In Episode 17 of the Community Rec Magazine Podcast, Sarah McCutcheon, the disability inclusion director at the JCC Milwaukee, and Lisa Jamila Wuerth, the assistant director of community day programs at the Down Syndrome Association of Wisconsin, detail the JCC’s Wellness 360 program.
Specifically, the duo shares how the program is designed for adults with disabilities to learn skills and habits that build independence. Offered in partnership with the Down Syndrome Association of Wisconsin, participants work on wellness skills like independent exercise, mindfulness, hygiene, and practical skills like money handling, paying bills and more.
Enjoy!
Questions
Share about the Wellness 360 program for those who may not be aware.
McCutcheon: It’s a partner program that focuses on adults 18 and older. It’s a week-long program that meets a need in the community — adults with disabilities transitioning from high school to the world.
How did this program first come to fruition?
Jamila-Wuerth: An employee with the Down Syndrome Association of Wisconsin was working at a transition program within the local high schools and saw the lack of opportunities for these individuals in the program. She approached the JCC with this idea, and that’s when the partnership between the association and the JCC started.
Detail how the program was able to grow to a full, week-long offering.
Jamila-Wuerth: The wait list grew in size for the program, so there was clear demand in the community.
McCutcheon: The high school was previously utilizing the JCC’s spaces, so we were able to build a larger program once we saw the need in the community.
What advice do you have for other community rec leaders when it comes to providing services to disabled individuals?
Jamila-Wuerth: Look and see where the need is in the community first. That’s how you can truly make an impact with your offerings.
McCutcheon: Also, we found that if you really listen to the community’s input, your programs change all the time. It can be small changes, but they make such a large impact on the community.
