There are a variety of other settings, sometimes referred to as "day activity centers" or "work activity centers" (WAC).  These settings might also be called adult day care.  The purpose of these "vocational" options is to give individuals with disabilities something to do with their days.  In most cases, the individuals are so disabled that they will remain in an activity center.  However, there are occasions where individuals do gain skill and are able to move into a sheltered workshop.

The state of California, for example,  has specific programs which seek to periodically evaluate individuals in activity centers to ensure they have the opportunity to move into less restrictive vocational settings.  These programs are motivated both by the desire to assist individuals to maximize their abilities, and to make them into tax payers.

I have a friend named Paul who spends a couple of days each week in a work activity center.  Paul's main problem relates to not being habit trained as an adult.  This resulted in him living where he lives and working in a WAC.  Each week when I see him, I ask, "How was work?"  He responds "It was fine."  I ask "What did you work on this week?" He responds "Plants."  I ask "What did you do with the plants?" He responds "We put them in pots with dirt and then we watered them."  "What colors were the flowers on the plants?" He responds either "I don't remember" or provides the color.  The discussion of work is the same as one would have with anyone who is working.  I ask about if the work is hard, or how many plants he did, or where the plants go, or does he like his job.  As stated elsewhere in these web pages, work to some level defines who we are.  Even if we are just transplanting plants, we want to be able to talk about our work, to have a job.  Nobody really wants to say, "I sit around the house and do nothing all day."

You can email Dr. McNair at jmcnair@calbaptist.edu

Copyright Jeff McNair/jeffmcnair.com