Why Next Steps?
For many young adults with special needs, life after school can leave them with nowhere to spend their days. Employment may not be an option, and parents need to be able to work. For many of these young adults more training is needed to increase their independence.
At TASK, we have a program that can meet this need. In 2017, we launched TASK- Next Steps. Our program is built around activities in the areas of life skills, social skills, pre-vocational and communication skills, self-help skills and overall education and independent living goals.
Since 1996, TASK has provided social, athletic and recreational programs to individuals with special needs. We believe that building skills leads to higher self-esteem, and this belief carries over to our adult day programming- TASK Next Steps.
Who can enroll?
This program is designed for adults aged 21 and over. All applicants must go through the application process to make sure we can meet his or her needs
Where is the program located?
Next Steps is run out of our facility in Fenton, Missouri. Participants occasionally leave the campus and practice life skills and social skills in the community.
A typical day in our Next Steps program…
A typical day at Next Steps is structured to foster growth in independent living, social, and job skills. We begin each morning by discussing current events to stay informed about what’s happening in the world. Our daily morning meeting includes reviewing the schedule and exploring the National Day, often a fun and lighthearted topic like “Talk Like a Pirate Day.”
Throughout the day, participants engage in social interaction activities designed to improve communication skills and reinforce social norms through simple games and group activities. Throughout day, we rotate through specialized group stations:
Vocational Station – Focused on developing job skills.
Cleaning Station – Emphasizing the importance of maintaining a clean and organized space.
Sensory Station – Incorporating sensory activities to support regulation and well-being.
Reading Station – Encouraging literacy and imaginative thinking.
Daily physical education (PE) provides opportunities for movement and exercise through a variety of engaging activities. Additionally, we offer weekly art, music, and science classes, which allow participants to explore creativity and hands-on learning in an engaging way.
Throughout the week, participants take part in structured lessons on various topics, including current events. We also incorporate self-choice time, encouraging independence in leisure and recreational activities.
Our goal is to create a supportive and dynamic environment where participants build essential life skills while having fun and staying engaged!
Outings and Community Involvement
Multiple times a week, the participants will go out into the community. Sometimes they will go out to eat at a restaurant to practice the self-help skills necessary to order food and pay their bill. Other times they may be visiting local businesses to learn about what they do, or volunteering at another nonprofit in the area. We also will take the participants out for recreational activities such as bowling or hiking. This gives the participants the chance to practice their life and social skills while also being a member of the community.
Length of Program
The program runs 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM Monday through Friday. We meet from August 1 to May 31.
How to be a Part of Next Steps
