New Horizons Life Skills, originally known as New Horizons Corporation, was founded in 1971 by Wanda Burkett. In the last 50 years, New Horizons Life Skills has supported hundreds of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities across Middle Tennessee.
New Horizons recognizes the daily challenges our individuals living with disabilities face. Our mission is to support adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities by advocating for their rights and dignity, providing person-centered services and programs, and ensuring their independence through meaningful work, living conditions, and access to the community.
“There are too many adults who are left without opportunities and a supportive community due to a disability. NHLS’s mission to provide employment, supported living, and social opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities is of the utmost importance because there is no greater gift-or responsibility- than to empower others to live a meaningful and happy life,” said April Harrington, member of NHLS Board of Directors.
In 2021, New Horizons was selected by the Tennessee Department of Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities (DIDD) to be a part of the Person Centered Organization initiative. A person centered organization is an international effort to support organizations in a practice that acknowledges that those supported will have better-quality lives; by means of active social roles, community connections, enhanced planning and significant influence with independent decision-making.
“To be person centered means that each individual has the opportunity and right to make their own choices,” Emma Opare-Addo, NHLS Program Coordinator, explained.
In partnering with TN DIDD, New Horizons employees have been participating in Person Centered Thinking Training sessions. These training sessions have provided the proper tools needed to become a Person Centered Organization (PCO). As an agency, it is important that New Horizons continues education on person centered structures.
“It is exciting and important that New Horizons is changing to a Person Centered Organization. It will ensure equality among those supported. They need to know we are here to encourage them and let them know they are cared for. As a DSP, we do our best to make sure every individual has anything they need or want,” Lauren Moulton, House Manager Supervisor clarified.
Implementing person centered practices encourages each Direct Support Professional (DSP) to listen to every need and want of an individual supported. One skill emphasized among these practices is a learning log. A learning log is designed to replace the standard “progress note” & direct DSP’s to look for ongoing learning activities. The structure captures specific activities and experiences that the individual supported had throughout the day. A goal of this tool is to support depth learning over time.
Another tool New Horizons uses while practicing person centered thinking is a discovery chart. A discovery chart is a type of communication chart that tracks and organizes the way an individual supported relays information; whether that be through words or actions. Charts like this are important in advocating for those individuals supported who do not communicate particularly well through words.
Person Centered thinking also concentrates on an individual’s right to employment. One of the three types of services New Horizons provides is job readiness and vocational training for all individual supported who are interested in achieving competitive employment in the community. Trained job coaches provide instruction, supervision, and serve as a liaison between the community employer and New Horizons. Individuals supported who express interest in job training are placed in employment “enclaves,” where a supervised small group can work together at a local business.
“I work hard and I like making my own money,” Austin H. said. Austin works at New Horizons doing small hand assembly work for local businesses. Currently, New Horizons has individuals employed at multiple community businesses including: Berry Global, United Records, Southern Lawn Care, Allen printing, and Kroger.
Going into 2022, we hope to continue our vision of creating better quality of live and level of independence for adults living with disabilities by teaching valuable life skills through individualized employment, community-based outings and living opportunities. Our goal is to continue to educate others about individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and how they can be of support.
