Continuum Education

The Independent Skills Program (ISP)

The Independent Skills Program (ISP) is a community-based program within the Paso Robles Joint Unified School District that provides opportunities to young adults, aged 18-22 years, with moderate to severe special needs, to develop daily living and vocation skills, maximizing individual potential for adult independence.

The Work Services Program at ISP works in partnership with the Department of Rehabilitation to provide clients with a paid internship at various businesses in San Luis Obispo County that have the potential to lead to permanent employment.

The Independence Skills Program recognizes the individual capabilities of each client and strives to instill the confidence and independence necessary for self-advocacy, leadership, teamwork and life-long accomplishment.

Special Projects - Clients and staff have the opportunities to work on special projects such as building a Bocci Ball ramp for Special Olympics

Daily Living Skills: Clients engage in daily living activities such as cooking at ISP

Community Based Jobs: Clients work at businesses throughout the community including PRJUSD's own Liberty Garden

Functional Academics: Clients work together to budget and shop in the community

Special Olympics: ISP clients have the opportunity to participate in local and county-wide Special Olympics

Work Services Program: ISP's Work Services program, in conjunction with the Department of Rehabilitation, creates paid internships for the clients at local businesses that can lead to permanent employment

Community Lunch: Clients work together to create meals for the class or organize outings into the community to enjoy lunch at restaurants. This particular lunch was for Thanksgiving 2019.

The Independent Skills Program is located at a multi room facility that includes a classroom, full kitchen, computer cubicles, laundry machines, and living leisure space allowing for a multitude of skills to be cultivated. Classroom lessons include schedule planning, visual and performing arts, as well as social and professional development. Clients are responsible for maintaining the cleanliness and organization of the site. Individually and in groups, clients budget, shop, prep, and cook meals Clients engage in health and fitness activities as well as enriching leisure past times, such as reading, cards, ping pong, and dance.

Within the community, clients learn how to navigate and ride the bus, often taking the bus to job sites, Special Olympics practice, and local restaurants for community lunch. ISP has regularly scheduled work opportunities at PRJUSD's Culinary, Liberty Garden, Conservation Ambassadors at Zoo-2-You, Chili's, The Children's Museum, and the Paso Robles Safety Center. Clients at ISP also Practice civic virtue with community beautification projects, cleaning up bus stops, parking lots, and public sidewalks.

Staff

Principal:

Dan Sharon [email protected]

Teacher:

Blaise Smith [email protected]

Dana Sires

[email protected]

Paraeducators:

Dawn Maiorino

Vinnie Farrow

Dayna Wilkinson