Do you know someone with a developmental disability who is looking to build independence and develop skills to prepare for a job in the community? If so, the Life Skills Development program at Goodwill’s James O. Wright Center for Work and Training (JOW) may be the answer.
This program is designed to help individuals with a community employment goal on the path to work. This two-year program is structured according to the Specific Natural Ability Program (SNAP) curriculum; our experienced Skills Instructors offer person-centered small group and one-on-one training in academic, functional, and vocational skills. Another key facet of the program is hands-on reinforcement of the curriculum during daily trips to various locations in the community.
Participants and staff in Life Skills also enjoy taking time to give back to the community that supports us and Goodwill’s mission. In between skill-building classes on the JOW campus and hours spent working and learning in the community, we continue to develop our volunteer partnership with the Guest House of Milwaukee, a homeless shelter which has been in operation for over 30 years. Our participants plan a bi-weekly grocery shopping trip with Skills Instructor Rebecca T. and purchase supplies to make sandwiches for the men who utilize the Guest House’s services. So far in 2015, we have provided 500 meals for this shelter. Staff and participants are proud to volunteer our time to an organization which has been recognized as a Service Enterprise by the national service organization Points of Light, the world’s largest volunteer service organization created in 1989 by President George 
H. W. Bush. According to the Points of Light website, a Service Enterprise is “an organization that fundamentally leverages volunteers and their skills across all levels of the organization to successfully deliver on its social mission.” We are looking forward to further developing this partnership as well exploring other meaningful contributions and learning opportunities as part of Life Skills Development programming.
For more information about the Life Skills Development Program on Milwaukee’s north side, please contact Nichole Uecker at (414) 847-4927 or Kelli Smalley at (414) 847-4928. For information about the program on Milwaukee’s south side, contact Nicole Michalak at (414) 847-1991 or Tammy Stewart at (414) 847-1993.
