Chronicle of a year-long effort to change the dynamic of a traditional day hab program

1. Moving From
(Crayons)
Toward Critical Thinking: Creating a Curriculum for
Habilitation© by G. J. Chapman, B. A., M.Ed., Ed. Sp.
Remember how much fun you had coloring with crayonsRemember how much fun you had coloring with crayons
when you were 5?when you were 5?
How many children dream of growing up to spend all ofHow many children dream of growing up to spend all of
their time doing the same things they did when they weretheir time doing the same things they did when they were
in Kindergarten?in Kindergarten?
Every child dreams of growing up and doing typicalEvery child dreams of growing up and doing typical
grown-up things that are stimulating and interesting.grown-up things that are stimulating and interesting.
Need help keeping your adult individuals stimulated andNeed help keeping your adult individuals stimulated and
interested while they are at day hab?interested while they are at day hab?
Read the account of an experienced habilitation professional’sRead the account of an experienced habilitation professional’s
year-long effort to move one facility “from crayons to criticalyear-long effort to move one facility “from crayons to critical
thinking” with therapeutic, meaningful activities that increasethinking” with therapeutic, meaningful activities that increase
skills in all domains.skills in all domains.
Purchase this stimulating volume that includes curriculum ideasPurchase this stimulating volume that includes curriculum ideas
and activities developed by an educator, writer, and expert in theand activities developed by an educator, writer, and expert in the
fields of MR/DD & behavior support to improve your day program.fields of MR/DD & behavior support to improve your day program.
Send a check or money order for $65 dollars to the address belowSend a check or money order for $65 dollars to the address below
along with your address and phone number OR save $25 byalong with your address and phone number OR save $25 by
having the book emailed to you and send $40 with your emailhaving the book emailed to you and send $40 with your email
address to-address to- G. J. Chapman
3411 North Detroit Avenue
Toledo, Ohio 43610
Allow 4-6 weeks delivery for postal deliver, 7-10 days for email.
VIEW TABLE OF CONTENTS, APPENDIX, & A SAMPLE
CURRICULUM FROM BOOK & PLACE ORDER SO YOU CAN
LEARN HOW TO MAKE THE LEAP FROM CRAYONS TO
CRITICAL THINKING USING THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITIES!

2. TABLE OF CONTENTS©
Preface
PART I: Crayons Were Therapeutic When you Were Five, But at Thirty-Five
They’re a Mindless, Meaningless Activity – So, Why Do Adults in Day Hab Programs
Color All Day?
Chapter 1: The Importance Being an Earner
Chapter 2: Time Travel (A Step Backward)
Chapter 3: Let Them Eat Crayons! (Jumping the Gun and Biting the Bullet)
PART II: “They Bring Their Own Crayons and Coloring Books to Work With Them – So,
How Do We Get Them to Stop Coloring, and If We Do Get Them to Stop, What do We
Do Then?”
Chapter 1: If You Can’t Throw Them Away, Find a New Purpose for Those Crayons
(Creating a Curriculum That Includes Crayons and Adult Coloring Activities)
Chapter 2: If They Can Color, They Can Cook, Sew, and Craft (Teaching Adult Daily Living
Classes and Entrepreneurial Enterprise)
Chapter 3: How to Teach Nutrition and Fitness and Save Lives (Teaching Complex
Concepts to Adults with Cognitive Disabilities)
Chapter 4: A Mock Election and a Real Parade (Making “Reality Shows” That Teach)
PART III: Who Has Time to Color? (Other Ways to Habilitate)
Chapter 1: A Daily Routine of Cognitive Development (Scheduling Learning)
Chapter 2: The Greeks Got it Right (Teaching Through Discussion and Problem-Solving)
Conclusion
Afterword
APPENDIX

3. APPENDIX©
Sample of Strength Building Exercise for Staff
Expanded Enrichment Activity Ideas
“Get Active Now Group Discussion Topics”* sample
“A Lot to do This Month:
1. Football Basics & Armchair Football
2. Jersey Day & Sports Bar
3. Cheers, Pep Rallies, & Half-Time Entertainment
SAMPLE CURRICULA
UNO Curriculum
Cooking Curriculum
Sewing on Buttons Curriculum
Citizenship Curriculum
Drama Curriculum
Arbor Day Curriculum
Production Floor Activity Book Plan of Action
1. Instructions & Sample Schedule
2. Newspaper Activities
3. Good Nutrition
4. Walk It Up Activities
5. Computer Keyboard Skills Training
6. Clean Up, Pick Up, Spruce Up
ZYATH™ Zeigler Young Adult Transitional Habilitation Program
Links to resources, newsletter articles with dates and topics
*compiled for county board as “Get Involved Activity Book”

4. Citizenship Curriculum© (developed and implemented in March
2008)
Goals
1. To improve knowledge of the political process
2. To understand the importance of voting
Objectives
1. Individuals will discuss current events concerning the upcoming Presidential
election.
2. Individuals will identify the two major political parties.
3. Individuals will identify the people running to be the candidate for each of the two
major parties.
4. Individuals will choose a candidate from the ones named in the previous
discussion and vote at a designated time and place.
Activities
1. Individuals in each area will discuss the Presidential election and answer the
following questions:
a. What election is coming up this fall?
b. How often do we elect a President?
c. How many people run for President?
d. How are the candidates selected?
e. Who is running for each of the two major parties?
2. Individuals will discuss voting, identifying it as one of their rights as citizens.
3. Individuals will participate in facility-wide voting if they choose to and will
follow directions on when, where, and how to cast their vote.
Evaluation
Individuals who voted will discuss how they felt voting in the mock election and what
they think about the results.
CITIZENSHIP DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE:
WE ARE CITIZENS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
WE DON’T NEED A PASSPORT TO GAIN ACCESS.
WE ARE NOT TOURISTS, VISITORS, OR GUESTS.
WE ARE PARTICIPANTS WHO WORK AND LIVE HERE.
WE DON’T NEED TO BE INTEGRATED OR MAINSTREAMED.

5. ALL WE NEED ARE THE SKILLS TO LEARN HOW TO BE MORE INDEPENDENT AND
INFORMATION ON HOW TO ACCESS THE RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO ALL
CITIZENS HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

6. ALL WE NEED ARE THE SKILLS TO LEARN HOW TO BE MORE INDEPENDENT AND
INFORMATION ON HOW TO ACCESS THE RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO ALL
CITIZENS HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY.