🌟 Life & Learning Adult Day Program

A Place to Learn • Grow • Connect • Belong

Our Life & Learning Adult Day Program serves adults age 18 and older with autism and other intellectual and developmental disabilities, including individuals with high support needs.

Our goal is to provide a safe, supportive, engaging, and person-centered environment where adults can build skills, increase independence, develop friendships, learn important life and safety skills, and feel valued for who they are.

Needing more support should not mean having fewer opportunities.


💙 High Support Needs Are Welcome Here

Every participant is different.

Some adults may need occasional assistance. Others may need significant support throughout their day.

Support may include help with communication, processing time, routines and transitions, sensory needs, social interaction, daily living skills, personal care, safety, and emotional or behavioral regulation.

At Rockin’, we take the time to learn about the individual — how they communicate, what they enjoy, what may overwhelm them, what helps them regulate, and what support helps them succeed.

We understand that behavior can be a form of communication. Our approach focuses on safety, regulation, positive support, choices, sensory supports, and respectful communication.

We cannot promise that every situation will be the right fit, but we are willing to learn about the person before deciding.

Enrollment is based on whether Rockin’ The Spectrum can safely and appropriately meet the participant's individual needs within our program.


🕙 Program Days & Enrollment Options

Tuesday & Thursday

Families may choose a full-day or half-day option based on available program space, staffing, participant support needs, and appropriate participant-to-staff ratios.

🌞 Full Day

10:00 AM–3:00 PM
 $175 per scheduled day

☀️ Half Day — AM

10:00 AM–12:30 PM
 $87.50 per scheduled half day

🌤️ Half Day — PM

12:30 PM–3:00 PM
 $87.50 per scheduled half day


🌈 What Happens at Life & Learning?

Our program is about much more than filling time.

Activities are adapted whenever possible to each participant's abilities, interests, communication style, and support needs.

Participants may have opportunities for:

🧩 Life Skills — Everyday routines, independence, household skills, personal care, and making choices.

💬 Communication Skills — Supporting each person's individual way of communicating wants, needs, and preferences.

🤝 Social Connection — Group activities, shared experiences, peer interaction, communication, and friendship-building.

🍳 Cooking & Kitchen Skills — Food preparation, kitchen routines, safety, and practical everyday skills.

🎨 Art & Creative Activities — Creativity, self-expression, fine-motor practice, and opportunities to explore interests.

💙 Sensory Activities — Sensory exploration, regulation activities, calming tools, and opportunities to take breaks.

💃 Movement & Wellness — Movement adapted to individual abilities, comfort, and needs.

🛟 Safety Skills — Learning and practicing everyday safety concepts at each participant's individual ability level.

🛠️ Vocational & Work-Style Activities — Practicing responsibility, routines, task completion, and meaningful contribution.

⭐ Hobbies & Interests — Time to discover and enjoy activities that are meaningful to the individual.


💜 Regulation Comes First

We understand that participation doesn't look the same for everyone.

A participant who is overwhelmed may need a break, sensory support, additional processing time, reduced stimulation, movement, visual supports, a preferred activity, or quiet space.

That doesn't mean they aren't participating.

Our staff use positive and respectful approaches and focus first on safety and helping the participant regulate.

We want participants to feel safe enough to learn and supported enough to grow.


🧡 What Can Participants Work On?

Goals are individualized and may include:


🛟 Safety Is Part of Learning

Safety isn't just something we respond to when something goes wrong. It's something participants can learn and practice.

Safety learning may include recognizing safe and unsafe situations, following safety directions, emergency awareness, understanding signs and safety symbols, asking for help, personal boundaries, kitchen and household safety, and practicing emergency routines.

Safety instruction is adapted to each participant's communication style, abilities, learning needs, and level of independence.


💰 Tuition & Program Fees

🌞 Full Day

$175 per scheduled day

☀️ Half Day

$87.50 per scheduled half day

Tuition reserves the participant's scheduled program space, staffing, and program resources. Program fees are based on enrollment, not attendance.

Application Fee

$400 — Non-Refundable

The application fee covers application review, intake meeting, assessment, administrative processing, and enrollment preparation.

Annual Program Supply Fee

$200 per program year — Non-Refundable

The annual supply fee helps provide arts and crafts materials, sensory materials, cooking activities, educational supplies, hygiene items, adaptive resources, and general program materials.

Enrollment Deposit

A deposit equal to one month's tuition is required to reserve an accepted participant's space.

The deposit is applied toward the participant's first month's tuition. Once services begin, the deposit becomes non-refundable.


💜 Scholarship & Financial Assistance

We understand that the cost of ongoing adult programming can be difficult for families.

Financial assistance may be available.

🌈 Rockin’ The Spectrum Scholarships

Rockin’ The Spectrum offers scholarship assistance for families with documented financial need and based on available funding.

Scholarships can help reduce Day Program tuition. Scholarships reduce tuition only and do not change other program policies.

Families can indicate that they would like to apply for a Rockin’ Scholarship on our Life & Learning Interest Form.

💙 McHenry County Mental Health Board Funding

Thanks to funding from the McHenry County Mental Health Board, eligible participants who reside in McHenry County may also have access to financial assistance for the Life & Learning Adult Day Program.

Eligibility and available funding apply.

Important

Families may receive one Day Program scholarship/funding option, not both for the same tuition.

Our team can help families understand which option may apply to their situation.

Don't let the cost stop you from reaching out.


