Jimmy W. Wilmot Adult Day Training Program

Founded in 1974, Holy Childhood's Adult Training and Production Programs provide vocational training and sheltered employment to approximately 87 adults with developmental disabilities. Instruction is offered in survival skills, prevocational skills, woodworking, food service, facilities maintenance and recreational activities. The Program is certified by the New York State Department of Labor, as well as the New York State Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities.

Our workshops include the Special Touch Bakery, Partners With Industry and the Woodworking Shop. Within these workshops, workers are able to earn their own paychecks and become contributing members of society. The pride and satisfaction that come as a result of their accomplishments in the work place cannot be duplicated. The services that our workers provide are valuable and mutually beneficial to the public as well. Adult workers in our program are sometimes, but not limited to, former students from Holy Childhood's Children's Program.

The Adult Program also has a prevocational training component which serves as a bridge to the workshops. Here, adults with developmental disabilities are allowed to gradually assimilate into the work force at their own pace. The classes teach the transitioning adults additional functioning skills that are useful for life on and off the job. Tasks such as handling money, making lunch and using the phone are broken down into smaller jobs. The adults also perform paid tasks that include stuffing and sealing envelopes and collating and placing address labels. This allows them to earn a paycheck on a bi-weekly basis. Completing these paid tasks give our adult consumers an opportunity to develop independence in their work skills, as well as gain a sense of pride and the satisfaction that comes from contributing to the work force.

It is also within this curriculum that the Agency's Creative Crates are made. Working together with the Agency's Woodworking Shop and the Special Touch Bakery, the classes add decorative cloth and bows to a small wooden crate that holds a delicious pie from our bakery. The crates are then delivered within the Monroe County area for birthdays, anniversaries and other special occasions. A limited amount of these unique gift items are available each month. For more information on availability, pricing and pie selection contact the School by calling (585) 359-3710.

An equally important part of the Adult Program is the Adapted Physical Education program. Its goal is to develop lifetime recreational skills to enable our consumers to be included in community activities and to interact with the outside world. Our adults have the opportunity to take part in Recreation/Physical Education units for two hours every week. Activities include volleyball, basketball, golf, soccer, floor hockey, weight training and swimming. They also have the opportunity to learn about nutrition, physiology, and the benefits of staying fit. Each summer a golf tournament is held at a local golf course which pairs Holy Childhood adults with volunteers from the community. In addition to actually putting their skills into practice, the event allows the adults to get out into the community and enjoy themselves while making new friends. The opportunity to have fun while being active is what makes this course so popular.

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The Special Touch Bakery

The Special Touch Bakery serves up hundreds of pies every week to Rochester-area restaurants and the general public. We've even been honored with a glowing review from Conde Nast Traveler which named our Apple Crumb pie the best in the country! According to the writer, "If there is a better slice (of pie) in the nation, I have yet to find it!"

In addition to making a wonderful product, the Bakery serves as an opportunity for adults with developmental disabilities to learn production and food-service skills at their own pace while earning a weekly paycheck. For some it has proven to be the training ground to seek competitive employment. For all, the bakery provides an added income and the development of lifelong skills to further their opportunities in the workplace and in other aspects of their lives.

The Special Touch Bakery is certified by the New York State Department of Labor and the Department of Agriculture and currently provides pies to about 50 Rochester area restaurants, country clubs and senior living facilities. Pies are available to the general public for pick up only. There is a black-out period for the months of November and December when production is in full gear to provide holiday pies for our commercial customers.

Pie flavors include Apple Crumb, Blackberry, Pecan, Chocolate Chip, Blueberry, Cherry, Peach, Coconut Cloud, Chocolate Coconut, CranApple Walnut, Fudge Brownie and Strawberry Rhubarb. Seasonal pie flavors include Rhubarb, Pumpkin, Blubarb, Lemon Meringue and Key Lime. Pie prices range from $11.00 to $13.00. For more information on ordering pies please call (585)359-3710. Each year, Holiday pies (for Thanksgiving and Christmas) are limited to four per person as the Bakery needs to accommodate large commercial orders during this time. Place your Holiday pie orders early (September is not too early) as these are usually sold-out by October! All pies must be picked up at Holy Childhood and quantities are limited. Pie orders are taken by phone only.

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Partners With Industry

Partners With Industry (PWI) is one of three sheltered workshops at Holy Childhood. It has been providing a low-cost, high quality alternative for large and small businesses for 30 years, while offering adults with developmental disabilities the opportunity to earn their own paychecks.

PWI offers businesses an excellent low-cost, high-quality option for contract work. The Agency's highly qualified management team works with adult employees to ensure a superior level of quality and timeliness.

Workers provide a variety of light industrial services including mailing, assembly inspection, shrink wrapping and packaging. Prices can be quoted by a description or sample of the work, or on-site.

PWI's loading dock and transportation equipment guarantees that pick-up and delivery of jobs is not a problem. The Agency's special ability to adapt jobs for our business partners is unique. With the aid of custom-made equipment designed for each job specifically, PWI is second to none. PWI serves a approximately 50 area companies each year.

PWI is committed to:

Visitors are welcome at any time to preview the Agency's facilities and meet its workers. For more information contact Larry D'Amico or Jim DiVirgilio by phone - (585) 334-7570; email - jdivirgilio@holychildhood.org or by fax (585)359-2291.

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The Woodworking Shop

Holy Childhood's Woodworking program produces hand crafted, quality wood items while its employees learn valuable skills in production and woodworking. Here, adults with developmental disabilities can earn a paycheck and share in the pride of creating a beautiful product. For all, the Woodworking Program provides an added income and the development of lifelong skills to further their opportunities in the workplace and in other aspects of their lives.

Adaptations of the machinery used in the program are designed and constructed to match the cognitive and motor needs of our workers.

Products include large and small slatted chests, Adirondack chairs, benches and picnic tables. Gift items such as golf-themed clocks, colonial lanterns and award clocks are available to order. Summer products (chairs, benches and tables) are available seasonally. All other products can be purchased at the Agency's Annual Craft Sale during the first Saturday in November or the Annual Woodworking Sales in December.

In addition, the Program also contracts with area businesses such as RG&E, Frontier and Time Warner Communications whose wooden stakes and wedges are made by Holy Childhood employees. Award clocks and golf-themed clocks are also purchased by area organizations for employee recognition, sponsor awards, etc.

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For more information or to schedule a tour of Holy Childhood's facilities contact us by calling (585)359-3710.