Work Enrichment serves adults with multiple challenges who desire options for paid work, volunteer experiences, and opportunities for personal achievement. These services benefit individuals who succeed in a supported work environment. We provide support in many different areas, including work skills, community involvement, maintaining or improving communication and social relationships, and wellness. This includes hands on help with personal care, working, dining, and while participating in learning or leisure activities.
Paid/volunteer work
At Cottonwood Incorporated, we agree with Tom Pomeranz that Work builds self esteem and confidence; work changes perceptions of the community at large about people with disabilities. This is true whether individuals are providing paid work at our work center or taking on volunteer opportunities in the community. Work Enrichment offers individuals with more severe disabilities the opportunity for employment and community partnerships.
Learning and recreation
Work Enrichment weaves work and learning into individuals daily lives. Each work day includes several learning bursts of focused activity toward specific learning objectives in the areas of human interaction, movement, and sensory experience. Individuals also have access to enriched opportunities for learning, such as dance or ceramics class sponsored at The Lawrence Arts Center, music therapy, weekly trips to the Lawrence Public Library, and visits to local museums, galleries, and parks.
Daily Activities
Individuals are exposed to a variety of individual and small group learning experiences. A sample day include pursuing hobbies, creating art, working, maintaining or improving independent skills, exercising, gardening, volunteering and touring local attractions and businesses. Work Enrichment promotes productive, self-affirming daily activities.
Training
We provide essential skill training in support of individual Action Plans. Individuals may receive training in functional academics (reading and writing skills), self-care, personal and social adjustment, community awareness, leisure, recreation, work skills and physical development.
Retirement Enrichment
Retirement Services are offered to adults over the age of 62 who no longer want or need full-time, work-oriented services and who have been approved to enter services by the Admissions Committee. The Retirement center is located downtown which allows us to participate in a variety of community events. Retirement is open Monday-Friday from 8:00 am-4:00 pm. We offer a variety of services but focus on the following areas:
Leisure, Education & Recreation
Cottonwood Retirement Services provides extensive opportunities to interact with the community with visits to parks, the library, gardens, and community events. Activities at the Retirement center include painting, reading, cooking and baking, playing games such as bingo and dominoes, watching movies and participating in classes and educational events. Other opportunities include participation in the KU Music Therapy Program, volunteering at the KU Sensory Garden, a monthly library Book Talk program and an annual art show.
Wellness
At Retirement we offer assistance with daily exercise for those who wish to participate. Workout videos and equipment are available, and we offer regular classes on wellness and health related topics.
Social Activities
Retirement works to assist our participants to keep in touch with the people they care about, by e-mail, mail, and phone. We also take part in a variety of community events including lunches at the Douglas County Senior Center and classes through the Lawrence Art Center. We take regular outings to places throughout Lawrence and the surrounding area to go sightseeing or just to try something new.