Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the Beyond BASIC Life Skills program?
A: Beyond BASIC Life Skills is a 501(c)(3) non-profit program that teaches life skills to adults with intellectual disabilities. Our mission is to assist adults with intellectual disabilities to achieve fulfillment beyond the basics by developing independent living skills. Our day program operates Monday through Friday from 9:00am to 3:00pm.
Q: What is required in order for my loved one to join the Beyond BASIC Life Skills program?
A: The Beyond BASIC program is open to adults 18 years and older, from any background, with any diagnosis – or with no diagnosis at all! As part of our enrollment process, you and your loved one will attend a Meet & Greet with one of our Directors to determine if our program is the best fit to meet your adult’s needs and goals. While we do our best to accommodate adults of any and all abilities, some individuals with higher support needs may need a one-on-one aide to accompany them in order to participate in the program. This is determined on a case-by-case basis and will be communicated to you after your Meet & Greet.
Q: What skills does the Beyond BASIC Life Skills program teach throughout the week?
A: We teach a variety of skills throughout the week, including but not limited to social skills, self care, home skills, job readiness, kitchen skills, home skills, and more! The current weekly skills schedule will be discussed in further detail at your Meet & Greet. While each day contains a specific set of scheduled skills groups, our Team Captains are trained to facilitate additional related skills naturally throughout each day. For example, lunch time is a great opportunity to practice implementing conversational skills!
Q: Does my loved one have to attend all 5 program days each week?
A: No. We have Teammates who attend anywhere from 1 day a week to 5 days a week! It all depends on your Teammate’s goals and needs, which is discussed in more detail at your Meet & Greet.
Q: Is there a waitlist to join the Beyond BASIC Life Skills program?
A: At this time, there is a waitlist for enrollment into the program. The current status of our waitlist will be discussed in further detail at your Meet & Greet.
Q: What are the costs associated with the Beyond BASIC Life Skills program?
A: Our program operates on a monthly tuition model, with costs based on the number of days per week your adult is enrolled. Because our services are highly individualized and include a wide range of supports, we will discuss our tuition fee schedule in person at your Meet & Greet. Most families find that the true value of our program becomes clear once they meet our team, visit the program in person, and see the care, expertise, and community we provide firsthand. Additionally, BBLS is actively in the process of becoming a BHDD-OIDD approved provider (additional details on the status of this process below).
Q: Do you accept the state funded waiver?
A: We are hopeful that we will be approved to accept the waiver very soon! We are working hard to become a provider through BHDD-OIDD (formerly known as DDSN) and Medicaid in order to accept the waiver for enrollment into our program. Once we are able to offer this, we will be sure to share the good news!
Q: Are scholarships available to offset the cost of the program?
A: BBLS is unable to offer in-house scholarships at this time. We work diligently to share any scholarship opportunities we find and keep caregivers informed as opportunities become available.
Q: I want to begin the enrollment process for my loved one! How do I get started?
A: Great! To get started, complete the Meet & Greet form by clicking the Get Started button, and a member of our team will be in touch to schedule. Meet & Greets are scheduled in the order form submissions are received. Depending on the number of submissions we receive at any given time, you may experience a waiting period before being contacted to schedule your Meet & Greet. Please know that we have not forgotten about you, and we are working hard to meet every single one of you in the most reasonable time frame possible!
Q: I do not have a loved one to enroll, but I’m still interested in learning more about the Beyond BASIC Life Skills program. Who do I contact for more information?
A: Awesome! You can contact our office manager, Mattie Hendrix, via email at mhendrix@beyondbasiclifeskills.org. Please include your name, your contact information, and what you would like to learn more about, and Mattie will connect you to the appropriate member of our team. We LOVE building our community and connections, so please reach out!