ESSNY & CPI have Moved!

In early May, The Epilepsy Society of Southern New York, Inc, and Capabilities Partnership, Inc., in an effort to increase our working space and allow us to run on-site programs in specially designed offices, we moved from our much-loved offices in Blue Hill Plaza to a custom designed 14,000 sq ft space which takes up the entire 3rd floor of the new JCC at 450 West Nyack Road in West Nyack, New York. This increased area, along with specially designed faclilites, have allowed us to provide facilities for people with epilepsy and Traumatic Brain Injury, such as our Structured Day Program, detailed below These facilities include the Thomas P. Morahan Program Center and the Chris McCarthy Socialization Room. View our promotional video by clicking the box below, or check out the individual sections on this page for an in-depth look at these developments:

Please see below to view our promotional video!

• Chris McCarthy Socialization Room
• Thomas P. Morahan Program Center
• The Structured Day Program

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	View of Chris McCarthy Socialization Room			Relaxing in the Socialization Room

This area is designed to provide a relaxing lounge-like area where people can come to learn socialization skills as part of our structured day program, partake of recreational acivities, or simply to 'hang out'. It has many opportunities for relaxing activites, such as a pool table, gaming table, and our large screen TV, where we can show instructional videos, or people can enjoy our video game system-- which as can be seen above, is a workout in and of itself!

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Named in honor of one of our biggest supporters, the Thomas P. Morahan Program center is going to be a big part of the vision for the future of the Epilepsy Society of Southern New York, Inc, and we are so glad that the move to our new office has allowed us the opportunity to create such a wonderful asset. This program center, including a working kitchen area and washing machine and clothes dryer, will allow staff to teach life-skills, such as washing clothes, cooking and house cleaning, as detailed below.

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Structured Day Program

The mission of the Structured Day Program at CPI is to increase independence through community and classroom based activities.  The program will center on what the individual wants to learn and accomplish through meaningful goals. 

The program will provide opportunities for individuals to learn independence through various facets in the community.  These areas include volunteer work and recreational activities.  Recreational activities can include art class, horticulture/planting class, personal shopping, going to the movies and going out to local restaurants.  Each one of these activities, while recreational, are also great areas to gain functional independent living skills.  Volunteer work and recreational activities are essential to increasing an individual’s independence and overall skills basis.  It gives the individuals a chance to integrate with others in the community and increase socialization, learn responsibility, how to follow a schedule and directions and learn various skills like organization, budgeting and time management. 

 

Classroom based activities that will focus on increasing independent living skills such as cooking and computer skills will be present, as well.  When an individual participates in a cooking group activity, the following is taught and learned: 

• Allowing the individuals to pick out recipes/meals of their choice.
• Looking up the recipes using the library and Internet to learn how to prepare the meal. 
• Discussing the steps on how to prepare the meal.
• Making a list on what is needed to prepare/cook the meal and what needs to be  purchased (a budgeting lesson will also develop from this, as well as looking through circulars for coupons, etc.). 
• Traveling to the supermarket/store to purchase what is needed to make the meal.  Allowing the individual to pick out the proper supplies, stay within the budget and paying for the goods at the register.  
• Following the recipe and learning to make the meal with step-by-step instructions. 
• Once the meal is made, how to properly clean up the used area/materials would also be taught.
  

When an individual participates in a computer skills activity, the following is taught and learned:    

• How to use a computer (turning on the computer, monitor).
• How to use a mouse.     
• How to use the keyboard and the various functions of it. 
• How to use the printer.
• How to use the Internet (this activity can be beneficial for other program specific activities such as cooking group and academic skill activities)
• How to use various programs i.e. Microsoft Word
• How to use various academic related CD-ROMS i.e. budgeting, reading skills, etc.) 

Also available, will be lessons on how to use a washing machine/dryer independently. Each individual will learn:

• How to use a washing machine/dryer
• How to measure detergent
• How to read and interpret labels on clothing
• How to sort clothing

 

Increasing ones academic skills such as reading, math and budgeting will also allow the individual to become more independent in his/her life.  These skills can be learned during activities such as computer skills and cooking class, but they can also be carried out in the community.  Learning about budgeting, reading and math skills in a library setting, during volunteer work (reading and following any written/monetary directions given) and in a setting such as the mall (individuals can learn how to shop within their own budget, how to count money, interact with cashiers, learn about sales tax, etc.)  

Health and safety training, along with exercise and fitness opportunities will also be explored.  Health and safety lessons will be given in a classroom setting, teaching the individuals about remaining safe in the community, being aware of their surroundings, what to do in emergency situations, etc.  These types of skills can also be taught while in the community during all other activities, as well.  Exercise opportunities will be given in the community and also, in-house.  Access to parks is available to take walks, play sports like basketball, volleyball and tennis, during the warmer months.  A dance class will be available, as well.