🌱 A Gentle Start When Needed

Some adults need extra time to become comfortable with a new environment.

When appropriate, Rockin’ may offer an optional Monday introduction day.

This can give the participant an opportunity to meet staff, become familiar with the program space, learn the daily routine, explore activities, identify helpful communication and sensory supports, and build comfort and confidence.

Monday introduction days are not required for everyone and are not regular enrollment days.


📝 Interested in Life & Learning?

You don't have to complete the full application just to find out whether Life & Learning may be right for your family.

Start with our short Life & Learning Adult Program Interest Form.

Tell us a little about your family member, when you're hoping to begin, whether you're interested in a Rockin’ Scholarship, and any questions you have.

A member of the Rockin’ team will contact you with more information and next steps.

[I'M INTERESTED IN LIFE & LEARNING]


🌈 What Happens Next?

If your family would like to move forward, we'll guide you through the application and intake process.

The intake process helps us understand the participant's communication, medical and medication information, behavioral and safety needs, personal-care needs, individual goals, and other information needed to determine appropriate support.

Because we maintain small groups and individualized support, space may sometimes be limited. If the program reaches capacity, individuals who have completed the enrollment process may be placed on a waitlist.


💬 Family FAQ

❓ Do you accept adults with high support needs?

Yes. Individuals with high support needs are welcome to be considered for Life & Learning.

Needing additional support does not automatically exclude someone. We learn about the participant first and determine whether we have the staffing, environment, space, and resources to safely and appropriately meet their needs.

❓ Does someone have to communicate verbally?

No. Participants may communicate through speech, gestures, pictures, communication devices, or other forms of communication.

❓ Can staff help with personal care?

Yes. Staff may provide reasonable assistance with personal-care needs based on the participant's individual abilities and support needs.

Personal care is provided with as much privacy, dignity, and independence as possible.

❓ What if my family member has behaviors?

Behavior does not automatically mean someone cannot participate.

We recognize that behavior can be a form of communication. Staff work to understand what may be happening and use positive, respectful approaches while focusing first on safety and regulation.

❓ Do participants bring lunch?

Yes. Families provide the meals, snacks, and drinks their participant needs during their scheduled program day unless Rockin’ tells families food will be provided for a specific activity.

❓ What if my loved one's needs change?

We know support needs can change.

Families should keep us informed, and Rockin’ will work with the participant and family to adjust supports whenever reasonably possible.


💙 Why Life & Learning Matters

For many families, graduation can feel less like a finish line and more like a cliff.

School ends.

Routines change.

Supports change.

And opportunities can become especially difficult to find for adults with high support needs.

But their opportunity to learn, grow, connect, make choices, build relationships, and belong shouldn't end because school did.

At Rockin’, we recognize every participant as an individual with their own strengths, interests, abilities, communication style, and support needs.

We want Life & Learning to be a place where adulthood still includes growth.

A place where different ways of communicating are respected.

A place where needing more support doesn't automatically close the door.

A place where families know someone is willing to learn about their loved one.

Inclusion • Compassion • Acceptance • Belonging

You belong here.

📋 Life & Learning Forms & Information

Whether you're just beginning to explore Life & Learning or you're ready to enroll, everything you need is right here.


💙 NEW TO LIFE & LEARNING?

Interest Form

Interested in the program but not ready to complete the full application?

Start here. Tell us a little about your family member, when you're hoping to begin, and whether you're interested in scholarship assistance. A member of the Rockin’ team will contact you with more information and next steps.

[COMPLETE THE INTEREST FORM]


📝 READY TO MOVE FORWARD?

Life & Learning Application

The full application helps us get to know the participant before enrollment.

We'll learn about their communication, daily living and personal-care needs, behavior and safety needs, strengths, interests, goals, and the support they may need to be successful.

Needing additional support does not automatically exclude someone from Life & Learning.

[COMPLETE THE DAY PROGRAM APPLICATION]


💜 NEED HELP WITH TUITION?

Scholarship & Financial Assistance

Financial assistance may be available.

Rockin’ The Spectrum Scholarships may be available based on documented financial need and available funding.

Eligible McHenry County residents may also have access to Day Program funding through the McHenry County Mental Health Board.

[APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIP ASSISTANCE]


📘 CURRENT OR INCOMING FAMILIES

Family & Participant Handbook

Our handbook explains what families and participants can expect while participating in Life & Learning.

It includes information about enrollment, attendance, participant rights, individualized support, supervision and safety, positive behavior support, illness, medication, incidents, personal care, food and allergies, safety skills, family communication, and continued participation.

[VIEW THE FAMILY & PARTICIPANT HANDBOOK]


📑 IMPORTANT PROGRAM INFORMATION

Policies, Tuition & Financial Agreement

Before enrollment, families should review the current program rates and financial policies, including:

Full Day: $175 per scheduled day
 Half Day: $87.50 per scheduled half day
 Application Fee: $400
 Annual Program Supply Fee: $200
 Enrollment Deposit: One month's tuition

[VIEW POLICIES & FINANCIAL AGREEMENT]


🌈 Not Sure Which One You Need?

Just learning about Rockin’? → Start with the Interest Form

Ready to enroll? → Complete the Application

Need financial help? → Complete the Scholarship Application

Already enrolled or preparing to start? → Review the Handbook

Looking for tuition, fees, or payment policies? → Review Policies & Financial Agreement

You don't have to figure it all out on your own. We're here to help you through the process.