LifeSpeed launches CORE day program for adults with disabilities

LifeSpeed has launched the CORE day program to support adults aged 18 to 45 with developmental disabilities or cognitive disorders in Illinois. The program focuses on Community, Ownership, Readiness, and Empowerment to help participants transition after aging out of school-based care.

In Illinois, individuals with developmental disabilities lose access to school-based special education and transition services once they turn 22. While the Illinois Department of Human Services provides Medicaid waivers, the state's waiting list includes nearly 18,000 people, with an average wait time of four years for funding.

The CORE program utilizes therapists to work on social and life skills, independence, and community engagement. Founder Tony Russo noted that adult support services are often scarce or overly traditional, aiming to provide more abstract and meaningful engagement for those in the community.