Sattie Persaud dreams of going to college and then finding a paying job that uses computer skills. Greg Bates dreams of making his own decisions about daily and long-term activities. The UCP/NYC Day Habilitation Program (Day Hab) helps Sattie, Greg and 560 other adults with developmental and physical disabilities to make their dreams come true. They all benefit from a significant shift in UCP/NYC’s programming from a day treatment format to a more varied and creative day habilitation model. Day habilitation offers dynamic in-house activities that are closely linked to the broader community, an approach that reflects UCP/NYC’s strong commitment to including individuals with disabilities in their communities. A new funding opportunity from the New York State Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (OMRDD) enabled UCP/NYC to shift from day treatment to day habilitation in a way that benefits more consumers. Thanks to this enhanced funding, UCP/NYC designed programs more creatively, hired additional staff and purchased UCP/NYC vans that enable participants to explore their neighborhoods and interact with their community. All Day Hab participants work with UCP/NYC staff and family members to formulate a list of personal goals. Consumers then work with staff to design an individualized set of skill-building activities that will enable them to achieve these goals. Day Hab programs focus on eight core areas: Education, entrepreneurship, consumerism, volunteerism, cultural and aesthetic activities, physical fitness, spirituality, and - for individuals aged 60 and over - seniors’ activities. The education program includes classes that lead to a GED and courses on college campuses. Volunteer work at hospitals, schools and non-profits are part of the volunteerism program. A wide range of medical, dental and rehabilitative services are available to participants through the Article 28 clinic located at the Day Hab premises. These include: Primary medical and specialty care, speech, occupational and physical therapy, nursing, counseling, nutrition, orthotics, audiology, adaptive equipment, and assistive technology. Community outings give consumers a chance to practice skills as they enjoy the many resources that New York City and the surrounding areas have to offer, such as ballgames, dining out, visits to museums, day outings and overnight trips. Sattie was born in Guyana and immigrated to the United States with her family in 1983. She has mild cerebral palsy, is ambulatory and has been attending the UCP/NYC adult program for eight years. At Manhattan Day Hab she is acquiring the skills to help her reach her goal of finding a job in an office. She writes memos using Word and works on a spreadsheet with Excel. She is working on her penmanship and exercises her hand to make it stronger. “I try to write a lot so I can improve the shape of my letters,” she says. To help improve her reading skills, Sattie attends a literacy program at Day Hab, where she reads and discusses newspaper articles and books with others. Through the Day Hab program, she volunteers at the office of a realty company two to three times a week. For many participants, learning to travel around New York City is an important part of the program. Sattie enjoys going to the movies and to basketball games. Greg has already realized one of his dreams. He lives in his own apartment, an IRA (Individual Residential Alternative), where a Residential Program Specialist assists him with his daily living routines. Through the program, he volunteers one day a week at St. Vincent’s Hospital. But he is reaching for more. Non-ambulatory, with limited use of his hands, Greg depends on support from many people throughout the day. Nevertheless, he wants to be able to make his own decisions, from what he will wear and eat each day to what he will do and when. Staten Island Day Hab is helping Greg achieve his goals. Through speech therapy, he is improving his speech, so that others can better understand him. In occupational therapy, Greg works to maintain his strength, so that he can continue to feed himself and operate his wheelchair. Both Sattie and Greg are benefiting from UCP/NYC’s Day Hab programs that combine therapy and classes with “out-of-the-box” ideas. With its wide range of services, both at UCP/NYC facilities and out in the community, Day Hab increases the skills of the people we serve and brings them closer to fulfilling their dreams of a more independent life.