Record last updated 2023/01/09 Comment on this info .Update this info

Narrative

By working in partnership with students, families and school systems in Southeastern Massachusetts, the Building Futures Project offers a menu of services and flexible supports to help prepare students for adulthood: Person Centered Planning, Career Exploration and Job Placement, Community and Life Skills Building, Continuing Education and Friendships. Services and supports are customized for each student to help them move closer toward reaching their vision for the future.

The services we provide include:

(1) Person Centered Planning – It is never too late or too early to plan for the future. Some form of planning is involved in most of our important life decisions: where to work, should I go to College, where do I want to live, how do I want to spend my spare time? Person centered planning is a way to assist people with disabilities to plan for their future and to help the student start to answer some of these questions. With the support of family, teachers, friends and neighbors we help the student identify what they want their “dream” future to look like and what steps need to happen to start working towards these goals.

(2) Career Exploration and Job Placement – The key to finding a good job is careful planning and selection. For some people it may require observing and trying out different jobs in local businesses. With these experiences, students gain greater insight into their own work preferences, interests and strengths. Once suitable employment has been found, on the job training will be done by the employer with the assistance of project staff. We pride ourselves in finding jobs where students have the same access to the same pay and benefits as other workers.

(3) Community and Life Skills Building – This component of the project will focus on teaching students the skills and providing the supports to be participating members of their communities. For some it could be learning how to operate a bank account or use an ATM machine while for others it may be learning how to go grocery shopping, prepare a simple meal or use the local bus system.

(4) Continuing Education – It is important that all of us have opportunities to further our education. Learning does not stop once you leave school. The project offers support to students to explore post secondary opportunities that exist at community colleges and with adult continuing education classes.

(5) Friendships – For all of us friendships often start because two people share a mutual interest. The school years are an important time to start strengthening these relationships. Students receive support in exploring the different after school clubs, organizations and interest classes that exist in the community with the idea of meeting other young people who share the same interests.

Service Types

• Case Management
• Schools - Day
• Skills Training
• Socialization Activities

Program Type

• Education
• Transition

Populations Served

• Autism Spectrum
• Developmental Disability
• Intellectual Disabilities

Ages Served

• 14 - 18
• 19 - 22

Accessibility Features

• Accessible Parking

Additional Information

• Fees: Free Service, Personal Funds