Vista Life Innovations

Engage program - offers longterm, community-based services and support for individuals with disabilities who live along the shoreline towns in south central Connecticut. Engage members may come from Vista's discover program, home settings or other residentially based programs. Individuals in the engage program receive support and training as needed, choosing from a menu of services designed to flexibly meet their needs in the areas of Life skills, employment, case management, and recreation. Life skills and counseling supports are provided both one on one and in group settings to allow for the member's development of self awareness, individuality, self esteem, competence, resilience, coping skills, optimism about their future, and increased autonomy.

Day programs - day programs are geared towards individuals living near the local communities we serve. They are designed for those ready and seeking structured, supported daily activities that promote productivity, friendship, and community involvement. Vista day programs include: connect -provides daily activities in a scheduled routine, structured to fit the needs of each person. Connect through art -visual arts-based day program that takes participants deeper into creative projects and different creative platforms. Drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, and other artistic areas are included. New heights is a post-secondary day program located in pawcatuck, ct that offers students the opportunity to grow through experiential learning such as gaining employment while also achieving personal success. The program is designed for neurodiverse young adults aged 17 and up who have demonstrated self-care, medication and behavior management, and decision making skills. The curriculum-driven instruction is provided in five core training areas: vocational training, post-secondary options for training and education, community integration, Life skills, cognitive and social behavior.

Discover program - running 365 days per year, this program provides a college-like experience and features curriculum driven instruction in four core skill areas - cognitive/social, Life skills, community involvement and vocational exploration. Instruction is designed to progressively build skills over time with the average student graduating within a 25-year window. With over 75 community-based vocational partners, the discover program is designed to provide a student with a wide variety of vocational experiences culminating with paid employment prior to graduation. Graduating students possess the skills needed to live independently in the local community and, through shared experiences, have broadened their peer connections with access to wide variety of long-term Vista programs and all that the local communities have to offer.

Quality of Life - all our students and members can access additional services for their enjoyment and to enhance their quality of Life. We offer a wide array of recreation, fitness, and social clubs to students and members with common interests. On average, our students and members have the opportunity to participate in around 15+ activities or clubs each week, which translates to about 30 hours of structured recreational services.