Tailored Day Services
A Bridge When the Usual Path Does Not Fit
Sometimes a person has clear goals, but the traditional service system does not offer an obvious pathway that matches what they need right now.
That is where Community Life may use Tailored Day Services.
Our TDS model is individualized and provided 1:1. It is not a site based day program.
We use TDS as a bridge when another traditional service pathway is not yet available or does not adequately fit the person’s current goals.
Depending on the person, that bridge may support progress in areas such as education, access to community, or employment exploration.
Access to Community
For others, TDS may help create a bridge toward greater community participation and independence.
Support may include learning to navigate transportation and community resources, building routines, strengthening social competency, and gaining confidence in real community settings connected to the person’s goals.
Education
For some people, TDS may provide a bridge while they pursue college, vocational training, certification, adult education, or another learning goal.
Support may include organization, scheduling, navigating educational environments, communication, self advocacy, executive functioning, and other skills that help the person participate more successfully and independently.
Built Around Direction
TDS should have a clear purpose.
We work with the person and their team to understand what they are trying to accomplish, what is getting in the way, and what progress would help open the next pathway.
That may include building skills, gaining experience, increasing confidence, exploring options, or preparing for a more defined service or opportunity.
Participation in TDS is not the outcome.
The goal is movement toward what comes next.
Employment Exploration
TDS may also provide a bridge toward employment when someone is not yet ready for, or does not yet have access to, a more defined employment service.
This may include exploring different kinds of work, identifying interests and strengths, gaining exposure to workplaces, and developing a clearer employment direction.
When the person is ready to move into a more appropriate employment pathway, we work with them and their team to support that transition.
Moving Toward the Next Pathway
Community Life does not view TDS as a destination service.
When another pathway becomes available and is a better fit, we work with the person and their team to support that transition.
That may mean moving toward Community Living, employment services, education or training, another regional center service, or a different support model.
Sometimes the right outcome of TDS is that the person no longer needs TDS.
Our responsibility is not to keep someone in a particular service. It is to help the person move toward the support and opportunities that best fit their life and goals.
1:1 and Community Based
Community Life provides Tailored Day Services individually, 1:1.
Support takes place in the environments where the person is learning, participating, exploring, and building toward their next step.
That may include educational settings, community locations, workplaces, transportation, or other real life environments connected to the person’s plan.
How to Access Tailored Day Services
Tailored Day Services are accessed through the regional center IPP process.
Community Life can help explain our 1:1 TDS model and whether it may be appropriate when another traditional service pathway does not currently fit.