At Magdala House’s Adult Day Care Program, learning goes beyond books and worksheets. Through hands-on activities and interactive lessons, clients are encouraged to explore new places, learn new things, and build confidence along the way.
Recently, clients in Magdala House’s Adult Day Care Program began a journey across the United States, one state at a time.
The idea started when Tiffany, Director of the Adult Day Care Program, found a map of all 50 states and challenged staff to teach clients about each one. For every state, clients watch a video, learn facts about its history, geography, culture, state symbols, and capital, then complete a worksheet based on what they learned.
According to Tiffany, the lessons are sticking. Clients can still recall facts from states they studied weeks earlier, including Alaska, Arizona, Nevada, and California.
When it came time to learn about Hawaii, clients discovered what makes the island state unique. They learned that Hawaii has its own alphabet, its own time zone, and is home to the tallest mountain on Earth when measured from its base on the ocean floor.
Once the classroom lesson was complete, staff brought Hawaii to life.
Clients wore colorful leis and participated in Hawaiian-themed activities both inside and outside. Water games, group activities, and hands-on experiences helped reinforce what they had learned while encouraging movement, teamwork, and social interaction.
One of the most memorable moments of the day involved Johnathan.
Outside, staff created activity stations where clients tossed balls into buckets filled with water. Johnathan approached one of the stations with a staff member by his side. After listening carefully to the instructions, he threw his first ball and missed.
Instead of walking away, he picked up another ball and tried again.
This time, the ball landed in the bucket. Water splashed from the bucket as staff cheered him on and celebrated with a high five.
For many people, it may have seemed like a small moment. For staff, it was something more.
Johnathan is not typically one to jump into group activities, making his participation especially meaningful. Watching him step outside his comfort zone, stay engaged, and celebrate a success alongside his peers was a reminder of why these experiences matter.
The goal of Magdala House’s Adult Day Care Program is not simply to teach facts about another state. It is to create opportunities for learning, socialization, confidence-building, and personal growth for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
And sometimes, all of that starts with a map, a lesson about Hawaii, and the courage to take another shot.
Moments like Johnathan’s remind us what’s possible when learning meets encouragement. To learn more about Magdala House’s Adult Day Care Program and how it helps adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities build confidence, connection, and new skills, call 314-571-9950 today.
