Guiding Principles

Ability Specialists applies all of our Guiding Principles through situational learning, most often using group recreational activities and community contact.

Personal Relationships

Many individuals with cognitive disabilities have difficulty forming personal relationships outside their families. We encourage friendships between participants and offer a framework for those friendships to grow both inside our programs and outside the group setting.

We help participants better interact with others by promoting comfort with one's abilities and disabilities, a sense of humor, self determination, conversation skills, respect for self and others, a core sense of security and other vital interpersonal skills.

Community Relationships

Integration into the local community is an important part of our process. We teach skills that allow participants to feel comfortable in the community and, in turn, help members of the community feel comfortable with them. Through group outings, we use situational teaching to illustrate assertiveness, interactive skills, appropriate public behavior and job skills.

Safety Skills

The safety of our participants is paramount. Individuals with cognitive disabilities are often either too trusting or too wary of others. We help participants better integrate into the community through an understanding of who they should trust and how much they should trust them. The process helps participants develop boundaries, practice money management, learn relationship skills, improve hygiene, increase awareness of surroundings and comprehend transportation safety.

Teamwork Skills

Being a team player is an important characteristic for any contributing member of society. We instill teamwork principles to help our participants improve problem-solving skills, gain a sense of belonging, consider the needs of others and enhance job skills.