Developmental disabilities include a wide range of conditions, all of which affect either physical, learning, language, or behavior. These disabilities often begin during the formative period of a person’s life and can impact their daily functioning as they grow up. 

Supportive services for people with developmental disabilities are intended to bolster independence, promote personal growth, and foster community participation. These services often focus on helping individuals build both the basic and the instrumental Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), which include grooming and navigating transportation, as well as managing a budget. 

For adults who have developmental disabilities in the Eastern Idaho area, DWI provides compassionate, tailored support. Our Life Skills for Adults program helps these individuals thrive via structured, skill-based learning.

Self-Care

Independent daily living and personal well-being are founded in the development of self-care skills, which are not always as easy for people with developmental disabilities. Here are some of the skills our clients learn at DWI to help prepare them to take care of themselves:

• Daily hygiene: Skills such as brushing teeth, washing hands, and bathing are taught and practiced to encourage a daily hygiene routine and personal cleanliness.
• Dressing and grooming: Clients learn to select appropriate clothing, button shirts and other garments, and care for their hair with increasing levels of independence.
• Healthy eating: Participants will receive guidance in planning balanced meals, shopping for groceries, and preparing simple meals. These routines allow for the fostering of healthier habits and a greater level of personal independence.

With self-care development, individuals will gain confidence that can drive their personal growth in every other area.

Receptive and Expressive Language

Communication is essential for social interaction, safety, and self-expression. Growing in communication skills can help individuals with developmental disabilities have meaningful interactions with employers, medical professionals, servers, and more.

Understanding spoken language

At DWI, our program helps individuals develop listening skills and hone the ability to respond appropriately to others, including asking follow-up questions.

Expressive communication

We also teach and encourage non-verbal communication, enabling participants to express their needs, thoughts, and emotions clearly. Non-verbal communication may include:

• Use of speech and physical gestures
• Visual supports and social stories
• Communication apps and assistive technology

Individuals with developmental disabilities can build stronger connections and advocate more successfully for their needs using these tools.

Learning

Our learning-based services focus on building cognitive and practical life skills, primarily through structured, real-life situations. We emphasize: 

• Cognitive development: Enhancing memory, attention, and problem-solving capabilities, which can assist clients at home and in social settings
• Practical learning: Teaching individuals to follow multi-part directions, manage their time, and set achievable, meaningful goals

Our team emphasizes the benefits of repetition, consistent routines, and meaningful engagement to reinforce newly learned skills and encourage lifelong learning.

Gross and Fine Motor Development

Motor development is key to physical independence and participation in daily activities. 

Gross motor skills

Activities under this umbrella include walking, balancing, climbing and descending stairs, and participating in recreational sports and exercise.

Fine motor skills

DWI also helps individuals practice activities that require more delicate touch, such as writing, drawing, using utensils, and crafting, which help build precision and dexterity. These, along with gross motor skills, help to promote coordination, strength, and the confidence to complete everyday tasks.

Self-Direction

Promoting self-direction allows individuals to build autonomy and take a more active role in their lives. These skills include:

• Personal decision-making: Encouraging choice-making in routines and daily activities to build confidence in interactions with the broader community
• Managing emotions: Teaching emotional awareness and building strategies to assist with behavioral regulation
• Self-advocacy: Supporting the ability to recognize where help is needed, ask for it proactively, and follow structured schedules and plans

Building these skills helps to foster personal confidence and create greater independence in the long term.

Capacity for Independent Living

Independent living skills empower people to care for themselves and navigate their communities with minimal active support required. As they learn to deal with life situations unassisted, they will gain confidence that transfers to every area of their lives.

Home skills

Through a bit of training, people with developmental disabilities can learn to cook, clean, and understand basic home safety practices. Later on, they may learn home maintenance and how to make simple repairs without needing outside assistance.

Community navigation

Participants in our program learn how to use public transportation and access community resources, enabling them to participate more fully in society. In this way, they gain greater autonomy and become more integrated in their local environment.

Economic Self-Sufficiency

Economic self-sufficiency focuses on preparing individuals with developmental disabilities for a financially independent life and participation in the workplace. 

Money management

Budgeting, saving, shopping, and learning to use financial tools such as debit cards are foundational skills. Clients learn how to do all of these tasks, as well as track their spending, at DWI.

Vocational training

Readiness to enter the world of work is built through hands-on experience and structured support.

Community employment

Individuals are connected with real-world job opportunities that suit their skills. Extended work services offer vocational skills and employment opportunities at DWI, while our community employment services provide training for participation in the local economy. The skills learned in these programs can help develop lifelong independence and allow individuals with developmental disabilities to thrive.

Developmental Disability Services in Eastern Idaho

At DWI, adults with developmental disabilities are offered a comprehensive set of services that promote skill-building, independence, and personal growth. These services are rooted in compassion and structured to ensure that each individual's unique needs are met.

Whether they’re developing communication skills, learning to cook a nutritious meal, or training for a job, clients at DWI are supported every step of the way, and the results show in their confidence and aptitude. 

To learn more about how these programs could benefit your loved one, contact DWI today. We have locations in Idaho Falls, Rexburg, and Salmon for your convenience.

14 May 2025

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