During the Miami-Dade County School Board meeting of Mar. 13, board vice chair Monica Colucci proffered agenda item B-4, recognizing The WOW Center.
The WOW Center, located in Kendall, is an Adult Day Training (ADT) Center with a mission to provide access to opportunities and resources for adults with developmental disabilities in the community.
Fifty-one years ago, these programs were not available. Upon high school graduation, the options for continued education and community involvement for adults with developmental disabilities were limited. The WOW Center is the result of the hope and dedication of a small group of parents who organized, looking to fill the gap and meet the needs of their aging children with disabilities.
Since its founding, in 1972, The WOW Center has broadened its programs, services, and activities, amassing a reputation throughout Florida, as being on the frontlines of disability inclusion, innovative program development, and generating purposeful opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities. In Miami-Dade County, The WOW Center supports and serves nearly 200 adults with developmental disabilities, ages 21 to 83.
Personalized support plans are offered that address the adults’ specific needs and goals. The WOW Center accomplishes this by focusing on gross/fine motor skills, locomotion, strength, and development. The Wow Center’s goals target mental alertness, conversational skills, as well as preventing depression, and social isolation.
The WOW Center offers a diverse range of recreational and social activities, such as art classes, sports, community outings, and music therapy. These activities promote social interaction, community engagement, and personal expression. The WOW Center’s ADT model has been called a model of excellence by the Agency for Persons with Disabilities in Florida. Because of their “above and beyond” approach, which integrates The WOW Center’s social services team, the center is able to offer education, resources, and support services to families, ensuring they have the tools to advocate for their loved ones and navigate the challenges associated with developmental disabilities.
The WOW Center’s work empowers adults with developmental disabilities. Through a multifaceted community effort, The WOW Center is dedicated to making Miami more inclusive through its partnerships with businesses and organizations, by offering training, community events, and opportunities for employment; making inclusion visible, tangible, and life-changing for those it serves.
“The only thing I can say, and I said this while I was there, was WOW, because there is so much love that exudes from that environment, from the clients that are served, to the people that serve. I honestly can say that I left there with the biggest smile on my face,” vice chair Colucci said. “I am so proud that in our community, we have a group of individuals that are advocating, that are helping all of those with developmental disabilities and making their lives better each and every day.”
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