Our Adult Day Program is designed to explore the possibilities of nature and sustainability-based micro enterprises for adults with developmental disabilities. Each day holds time to learn and practice nature-based and sustainability vocational skills through projects such as urban agriculture, nature crafting, repair and recycling, etc. Each day also holds space for time in nature, the development of mindfulness and self-regulation skills, and the opportunity for the bonding of friendships and community building.

Finding meaningful work is a normal part of the journey of teenage and adulthood. For many people with developmental disabilities such as Autism and Down Syndrome, especially those that are more severely affected by their disability, this part of their life journey may never transpire. The unemployment rate for people with severe disabilities in Alberta is 74%.*

We are curious to see if an environment, that is different than what we mostly experience in today’s world; that is joyful, that celebrates unique interests and skills and builds on those interests to transform them into community-based micro-industries; an environment that is calm and slow-paced, where breaks, downtime and social time are not seen as inefficient but as an act of wellness can change the trajectory for work and people with developmental disabilities.