Habilitative aid (Hab aid services) are services that help people with intellectual disabilities improve their independent living skills and encourage community inclusion
Maryann: What’s your name?
Paula: Paula Communale
Maryann: Where did you graduate from school?
Paula: WPSD in 1984.
Maryann: Who do you live with?
Paula: With my mom. The two of us live together.
Maryann: What do you do around your house?
Paula: At home 42343. We do nails, hair, watch baseball & movies.
Maryann: Who helps you at home?
Paula: My mom, the computer, myself.
Maryann: When you’re hungry, who cooks for you?
Paula: I have beef, hamburgers, pasta at home. My mom helps.
Maryann: Do you like sports like football or basketball?
Paula: Pitt basketball and the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball
Maryann: Do you like to go out and keep busy?
Paula: Juggling, baseball, 15 Friday
Maryann: Do your friends use sign language?
Paula: Yes, a lot of them do. [names signs listed]
Maryann: Do you want to go out more and have fun?
Paula: Yes.
Maryann: Do you like when people use their voices and talk or do you prefer sign language?
Paula: Sign language
Maryann: Thank you very much!
Hello. My name is Maryann. I’d like to explain to you about the role of a Hab Aide and what they do. A Hab Aide provides support to individuals who are Deaf. Hab Aides can provide support for many different activities including daily life skills, social skills, and they do these things.
For example, like with daily living skills. That could be help teaching cleaning, budgeting your finances, cooking. Maybe someone’s interested in learning to cook their favorite food. That’s an option. Social skills like going outside. For example, out to do any activity, like bowling or attending a movie, attending deaf social events meeting other Deaf people, teaching responsibilities, learning appropriate behaviors for social skills.
Hab Aides can also provide transportation for individuals to doctor’s appointments, dental appointments, therapy. Whatever is needed. The Hab Aide can transport a client and go with the client to provide support and help so that the client understands what’s happening at their appointments.
Maybe you’re wondering, how does this even come up? How do people know what the individual wants? They have something called a Supports Coordinator. The Supports Coordinator along with parents’ guidance and other people involved, and the individual will discuss the things that the person would like to learn, such as cooking or other things. Then, the Supports Coordinator will create a document called an ISP which means an Individual Support Plan. Once that document is created by the Supports Coordinator, it’s then given to whoever ends up working with the individual.
That Hab Aide is required to follow the ISP. They’re not allowed to come up with their own ideas that are off plan. Even if it’s going on a trip somewhere. Maybe even the zoo. It doesn’t matter. It could be even a simple thing.
So, that’s how it works with the ISP being followed by the Hab Aide. You may ask how many hours would a Hab Aide do. I don’t know it really depends on each client, but it’s such a rewarding experience.
Hab Aides feel so wonderful being able to help other people who are Deaf just like them. And the Deaf client can see a new level of motivation for learning.
Reference:
Consolidated Waiver
Resource Guide of Behavioral Health Providers Quick Sheet (Updated: August 2019)
How can you get Habilitative Aid Services for your loved one?
Contact the supports coordinator who is assigned to your loved one from your County Office of Intellectual Disability.
If you have questions, please contact us.