Valley Educational Associates, Inc.
Striving to improve the quality of life for people with developmental disabilities
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Adults with developmental and cognitive disabilities still don't receive the programs and attention they deserve. In 2016, according to the BLS, the unemployment rate for people with disabilities was 10.5%, compared to 4% for people with no disabilities. It is difficult to find workforce training and assistance resources for the population we serve. For those who are unable or prefer not to work, finding day programs that offer comprehensive and fun atmospheres can be a challenge in Western MA. The day programs provide life skills training, cooking classes, social activities, and inclusive outings. These classes offer individuals a safe and fun learning environment to supports their abilities.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Community Based Day Services
Community Based Day Supports (CBDS) offers a supportive program to adults with Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities which assists individuals to develop, maintain and enhance their ability and confidence in personal, social and community activities. Skill development activities occur in the areas of communication, self-care, socialization, relationship-building, healthy living, self-advocacy and community involvement. The program supports two general tracks. One is for the person who may have employment as a goal but who needs more support and instruction in order to be ready to obtain a desired job. The other is designed for individuals who might not be headed toward employment, but who could still benefit from a skill building, therapeutically oriented, and highly structured program.
Program Design: The CBDS program staff routinely survey the individuals in the program, and promote their involvement in designing the program activities and group content based on their interests and needs. Programming is often in interactive group formats, although individual involvement and variations occur throughout the week. The in-house program consists of four to five group sessions per day, with varied content and involvement; the participants have choices in both the planning phases and in their daily participation. Community trips and activities are conducted outside of the program in small groups, in couplets or individually as appropriate to the individuals.
Therapeutic Activities include:
Pre-vocation Skills Training
Cooking and Nutrition Classes
Human Rights Education
Social Skill Building
Art Education and Appreciation
Art and Crafts activities emphasizing therapeutic themes
Primary Knowledge Groups
Leisure Activities
Natural Sciences /Knowledge Group
Volunteering in the community
Exercise/Movement
Supported Employment
Employment Services
Job finding
Supervised jobs in community
Vocational Training
On-the-job training
Social skills development
Retail Store duties
Benchwork
Customer Service Skills Development
Professional Services
Vocational Rehabilitation
Psychological Assessment Consultation
Counseling
Career Assessment
Resume Writing
Vocational Services
Vocational Services Program
The program is a job readiness program that encompasses social skills combined with hands on job training techniques. It is a progression program in which participants work toward a job preparedness. This program opens with a basic understanding of simple communication skills and developing a true understanding of job site awareness.
Program Design
There are three levels.
The first level consists of a sensorial teaching methodology inspired by the Montessori method developed and produced by Maria Montessori. This helps with the progression of our participants that struggle from dexterity issues, visual impairments, and other challenges.
The social aspect will help to develop environmental understanding which gives a sense of how we are expected to work in certain job environments. This encompasses conversational skill, boundaries, work attire, hygiene, and many more social challenges.
Job readiness and hands on training comes naturally when our participants have reached an understanding of the environment and now their focus is hands on skill training. Skill training encompasses various levels of job skills such as: grocery bagging, telephone answering, grocery stocking, barcode matching, money counting, and other hands on job skills.
The end goal is to create an overall, well-rounded employee and give them the tools to help them get jobs. We are aware the repetition is very important in the developmental disabilities community and will continue to keep developing and working with our participants on each level of skills they require, in order to get them were they aspire to be. We are hoping to strengthen their natural abilities and enhance their talents.
Where we work
Affiliations & memberships
Chicopee Chamber of Commerce member 2019
Springfield Regional Chamber member 2020
Human Services Forum member 2020
Provider's Council member 2020
External reviews
Photos
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Valley Educational Associates, Inc. focuses on the individual needs of the program participants and prioritizes what their goals and aspirations may be. Our goal is to ensure participants experience a well-rounded life, either through community-based day programs, vocational training or supported employment ventures.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Valley Educational Associates, Inc. hires and retains compassionate and professional staff to serve in our three program locations in Western MA. VEA ensures that staff are certified, continuing industry education and training to keep them up to date on the latest protocols.
We have a Human Rights Committee which promotes, safeguards, and protects the human dignity and the legal rights and liberties of the participants served by Valley Educational Associates, Inc. consistent with the Department of Developmental Services.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Participants have the support at Valley Educational Associates in finding work that accommodates their abilities. Our vocational and employment programs focus on professional development, career planning, resume development among others. Our team of Job Coaches, Community Supports Specialists, and Employment Supports Specialists assist working participants to ensure client expectations are met as well as the participant's experience is productive and positive. Our programs feature: community outings to the movies, volunteering opportunities, arts and crafts projects, human rights education, nature classes and many more interesting topics. VEA's staff is present, committed and compassionate.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
We have expanded the size of two of our facilities to accommodate the growing numbers. We have proudly achieved nine consecutive Certifications with Distinction and participated in ten distinctive survey and certification reviews with the Office of Quality Enhancement (OQE) within the Office of Quality Management during our annual audit period. VEA has been able to supply half of the participants with employment during the 2016-2017 fiscal year.
We recently received a grant from the Community Foundation of Western MA to fund a work skill collaboration program we have.
We hosted two art shows within the community, along side other artists without disabilities.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Valley Educational Associates, Inc.
Board of directorsas of 04/17/2020
Leslie DesRoberts
Multicultural Community Services of the Pioneer Valley Inc.
Term: 2019 -
Cindy Shea-Desroches
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No