Personal Growth & Lifelong Learning
Sharing teaching, learning, and growing…together!
Individuals at CCS pursue a wide range of interests, activities, and experiences matching their personal goals, as reflected in their Individual Service Agreements (ISA). Our Direct Support Professionals provide one-to-one, community-based supports to help individuals achieve their goals.
These include basic needs from shopping, banking, medical and educational appointments, to more personal goals, from exercise and fitness, volunteering, strengthening independent living skills, to cultural, recreational and leisure activities.
CCS maintains a number of strong community partnerships that offer free or affordable access, including ECHO Lake Aquarium, Shelburne Farms, Shelburne Museum, Vermont Parks Forever. We also work with a number of local nonprofits offering meaningful volunteer opportunities.
A number of small group activities, typically initiated by people we serve, offer the chance to pursue shared passions. These include art, karaoke, a game group, and a gardening group (which often invites everyone to the kitchen to share the harvest!).
PGLL Involves…
Participant-Driven Curriculum
Participants are the faculty and students of their own campuses.
Courses are developed by participants based on their unique interests.
Participants may choose the way in which they want to participate.
An annual class theme is determined by vote every fall semester.
Ongoing Learning
Learning is an ongoing process for all of us: we learn with and from each other.
Participants present on a wide range of relevant topics, including science, health and wellness, society and culture, and the natural world.
We learn by doing. Experiential learning gives us the opportunity to learn in intuitive ways.
Developing Leadership Skills
Through peer teaching, participants gain skills in public speaking, time management, research methods, and self-confidence.
Participants celebrate one another’s accomplishments and let each other shine!
Strengthening Peer Connections
Participants spend time in community with their peers each week.
Collaboration across our campuses is encouraged. Participants write to pen pals from other campuses and can attend class at other PGLL locations via Zoom.
PGLL fosters personal growth by supporting and celebrating participants’ unique life experiences.
Community Engagement
Campuses are located at public community spaces in each town.
Meaningful community engagement is determined by the participants.
Participants can attend course-related educational trips to engage with experts in their field.
Each campus participates in an annual community service project. The project is determined by class participants and assists a local organization in achieving its mission.
Recent updates from PGLL Campus Facilitators
Peer Growth & Lifelong Learning (PGLL) offers facilitated learning, community engagement, personal growth, and experiential opportunities for adults with intellectual disabilities at campuses in Colchester, Hardwick, Lamoille, Newport, and St. Johnsbury.