Recreational Programs

A primary emphasis of North Center is to get our citizens out into the local community as much as possible. Toward this end they make regular trips to community stores, libraries, park districts, bowling alleys, Orchestra Hall, museums, restaurants, and community events.

Recreational programs consist of an After-School Program and a Saturday Program.

The After School Program is designed to provide after school care and recreational activities to teenagers and young adults who are developmentally disabled and who attend a variety of different special education programs in the city of Chicago. It assists families with working parents by providing late afternoon programming. This also helps reduce friction between the individuals and any non-disabled siblings. It assists with the individual development of these clients by giving them increased opportunities for social development. This program also emphasizes getting our consumers out into the local community as much as possible. They make frequent trips to community sites and cultural attractions.

The Saturday Recreation Program has the same types of goals and objectives as the After School Program. However, the service is provided on Saturdays. Twice a month the program meets and takes consumers on a field trip to some place within the Chicago area. One regular part of this program is having lunch at a local restaurant. Consumers participate as much as possible by selecting and ordering their own meals, handling the money and paying the bill themselves and acting appropriately during the meal.