBC Church Donation Page. You may choose WAVES Day Program under the "Fund" tab. Your donation will go towards creating scholarships for students who would be unable to attend otherwise. Thank you for taking the time to consider supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in our community.