These programs focus on building practical skills that support success in everyday life. Through activities that strengthen organization, decision-making, and personal responsibility, participants develop confidence and problem-solving abilities that carry into daily routines and responsibilities.
This instructor-led course looks at how people speak up in everyday situations and how information moves through common processes. Through structured group instruction and guided discussion, participants learn how to figure out who to go to, how to organize what they want to say, and how to follow the steps that help an issue get addressed. Content highlights that when people learn how to address the issues that affect them, it can also improve outcomes for others in similar situations. The course also looks at how working with groups you’re aligned with can strengthen shared efforts and make it easier for those voices to be heard within established channels. Lessons are intentionally scaffolded to support ongoing skill development and continued learning from term to term. Each session builds upon previously learned concepts while introducing new advocacy concepts, strategies and learning opportunities.
This instructor-led course explores how shared activities create opportunities to connect and stay involved over time. Developing friendships as an adult can be harder than expected, especially when routines are more screen-based and independent, so this course focuses on how in-person connections begin and grow. Through structured discussion and guided planning activities, participants practice starting conversations, noticing everyday social cues, and taking part in group experiences. The course also looks at how people find group opportunities and what supports ongoing involvement. Offered in a group format and time-limited by semester.
This instructor-led, group-based course introduces participants to local businesses, organizations, and public resources throughout the Rochester area. Through guided visits, informational tours, and guest presentations, participants learn how these entities serve the public and how their services are organized. Content includes observing different environments, learning about the roles that support daily operations, and discussing how people connect with organizations in their community. Structured activities may include practicing how to ask questions, complete common forms, and take part in typical information-sharing conversations. The course is offered in a semester-based format.
This instructor-led class is designed to help participants develop the cognitive and self-management skills needed for success in school, work, and everyday life. Through structured lessons, interactive activities, group discussions, and real-world practice, participants will learn strategies to improve organization, planning, time management, emotional regulation, and independent decision-making. Lessons are intentionally scaffolded to support ongoing skill development and continued learning from term to term. Each session builds upon previously learned concepts while introducing new strategies, activities, and executive functioning skills at an appropriate pace.
This instructor-led course introduces foundational personal finance concepts encountered in daily life. Through group instruction and guided examples, participants examine budgeting frameworks, banking systems, credit, common financial terminology, consumer awareness, and how financial decisions are structured within modern economic systems. Content focuses on understanding financial tools, safeguards, and decision-making frameworks rather than individualized money management or personal financial planning. As financial topics become relevant at different points in life, some participants choose to revisit the course in a later semester to focus on concepts that are newly applicable. Lessons are intentionally scaffolded to support ongoing skill development and continued learning from term to term. Each session builds upon previously learned concepts while introducing new financial concepts, strategies and learning opportunities.
This instructor-led course introduces key concepts related to relationships in social and community contexts. Participants engage in group discussion and guided examples to examine communication patterns, boundaries, and how relationships are shaped by media, culture, and social environments. Topics may include social media, dating representations, and identity in public discourse. The course emphasizes understanding relationship concepts in a group learning setting and is time-limited by semester. Healthy Relationships class utilizes a scaffolded curriculum designed to provide ongoing learning, skill development, and reinforcement of key concepts over time. Lessons are carefully structured to build upon previously discussed topics while introducing new concepts, perspectives, and real-world applications each term.
This instructor-led course offers a more detailed examination of foundational concepts related to independent living, personal safety, and community participation. Through structured group instruction and guided discussion, participants explore budgeting concepts, housing options, time management, decision-making models, and how campus and community resources are coordinated and used within broader systems. Instruction emphasizes understanding how independent living systems, supports, and safety considerations function and interact, rather than practicing individualized daily living or safety skills.The curriculum is intentionally scaffolded to support ongoing learning and skill development. Foundational concepts are introduced first and reinforced through practice and discussion before more advanced topics are explored. Each term expands upon previously learned material while introducing new concepts, resources, and learning activities related to housing, finances, and independent living.
This instructor-led course provides structured lessons to strengthen planning, organization, task initiation, follow-through, and completion of real-world responsibilities. This time-limited course includes modeling, guided practice, role-playing, visual supports, structured routines, and real-life application. Participants learn practical tools that support decision-making, problem solving, time management, and greater confidence in managing daily routines.
This instructor-led community-based educational class is designed to promote safety awareness, personal responsibility, and informed decision-making while fostering positive connections with local first responders and community resources. This class provides opportunities for participants to ask questions, learn directly from safety professionals, and develop confidence in recognizing and responding to a variety of real-world situations. Topics may include personal safety, emergency preparedness, fire safety, responding to emergencies, interacting with first responders, community resources, and strategies for staying safe at home and in the community.
This instructor-led class focuses on helping participants develop a clear understanding of social boundaries and how they impact relationships in everyday life. Through structured lessons and interactive activities, participants will learn to recognize personal space, appropriate physical contact, and verbal communication across different settings such as school, work, and the community.Topics will include identifying safe vs. unsafe interactions, understanding consent, respecting others’ boundaries, and expressing one’s own boundaries in a confident and appropriate manner. Participants will also explore social cues, body language, and the differences between public and private behaviors. The class will use role-playing, group discussions, visual supports, and real-life scenarios to build practical skills that promote independence, safety, and positive social interactions. This service aligns with Self-Direction goals by enhancing community integration, interpersonal effectiveness, and self-advocacy skills.