MHAC provides training programs and opportunities to teenage and adult persons who have a primary diagnosis of intellectual disability (IQ of 70 or below). Persons served may also have other developmental or physical disabilities in addition to intellectually disability.
Additional services are provided to the community for persons with other disabilities. All individuals applying for services must meet the eligibility criteria for MHAC and its funding sources in order to be accepted. Eligibility criteria varies by program.
My Heart’s Appeal Center General Application for Admission
Guidelines/Criteria for Admission into My Heart’s Appeal Center:
1. The individual must meet the eligibility criteria for the specific program applying to and its funding sources.
2. The individual must be appropriate for vocational training or specific services or programs MHAC provides.
3. Applicant will not be eligible if prone to violence and/or have a current history of aggressive or violent behavior.
(Download Form) MHAC General Admission Form (pdf)
PHASE ONE
Connie Thrash McGoodwin Vocational Training Hub
A variety of different experiences will be offered, including volunteer or future paid work activity (either at our facilities or in the community), work adjustment training, community integration and social activities, and job readiness, placement, and retention groups. The program focuses mainly on work activities, with the emphasis on preparing most individuals for eventual community employment. Individuals may have a plan which combines both supported employment and vocational services. (CTM-Hub Program Brochure)
Big Ma’s Care Place – Respite Care
This program allows parents who have children with special needs a Saturday to themselves while their children – including siblings – are treated to six hours of one-to-one care and attention. The day for children includes crafts, indoor and outdoor play, and a general gathering meeting. Volunteers are carefully selected, screened and equipped.
Volunteers are carefully selected screened and equipped. (BMC Program Brochure)
Transportation
Transportation will be offered for clients to go to different sites within the city for supported employment. Clients and volunteers that come into our facilities for programs would have access to transportation and will be pick up and drop off from a central location around the city.
PHASE TWO
Special Needs Day Program
Special Needs Day Program (phase one pending opening) is designed specifically for children (5 yrs. – 14 yrs.) with Down syndrome and other intellectual disabilities; most of whom have never been to school. Individuals will participate in a variety of relevant and interesting activities throughout the day (8am-1pm). The program will focus on exercise, maximizing independence, life skills, leisure activities, and community field trips.
Edith Manly Literacy Clinic
This program caters to children, adolescents and adults who have learning difficulties, lagging behind their peers in reading and writing, not motivated to read for enjoyment and information or who never had the opportunity to learn to read and write. Also for people who want teaching of the complex process of reading, using all of the cueing systems (phonics, sentence structure, word meaning, etc.) with an emphasis on making sense of what they read. Volunteers are carefully selected, screened and equipped.
Maternal Family Support
Mothers are the primary care givers of our target group. MHA plan is to assist in creating an environment where they can be empowered. We plan to do this through collaboration and partnership with other organizations to initiate, develop and manage special programs that allow individuals to maximize their potential for intellectual development as would enable them to become financially self-sufficient and contribute to national development of their country.