First of its kind in Sri Lanka! Estimated opening: End of 2027
Enrichment programmes
At GreaterGood, we are committed to supporting and empowering young adults with autism and similar intellectual disabilities in every aspect of their lives. Our goal is to provide them with inspiring programmes and activities to ensure a rich and meaningful life. All our residents, within their capabilities, are encouraged to participate in household activities such as laundry, dishes, cooking, baking, and gardening. This helps them develop a sense of responsibility and provides benefits to both themselves and their housemates. They have a scheduled routine involving personal care, outings to interesting places, opportunities for social interaction, and visits from family and friends.
Our enrichtment programme is designed to provide residents with daily activities, suitable occupation, and stimulation, while also promoting social interaction with other residents and staff. Through the various activities, residents are challenged to grow and adapt within a safe and understanding environment. Every resident goes through an assessment to consider their individual strengths and weaknesses, with an emphasis on personal growth. There is a strong focus on group and social interactions, which helps improve communication and social skills through group dynamics. We offer various activities designed to be enriching for residents as well as other participants.
We will have access to both international and local therapists.
Life
Skills
Life skills, also known as independent living skills or daily living skills, are essential for individuals with autism to increase their independence. We make it a priority to work on life skills with our residents on a daily basis, whether it involves teaching basic life skills or enhancing their repertoire with more advanced skills. Ways to build independence: * Strengthen communication * Introduce visual schedules * Work on self-care skills * Teach to ask for a break * Work on house-hold chores * Practice money skills * Teach community safety skills * Build leisure skills * Teach self-care during adolescence * Work on vocational skills We will be working on each of these skills based on each individual's capability and needs.
Social
Groups
Our Social Skills groups provide individuals with autism of all ages the opportunity to regularly strengthen and practice social interaction and communication skills with each other and/or typical peers. Effective social skills groups should have a clearly defined structure and routine to help participants feel secure and know what to expect. The groups should take abstract social concepts and break them down into specific, tangible actions that participants can understand and practice. The language used in the groups should be simplified, and children should be grouped based on their language level to ensure effective communication and understanding. Participants should be encouraged to work together in pairs or groups, fostering cooperation and partnership. The groups should offer various learning opportunities to cater to different learning styles and abilities. Additionally, the environment should promote self-awareness and self-esteem, helping participants build confidence in their social interactions. Furthermore, the groups should provide ample opportunities for participants to practice their social skills in real-life settings outside of the group, ensuring that the skills they learn are applied and reinforced beyond the structured sessions. * Source: Social Skills Interventions: Getting to the Core of Autism developed for the Interactive Autism Network (IAN) by Teresa j. Fodden and Connie Anderson, Ph.D Our Social Skills Groups are open to our residents and other individuals with autism/special needs from the neighborhood. We also invite neurotypical youth and young adults to participate in the programme through the Buddy Programme.
Maker
Space
What is a Makerspace? Makerspaces are places for people of all ages, including kids, teens, young adults, and adults, both Neurotypical and Neurodiverse. They are fantastic spaces where individuals can come together to share their creative interests and engage in hands-on learning experiences. While you might think it's all about 3D printers and high-tech equipment, it's actually simpler than that. Any space where people can collaborate, generate ideas, create designs, and make things using various materials qualifies as a "makerspace." At GreaterGood, we prioritize embracing individuality and fostering a sense of community. We are dedicated to supporting our residents by providing arts, crafts, and a wide range of other activities. A visit to our Makerspace is included in our residents' weekly program. It's all about unleashing creativity, promoting learning, and nurturing a close-knit community.
Agriculture Projects
Our garden is designed to provide educational and vocational horticultural experiences for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, offering meaningful opportunities for growth and learning. At Greatergood, we promote a healthy lifestyle for our residents, staff, and visitors. Each of our homes has a spacious kitchen where healthy and delicious meals are prepared daily, with each resident having their own role. We prioritize the use of our home-grown organic vegetables for the daily meals of our residents. The hospitality section menu will also feature dishes made with organic home-grown ingredients. In addition to vegetables, we also grow various fruits such as bananas, papayas, pineapples, mangoes, and passion fruits. The onsite-grown microgreens are organic, sustainably cultivated, and harvested weekly. Any surplus harvest is served in the hospitality section of our community or sold in our community store. Growing vegetables and fruits not only brings joy but also contributes to a healthier life. We also grow various flowers in the garden to brighten up our community.
Yoga & Mindfulness
The practice of yoga can benefit anyone, but it can be especially supportive for people with special needs due to their many physical, physiological, and emotional difficulties. In addition to the well-known benefits of yoga such as increased strength, balance, coordination, and flexibility, it can also lead to increased social-emotional skills, language and communication, body awareness, self-regulation, focus, concentration, and a reduction in anxiety, impulsive, obsessive, aggressive, and self-stimulatory behaviors. At Greatergood, we incorporate yoga into our residents' daily schedule Practicing yoga will not only help them feel calm and relaxed but can also support the residents' therapists in feeling more calm, resulting in a positive and relaxing experience for both.
The Great
Outdoors
When it comes to engaging activities for our residents, exploring the outdoors can provide numerous benefits. The outdoors provides a rich sensory environment, opportunities for social interaction, and a chance to learn and explore in a natural setting. Here are some key benefits of outdoor activities. Outdoor environments provide a wide variety of sensory experiences, including the feeling of grass, the sound of birds, and the scent of flowers. These sensory stimuli can assist individuals with autism in developing sensory integration skills and enhancing their sensory processing abilities. Participating in outdoor activities promotes physical exercise, benefiting overall health and well-being. Engaging in activities like running, jumping, and playing can enhance motor skills, coordination, and strength. Spending time in nature has a calming and soothing effect on individuals, including those with autism. It can help reduce stress, anxiety, and sensory overload, promoting relaxation and emotional well-being. Outdoor activities provide opportunities to engage in social interactions with peers, siblings, and caregivers. Group activities like sports, picnics, and scavenger hunts can foster social skills development, cooperation, and teamwork. Exploring the outdoors provides numerous learning opportunities, such as discovering nature, studying plants and animals, and gaining a deeper appreciation for the environment. Outdoor environments offer a hands-on, experiential approach to learning, which stimulates curiosity and cognitive development. In the weekly programme of our residents, we will include a variety of specific sensory-friendly, social engagement, calming and relaxing activities that can be enjoyed in the great outdoors.
