Programs and Services

What do you wish for your family? What do you wish for yourself? When it comes to people with varied abilities, the answers may seem to come with limitations. But KSI’s mission is to assist people with disabilities to live their best lives—to reach past their limits and find their highest potential.

KSI offers a variety of quality programs and services to help individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities attain their life goals. Whether preparing for the workplace, or finding more independence and participation in the community, KSI works side-by-side with individuals, families and community resources to create paths to success.

Pre-Vocational Training

Employment empowers people with greater control, choice and independence in their lives. Giving people with varied abilities the opportunities needed for attaining employment skills and success is what KSI Pre-Vocational Training is all about. It provides step-by-step experiences to help individuals achieve their own dreams for their lives. Pre-Vocational Training offers:
• Progressive training to build personal and employment skills
• Volunteer opportunities to reinforce skills and learn teamwork
• Paid work experiences both at KSI’s Skill Development Center and with community-based work crews
• Work conditioning to prepare for real-world employment

Life Enrichment Program

Life is richer with new and engaging experiences as part of it. People with varied abilities should have the same opportunities to experience the liveliness of their communities as much as anyone. KSI’s Life Enrichment provides those experiences to increase skills, independence and community participation. The program offers opportunities to help individuals reach their highest successes in the community by:
• Gaining and maintaining self-care, safety, socialization and participation skills
• Experiencing self-discovery through inclusion in community trips, clubs, classes, cultural engagements and lesson-centered activities
• Volunteering for community organizations to gain skills and contribute meaningfully to others

KSI Explore Program

Coming back from an acquired brain injury takes a lot of courage and so much work. People learning how to become a part of society again and reclaim their lives is a journey that takes a lot of support and encouragement. Individuals dealing with an acquired brain injury and a wide range of disabilities that limit their social interaction can benefit from the KSI Explore Program’s specialized Adult Day Services. The program provides opportunities for expanding experiences either at KSI’s Skill Development Center or in the community based on personal choice. The program includes:
• Peer support from others dealing with disabilities to help in everyone’s journey
• Socialization and community reintroduction activities to be more comfortable and capable
• Volunteer activities with community organizations to meaningfully participate and contribute

KSI Transportation

All these wonderful activities and opportunities are there to help your family member learn and grow. But accessing them can be difficult on individuals and families relying on their own resources or public transportation. KSI has always recognized the need for transportation services and is committed to providing our program participants with consistent access to the opportunities available to them. We ensure that with a fleet of vans and busses bringing participants safely from their homes to KSI’s Skill Development Center and to community sites throughout Kent and Sussex County. KSI Transportation allows individuals to securely utilize the employment and inclusion activities that will help them build better lives. And drivers are trained to treat every individual with the dignity and respect they deserve during their travels.

KSI can also assist participants in securing DART certification if that is the most effective means of transport for their needs.

Your Rights Under Title VI.pdf

KSI Computer Lab

Technology can add excitement and extension to individuals’ lives. And part of KSI’s Milford Skill Development Center is a Computer Lab offering participants the ability to enjoy tutorials and online skill-building activities to help them be more digitally literate. Participants can utilize guided learning programs that help them develop capabilities in typing skills as well as increase their computer proficiency by exploring online resources. KSI also has computer apps that assist individuals build their communication abilities. The KSI Computer Lab was made possible through funding by DFRC (Delaware Foundation Reaching Citizens with Intellectual disABILITIES).

KSI Cafeteria

Achieving personal success takes a lot of energy. That’s why each participant attending KSI’s Skill Development Center is provided daily with free breakfasts and lunches thanks to the KSI Cafeteria. Nutritious meals provide for healthy bodies to meet the challenge of increasing their personal skills.

Community Opportunities

When people with varied abilities have new experiences and participate in new activities in the community, it adds to their growth journey and their sense of pride. And it makes them feel more like real parts of that community instead of outsiders.

KSI partners with numerous community organizations and nonprofits to help participants develop skill-building experiences. Community centers, libraries, museums, arts centers, theaters and others are wonderful sites where participants can engage in activities and clubs with members of the community at large. Participants also benefit from volunteer opportunities with community nonprofits where they can learn how to take direction, work with others and perform new tasks while they are contributing back to their communities.

Some of these community partners have included:

Abbott’s Mill Nature Center
Air Mobility Command Center
Camp Rehoboth Community Center
CHEER Centers Delaware
Clear Space Theatre Company
Christ’s Episcopal Church, Milford
Courageous Hearts Equine Assisted Psychotherapy & Learning Center
Delaware Archives
Delaware State Police Museum & Education Center
Delaware Veterans Home, Milford
Dover Public Library
Dupont Nature Center
First State Senior Center
Food Bank of Delaware, Milford
Frederica Senior Center
Georgetown Public Library
Goodwill
Greenwood Public Library
Lewes Public Library
Lavender Fields
Legislative Hall
Milford Public Library
Milford Senior Center
Milton Public Library
Music School of Delaware
Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge
Seaford Library and Cultural Center
And many more

If your nonprofit has such opportunities for KSI’s participants, contact us today using the form below. Please be sure to provide a brief description of the activities and/or volunteer experiences you can provide.