Developmental Services

(Community Associates)

What is Community Associates?
Community Associates is a division of the Counseling Service of Addison County that provides services to people with developmental disabilities living in Addison County. While the services provided are different for each individual depending upon need, all are based upon the belief that all people can experience rewarding and gratifying lives in their community.

The Goal of Community Associates?
It is the goal of Community Associates to facilitate opportunities for people to be active participants and valued members of their community. Community Associates’ role is to assist people in learning the skills and building the relationships each individual needs to achieve these goals. To accomplish this, we offer a wide array of support services to people with varying degrees of disability. Services are individually tailored to meet the specific needs of each person, and may include one or several of the services we offer.

Services Provided by Community Associates:

Description of Services provided by Community Associates:


Eligibility Determination:
Eligibility criteria is established by the State of Vermont. Basically, an individual must have: an IQ of 70 or below; or a diagnosis of Pervasive Developmental Disorder; and in either case, must also have substantial deficits in adaptive behavior. Our Intake Coordinator can be reached at (802) 388-4021. They will assist you with the process of establishing eligibility.

Educational, Social and Recreational opportunities:
Community Associates offers activity calendars, training announcements and helpful contacts for families caring for children and adults with developmental disabilities.
Classes are periodically offered in: Expressive Arts; Healthy relationships and sexuality; Self defense; DBT; Women’s and Men’s Groups; Nutrition and cooking; Dance and drumming; and many others
Social opportunities include: Adaptive horseback riding; Swimming; Weekly sing along; Dances; Gym activities; and many others

School age benefits:
Flexible Family Funding is limited funding made available to families according to an income sliding scale. It is intended to provide assistance to families for the care of a child (or an adult) living with them who has Medicaid and is not receiving waiver services from us. Application is easy and utilization of the funds is broad. Our Family Services Coordinator will assist you with an application for FFF.

Personal Care Services are potentially available to children under the age of 21 living with their natural or adoptive family may be eligible for a Personal Care Assistant. This individual works according to a schedule established by the family, to assist with training and support in daily living skills. The Intake Coordinator can help families fill out the application for this Medicaid funded program. Either the family or Community Associates can manage the service.

Referral to State Respite Homes: There are four homes throughout the state, owned and operated by highly trained staff, where individuals eligible for services can receive care for up to two weeks per year. This is a free service.

Transition Services: Families with a school age adolescent (ages 14-22), can receive individual planning to enhance the student’s IEP in such areas as community participation; residential; continuing education; and vocational services and employment. Groups and mentoring relationships are additional ways in which parents and adolescents can be supported during this time of important decisions.

Bridge Program – Case Coordination is potentially available to children under the age of 22. This case management service is intended to support children and their families in gaining access to needed services.

Residential Services:
For people who need help with living arrangements, Community Associates works with individuals, their families, and their guardians to identify, develop, and support the type of residence that best meets the person's needs. Some options include five person group homes, transitional living program, supervised apartments, supported apartments, or developmental homes.

Case Management Services:
Case Management involves the coordination of many services designed to support the person's involvement in the mainstream of the community. Services include medical, financial, social, recreational, educational, legal, vocational, residential, and others.

Family Support:
Family support services include respite care and intensive in-home support. Family support provides the necessary help the family needs to enable their family member to live at home.

Employment:
Employment Associates, our employment service offers a full spectrum of individualized vocational services for people. This includes vocational assessment and evaluation, job development, on the job training and follow-up, and long term supported employment.

Community Integration Services:
We offer individualized community based services, which provide people with the opportunity to explore and develop their individual interests and talents within the community.

Traumatic Brain Injury Services:
Community Associates is authorized to provide TBI Waiver Services.

Contact Information

Community Associates
109 Catamount Park
Middlebury, Vermont 05753
Phone (802) 388-4021


Emergency Services Phone (802) 388-7641