One of the services Spurwink’s Adult program offers is Community Support Services. The purpose of community support services is to provide individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism opportunities to engage in their communities. Spurwink’s programs operate Monday through Friday with variable hours.
Since our merger with Community Partners in January 2018, the breadth of options and locations of services has expanded, with locations in Limerick, South Portland, Biddeford, and Westbrook. Current clientele range in age from 20 to 92! Funding is provided through Maine Care Section 21 or 29, or private pay funds.
Our programs meet very diverse needs. Some participants benefit from structure, consistency and routine adapted to their unique sensory needs; others enjoy more variety and independence.
The primary focus of this service is partnering with community members and being part of the community. Sharing the pool or exercising at a community center, visiting shops, bowling, going to parks, and traversing public trails are only a few of the options.
The programs in Biddeford and South Portland offer a variety of volunteer options for participants who like to “give back” and feel good about their contributions. For example, some participants shop for elders who can’t leave their homes, which has fostered mutually beneficial relationships – one woman invites her shoppers to her home every summer for a backyard picnic! A group from Biddeford has been volunteering at a local hospital. Other volunteer activities include helping with Meals on Wheels, visiting The Cedars Nursing Home, and assisting at Ruth’s Reusable Resources.
We also have others helping and learning from us. For many years, the Westcott Road program has hosted a senior student from Cheverus High School whose community service project is part of his/her graduation requirements. Participants of the program and the seniors have really enjoyed this engagement.