NeuroAdaptive
Fitness
Neuroadaptive Fitness is a science-based, individualized, and holistic approach that focuses on the unique strengths of neurodivergent individuals. At our community gym, our aim is to create a sensory-friendly experience for our residents. This includes avoiding harsh lights, blaring music, and bright colors. We customize the experience to each resident's comfort level, with details such as adjustable lighting and a designated "chill-out space" to help reduce sensory overload. In our gym, we cater to the intellectual, physical, mental, and sensory needs of each resident. We create personalized workout plans that focus on functional fitness, ensuring that everything we do has real-world applications to help our residents thrive in their daily lives. We assume competence and begin with the assumption that everyone can learn to exercise, craves achievement, and will succeed with time, guidance, and support. We work with our residents in ways that meet their needs and preferences, building on their strengths and being flexible in our expectations, approach, and timing. Our approach generalizes to real life and focuses on functional fitness, utilizing everyday movement patterns and skills-building to help individuals become strong, stable, and resilient. Our adaptive gym doesn't just focus on fitness; we also develop social skills, foster teamwork, and build confidence. Each session is designed not only for fun but also to achieve tangible results and personal growth.
Animal
Farm
Many studies have shown that interacting with animals can improve the social functioning of autistic individuals. Having animals around can serve as a great conversation starter, as people often inquire about the animal's name, age, and breed, providing a reason for people to engage in conversation. For autistic individuals, socializing can be challenging, but having a pet nearby can alleviate the uncertainty of entering a conversation. Additionally, animals can also serve as great companions, as autistic individuals often find it easier to communicate with animals than with other people. Therefore, spending time with animals can provide a sense of companionship and connection that may be difficult to find with neurotypical peers. At the GreaterGood farm, you will find a variety of animals including cows, chickens, fish, goats, and some lovely dogs. Residents are encouraged to help with feeding the animals, cleaning their living areas, taking the dogs for a walk, or simply spending time petting them.
Additional
therapies
At GreaterGood, we emphasize the significance of providing ABA services for our residents. Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a scientific approach that aims to improve socially significant behaviors and teach individualized skills. ABA has been proven to be the most effective treatment for autism across all age groups, from childhood and adolescence through to adulthood. Furthermore, ABA is beneficial and should be utilized throughout one's lifespan. One of the reasons Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is so useful in treating individuals with autism is that behavior change can be addressed at any age. Skills are assessed to identify specific areas that need to be worked on for the individual. Behavior programs and teaching plans are selected and created for the learner, and then data is collected to measure progress. If progress is not being made, changes can be made to increase success for the learner. For example, ABA can involve efforts to increase skills leading to more independence while decreasing behaviors that interfere with learning new skills. All of our residents undergo an initial assessment conducted by a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). During the assessment, the resident will be asked to demonstrate certain skills and answer a series of questions. Family members are welcome to assist as needed. Based on the assessment results and other provided information, the BCBA will create a treatment plan with recommended goals and ABA therapy requirements. Our ABA therapists then teach and assist our residents in practicing the skills outlined in their treatment plans using ABA strategies, all under the supervision of a Behavior Analyst. Besides ABA therapy sessions we provide Ocupational Therapy, Sensory Integration, Speech therapy and other therapies like Safe and Sound Protocol, Alpha Stim, Ion Cleanse Footbath and more.
Dance &
Music
Dance is known to engage both sides of the brain and serves as an excellent form of physical and mental exercise for everyone. However, for individuals on the autism spectrum, dance can be particularly valuable due to its unique combination of rhythms, coordination, interaction, and repetition. People with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often find it challenging to understand the feelings of others. Dance can stimulate the social areas of the brain, allowing individuals with ASD to connect with someone who shares their movements and behaviors. This interaction can help them better comprehend thoughts and emotions. At GreaterGood, we truly understand the profound impact that Dance and Music have on well-being. That’s why we thoughtfully incorporate these enriching activities into our residents' weekly programs, allowing them to express themselves and connect with joy.
Vocational
Training
The Cabana Village serves as the hospitality section of our community, where residents can work and earn a living to support their livelihood within the community. It provides hospitality services specifically tailored for families with children who have autism and other learning disabilities, as well as individuals interested in living, learning, and working within the community. This section aims to develop essential workplace skills and increase independence for our residents. Based on their capabilities, residents will receive the training needed for potential employment within the Village. Training opportunities include administrative work, cooking, housekeeping, and various other job-related activities in Cabana Village. Our training center offers a wide range of activities, such as animal care, landscaping, carpentry, food services, agriculture and more. Each participant benefits from a personalized vocational support plan designed to address their unique skills and needs. Additionally, residents can participate in culinary training and work at the Community Café and Restaurant, further enhancing their skill sets. The advantages of vocational training extend beyond merely obtaining a job. By engaging in structured vocational activities, autistic individuals can develop important skills, foster social interactions, and build confidence in their abilities.
Buddy
Programme
There are countless heartfelt reasons to become a buddy to someone with special needs. Embracing this role can bring about meaningful connections and foster understanding, compassion, and joy in both your lives.