Educating and Enriching Lives.
Oak-Leyden’s Lifelong Learning Program provides our clients with the chance to simultaneously develop unique skills and give back to their community. Areas of learning include nutrition, exercise, cooking, arts and crafts, safety, cognitive skills, money skills, self-advocacy, vocational skills, and many more.
Our programs encourage choice by offering a wide variety of classes, clubs, outings, and volunteer activities. Our network of resources provides relevant information about developmental disabilities to parents, guardians, and members of the community.
Our learner’s needs and personal goals often inspire our new programs. When one of our learners shares an interest, we ensure they either have one-on-one time with an instructor or build a whole new curriculum. When contract work opportunities arise, our learners are also offered the opportunity to earn money, develop strong work habits, and build important vocational skills.
In our All Ages + All Abilities garden, Oak-Leyden adult learners raise produce for the Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry, learning gardening skills and helping those in need at the same time. Another one of our beloved community outreach initiatives is the Oak-Leyden Adult Choir. Our adult choir members belt out vocal hits in public performances throughout the community. The audience enjoys a high-energy show, and our participants enjoy the strong teamwork, knowledge of choral music, and sense of personal accomplishment.