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STEP: DREAM PROGRAM
BY GRETCHEN STILL
Services To Enhance Potential (STEP) is a nonprofit organization which provides support and services to nearly 1,400 persons with disabilities and other mental health needs in Macomb and Wayne Counties. A major goal of Services To Enhance Potential is to increase the number of persons who are employed, self-employed, and volunteer in their communities. STEP provides and supports a variety of employment and self-employment options. We were founded in 1972 to bring an employment focus to individuals with a disability and have developed a strong reputation in the community for doing so.
This month we are showcasing our Dream program. An absence of community involvement is a common problem for adults with disabilities. Lack of options for community integration often leads to isolation, depression, and other health concerns. The Dream program was created to provide members with opportunities for them to explore their community. Dream offers a sense of community to members with barriers to employment or community opportunities to those already employed. Members are encouraged to attend community events, participate in volunteer opportunities, experience different cultures and try new leisure pursuits.
The Dream program encourages individual growth and attaining community skills. Each member gives input into what they would like to experience on a daily basis. Through these experiences, they gain self- confidence, social skills, and a sense of community. The ultimate goal of the Dream program is to bring STEP members together and provide them the opportunity to engage with members of the community, learn new skills, and discover different interests. Outings include day trips to Frankenmuth, Greenfield Village, The Henry Ford and MotorCity Comic Con, local zoos, parks, nature trails, bowling, apple orchards and cider mills, just to name a few.
For more information about the programs that STEP offers, please visit www.stepcentral.org.
