Individualized Residential Alternatives (IRAs)

Consumers enrolled in the Home Community-Based Services (HCBS) can receive the services offered through the Individualized Residential Alternatives.  The present capacity in the IRAs is fifty-four individuals, who reside in Brooklyn, The Bronx and Manhattan.

The services LAC offers its IRA consumers are augmented by the outside providers selected by each client or the client advocate.  The contracting of these outside services as well as a client assessment are completed prior to admittance to LAC.

 Community Habilitation

Life Adjustment Center provides consumers with necessary services that allow them to remain in their own homes with family members and to function as a unit.  Provision of services at home as opposed to a residential setting, allows the family to be directly involved with the services being provided.  Through this process, family relationships are strengthened.  In addition, consumer skills development as well as family members' knowledge of coping with the disability are greatly improved.

 Medicaid Service Coordination

LAC manages a large caseload of consumers who live in IRAs or at home and/or attend the Day Habilitation programs. Each consumer or an advocate selects the Service Coordinator they wish to work with.  Together, they develop the goals, implementation strategies, monitoring devices and revisions which are in the consumers' Individual Service Plan (ISP).

The Service Coordinator helps the participant achieve valued outcomes and promotes:

Individualization: self determination and choice

Independence: self-reliance to the extent possible

Integration: involvement with relatives and friends and belonging to a neighborhood or community

Productivity: accomplishments that contribute to the person's own life and lives of those around them

Day Habilitation Services  

Unlike past service models that were typically offered through a "day program" and consisted of a "one size fits all" approach, the Day Habilitation programs at LAC collaborate with the Service Coordinator to identify consumers' personal goals and needs and reinforce these objectives with individualized services, programs and community integration.  Again, the focus is on enabling the individual to attain his or her maximum functioning level.    LAC Day Habilitation programs are presently located in the Bronx, Brooklyn and Upper and Lower Manhattan. 

In December 2011, LAC opened a new Day Habilitation program for medically frail consumers aging out of the special education system.   This new program is located at 416 Lenox Avenue in Upper Manhattan.