Life Skills & Community
Life Skills
Manos Unidas Life Skills and Community program in King and Snohomish counties opens the door for clients with intellectual and developmental disabilities to gain valuable skills for independence and community connection. Regardless of age and level of ability, Life Skills can be adapted and useful!
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Your Life Skills Coach will support you as you learn or maintain a range of skills in any of the following categories:
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Safety Awareness and Self Advocacy
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Interpersonal Effectiveness and Effective Social Communication
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Coping Strategies for Everyday Life Challenges
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Managing Daily Tasks and Acquiring Adaptive Skills
Your Life Skills Coach will work alongside you to build confidence, independence, and connection in your daily life. Whether you’re learning to navigate your community safely, communicate more effectively with others, manage stress and emotions, or organize your day with greater ease, we’re here to help you reach your goals at your own pace.
Life Skills Overview
(formally Specialized Habilitation)
Life Skills services are available to DDCS (formerly DDA) clients of all ages and abilities enrolled in the Individual and Family Services (IFS) waiver, Basic Plus waiver, Core waiver, Children’s Intensive In-Home Behavioral Support (CIIBS) Waiver.
Life Skills is not available to those receiving residential habilitation services.
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Private pay is accepted.
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Hourly rate for DDCS clients and private pay clients is $72.12 per hour for individualized sessions
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Life Skills sessions are provided in home and community settings
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Life Skills offer by skilled and trained professionals in Manos Unidas.
Our services can be delivered in English and Spanish, delivering culturally adapted and rooted support by working with your family- not just the client.
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Life Skills Goal Areas
Imagine a client who could use extra support organizing their day—whether it’s managing the morning routine before school or work, or finding structure during unplanned time. Another client might benefit from practicing social communication with friends, family, or community members to build confidence and connection. Or perhaps someone wants to make a trip to the store for their favorite dinner ingredients but needs help safely navigating streets and public transportation. These are just a few examples of how our Life Skills Program helps individuals build independence, safety, and meaningful daily routines.
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Here are a few examples of goals we can work on with clients:
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Safety Awareness and Self-Advocacy
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Kitchen Safety
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Money awareness and Financial safety
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Digital wellness
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Traffic safety
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Community access
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Public Transportation Safety
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Personal management and Safety
Interpersonal Effectiveness and Effective Social Communication
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Community relationships
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Mealtime Social Skills
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Peer awareness
Coping Strategies Regarding Everyday Life Challenge
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Seeking help:
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Adjusting to Transitions
Managing Daily Tasks and Adaptive Skills
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Time Management
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Leisure Skills
Community Engagement
Community Engagement services are provided to support the client accessing activities in the community . This could be meeting friends for lunch, attending the highschool drama club group or any other community activities that require a bit of support.
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The possibilities are endless and deeply personalized, ensuring that each client can engage in activities that reflect their unique interests.For more information view our digital flyer.
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Private pay is accepted.
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Hourly rate for DDCS clients and private pay clients is $32.00 per hour for individualized sessions
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Community Engagement activities occur outside of the home and in community settings
Contact your DDA Case Resource Manager to request Community engagement services.
To Get Started
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Reach out to your DDCS Case Manager about Life Skills of Community Engagement through Manos Unidas International to check eligibility
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Contact Celeste Marion, our Life Skills Program Director: celeste@manosunidasinternational.org
What you’ll need prepared when contacting Manos Unidas
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Availability for Services
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Ideas for proposed goals or community ideas
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Case Manager’s Contact Information (Phone and Email)
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Your Contact Information (Phone and Email)