Adult Day Treatment (DTA)

Individualized day program for adults.

Our DTA is for adults with developmental disabilities age 18 and over and is funded through the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD). Consumers work on individualized goals with direct support staff and rotate through engaging environments that foster skill development. Our Academy Transition program is similarly structured which supports a smooth transition to this adult program if desired.

INDIVIDUALIZED GOALS

At L.I.F.E. we strive for the very best in day treatment programming. We use an established assessment tool, Assessment of Functional Living Skills (AFLS), to inform the creation of individualized consumer goals. We keep families in the know with regular reports on goal progress and do our best to attend planning meetings that are held every 90 days by a consumer’s DDD support coordinator.

AFLS 17 Skill Areas

Money Skills
Time Skills
Phone Skills
Health and Safety and First Aide Skills
Basic Communication
Social Awareness and Manners
Cooking Skills: Kitchen/Lunch Room
Meals at Home
Dishes
Kitchen Skills
Self-Management Skills
Leisure
Clothing and Laundry
Community Knowledge
Shopping
Eating in Public
Basic Mobility

INTENTIONAL ENVIRONMENTS

Unlike many other programs in the valley, we have multiple treatment areas for our adult day treatment program. In fact, we have 13 distinct treatment areas! Support is provided as needed by Direct Support Professionals (DSP).

DTE Intentional Environments Details

Cognitive Room

A space for activities that focus on cognitive skills. Supports Money skills, Time skills, Phone skills, Basic communication, Social awareness and manners, Self-management skills…

Game Room

A space for activities such as board games. Supports Social interactions, Coping skills, Turn-taking, Social awareness and manners, Self-management skills

Vocational Room

A space for activities focused on developing skills for the workforce. Supports Job-related skills, Social awareness and manners, Self-management skills…

Activity Room

A space for varied activities such as mindful movement, and art sessions. Supports many skills.

Kitchen

A kitchen with multiple fridges, cooking appliances/utensils, and seating for 20. Supports Food prep skills, Eating skills, Social awareness and manners, Self-management skills…

Social Room

A space for consumers to participate in leisure activities such as watching television and playing the Wii. Supports Leisure skills, Social awareness and manners, Social interaction skills, Self-management skills

Mock Bedroom

A space set up as a bedroom. Supports Independent living skills…

Young Adult Game Room

A dedicated space for teens and young adults including multiple game systems, foosball, and air hockey. Supports Leisure skills, Social interaction skills…

Sensory Gym

A specialty room with equipment aimed at addressing sensory systems. Supports Self-management with sensory regulation activities, Leisure skills…

Laundry Room

A working laundry room with washer and dryer. Supports Laundry skills, Vocational skills …

Swimming Pool

A large outdoor shaded pool. Supports Leisure and health skills, Gross motor skills, Social awareness and manners, Self-management skills…

Sports Court

An outdoor area with multiple sports courts, specialty bicycles, and equipment. Supports Leisure and health skills, Gross motor skills, Social awareness and manners …

Garden

An outdoor space with raised garden beds and benches. Supports Leisure skills, Vocational skills…

Campus Environments Details

PROGRAM ENHANCEMENTS

Our DTA consumers also have the opportunity to participate in program enhancements like group music sessions, mindful movement sessions, art lessons, gardening and more!

COMMUNITY OUTINGS

Our consumers research and vote on where they would like to go each month. Past outings include going to the movie theater, grocery shopping, zoo, library, museums…

DTA LEADERSHIP

ASHLEY WATZKEDirector of Day Treatment, Transition, and Employment

About Ashley

Role:

As the Director of Day Treatment, Transition, and Employment Services I oversee a variety of programs within our organization. I train and assist staff throughout their day, I make great efforts to best support all staff so they can best serve our consumers. My job is not only to train and support our staff, but to ensure our programming is the best it can be.

Career History:

I have been lucky to work in different settings since August of 2008, serving children and adults with developmental disabilities. I have been with L.I.F.E. since July 2013 where I started as a habilitation provider in the community and then later in the adult program on campus. I quickly fell in love with the values, morals and support L.I.F.E. offered to not only the consumers but also to staff. I felt privileged to become and serve as a teacher in the academy, later growing into Student Services Supervisor. I’m lucky to serve on our Leadership Team, with many other individuals.

Personal Teaching Philosophy:

“Love what you do and never work a day in your life”

– Unknown

Personal:

I have been married to my best friend for almost 8 years now and when we are not at work, you can find us chasing around our crazy wild daughters. In 2015, while I was teaching pre-school within the L.I.F.E. Academy, I had a student that at the time was in search of her forever home. Little did I know this little girl would become a huge part of my husband and my life. We adopted her in 2017 and she is now our daughter! As a family we enjoy weekends at home hanging out with our family and going camping when we can! We absolutely live for football season and the Arizona Cardinals; we won’t miss a game.

RENEE VALENCIADTA Administrative Supervisor

About Renee