Here at Grand Legacy At The Park we pride ourselves on the variety of charities we have been involved with throughout the years. Recently we have come across a local organization which services adults with disabilities in the Orange County area. My Day Counts/Orange County Adult Achievement Center was established in 1951 by a small group of parents who wanted to provide enhanced opportunities for their children with developmental disabilities. There were no services or special education classes for adults with disabilities during this time, so on their own the group started classes that were taught by volunteers within the community. Today, My Day Counts has expanded to servicing over 800 adults with programs designed to “enrich the lives of individuals served and enable them to achieve their full potential”.
Picture provided by My Day Counts
The team over at My Day Counts has one very clear mission: “Making Life Better for People with Disabilities”. To fulfill their mission they incorporate a strong set of fundamental values into all facets of their operations which include:
- Pursue excellence in their operations, policies and practices
- Maintain integrity in their conduct at all times
- Encourage innovations in staff to find new and better ways of meeting their goals
- Foster teamwork so that all members of the My Day Counts community are working together to provide quality services for clients
- Be accountable for Fiscal Responsibility
- Have respect for all clients and staff
My Day Counts provides vocational training, employment, and placement in community based jobs. They have skill development designed to enhance the potential for independent living, making informed choices and self advocacy. There are also opportunities to participate in leisure and recreational activities based on individual preferences designed to enhance the quality of life. Not one adult is left behind or looked over no matter the severity level of their disability. They are provided with things such as a Multi Sensory Therapeutic Program, an innovative Sensory Lab and community outings. There are also different workshops, like physical therapy exercises, arts and crafts, music and the “Paid Job” activities.
My Job Counts is a program within My Day Counts that over 300 individuals participate in. The My Job Counts program offers meaningful training, mentoring, and preparation for a variety of in-house and community based work experience. Participants work a Monday through Friday schedule, are paid and work within a 60,000 square foot facility in Anaheim with some companies such as Kimberly Clark, SafeRacks, Green Packaging ASIA, FIJI Water, ECOLAB and Cafejo just to name a few. Individuals that are part of the program are coached and counseled by trained staff who are well versed in both production techniques and strategies for developing good work habits and social behavior.
My Cup Counts is another great program at My Day Counts that adds to the employment and meaningful development of these individuals. With My Cup Counts, clients are employed to package, fulfill and manufacture coffee which includes single serve cup packaging, pod packaging, kit assembly, gift package assembly, palletizing and much more. The ultimate goal of My Job Counts and My Cup Counts is to use this training and work experience to help level the playing field for these individuals to obtain jobs in the community and thus economic independence.
By purchasing coffee for your business through My Cup Counts you are helping in reducing the unemployment rate for adults with disabilities and adding to the quality of life. We are proud to announce that Grand Legacy At The Park will now be supplying our very own Legacy Blend from My Cup Counts in all guest rooms. Drinking coffee during your stay with us will help employ the adults at My Day Counts.
Our own Legacy Blend in the Anaheim Factory, at My Cup Counts.
As you can see, My Day Counts is a well rounded company that offers unlimited possibilities to some amazing adults with disabilities. We believe so much in this organization that we will start making quarterly donations. We ask our guests to join us and make a $1 donation at time of check-in. At the end of the quarter, Grand Legacy At The Park will match the donations collected.
If you would like to donate to My Day Counts please click here.
Grand Legacy At The Park team visits My Day Counts.
Here is a great video about My Day Counts…
