Community Day Services (CDS)

Gateway to Learning provides daily life skills through training and programming that supports how each participant defines their own “meaningful day”. Beyond our work and beyond our homes we are called to be good citizens of our communities. To be actively included involves ongoing socialization and interaction with each other as well as being socially responsible for our neighbors.

Programming includes, but is not limited to community inclusion and activities, culinary arts and kitchen skills, self-advocacy and self-expression, home living skills, social-emotional education and engagement, wellness and recreation, and hands-on experiences with our two social enterprises, Dorothy’s Sweet Shoppe and Barley’s Dog Biscuits. CDS programming runs weekdays.

While home life comes in many different shapes and sizes, one thing is clear: regardless of with whom or where we live, we are responsible for contributing to the welfare of ourselves, our family members or roommates, and our environment. The road to independence and participation in each individual’s home incorporates the acquisition of a multitude of skills. At Gateway to Learning, we provide hands-on experiential learning in our kitchens, mock apartment and housekeeping groups.

Ongoing lifelong learning occurs in classroom curricula that include daily exposure to in literacy and money management. Socialization, empowerment, and choice-making are highlights of the program, culminating in afternoon enrichment groups for music, work club, yoga, healthy choices, community outings, current events, sports club and self-advocacy. Being an engaged citizen also means being able to access all the great things that Chicago has to offer - sporting events, museums, unique neighborhoods, the lakefront, educational institutions, restaurants and retail businesses. At Gateway to Learning, we provide the support to be active in the community: riding public transportation, practicing decision-making and money management skills, supporting interactions with vendors, while also promoting social responsibility by giving back through volunteerism.

The extensive culinary arts program includes 4 commercial kitchens, a bakery and store front cafe, Dorothy’s Sweet Shoppe. Participants are involved in experiential learning and are taught to follow multi-step recipes, to properly use food sanitation guidelines as well as to operate machinery safely.  In addition to these food industry standards, participants learn social skills through interaction with peers, staff, and community members, while also learning to work as a team. Through this programming, apprentices receive the education and support to become active and contributing members of the workforce.

At Gateway to Learning Life Skills Instructors and Coaches provide programming that focuses on individualized career paths and work preparedness. Pre-vocational and pre-employment skills are developed and practiced, and attention is given to time management, attitude, personal appearance, quality of work and the ability to work with others.

Staff

Amanda Bulgrin, Community Day Services Director
Kevin Miller, Community Day Services Program Manager
4 Qualified Intellectual Disability Professionals (QIDP’s) fluent in English, Spanish, or Polish
19 skilled Direct Support Professionals (Life Skills Instructors and Coaches)