Learning Money Management Skills Instills Independence

Stephen Hawking once said:

“However difficult life may seem, there is always something you can do, and succeed at. It matters that you don’t just give up.”

At Evergreen Life Services, our goal is to instill a sense of self-sufficiency and pride in the people with intellectual and developmental disabilities that we serve. One of the ways we accomplish this is by teaching valuable life skills. Our Day Programs, independent living support, community-based housing, and vocational training are all designed to meet the unique social, emotional, and educational needs of individuals with a wide range of disabilities.

Learning money management skills, including understanding how to budget and spend money wisely, can be complicated for everyone. For the individuals we serve in our Independent Living Support program, our direct support professionals often work with them to encourage smart spending decisions and teach them basic budgeting skills. Understanding needs versus wants, realizing the benefits of saving, and learning to spend money wisely are things that can be learned and practiced by all. By teaching the people we serve to organize their monthly bills and assist them with food and clothing shopping, we are helping them build the skills and confidence they need to successfully live independently.

Finding meaningful employment can greatly enrich the lives of the people we serve by providing spending money and instilling a sense of responsibility and self-worth. It can also help sharpen their money management and budgeting skills. We offer a vocational training program to help individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities to prepare for, enter into, or retain employment. All trainees, whether or not they complete the program or find employment, learn something about themselves and about the world of work.

Some of the skills our team focuses on are:

• Interpersonal skills: getting along with co-workers and supervisors
• Communication skills: listening, speaking clearly, following directions
• Developing the flexibility and comfort to work on a variety of tasks
• Productivity: providing quick and quality work that meets deadlines
• Organizational skills: setting priorities, completing assigned work
• Problem-solving: making decisions, taking responsibility
• Personal appearance: hygiene and appropriate work attire

To learn more about how you can help support Evergreen Life Services and enrich the lives of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, contact us today!