Living Independently Forever, Inc.® (LIFE), a non-profit agency empowering adults with autism, learning, and intellectual disabilities in Southeastern Massachusetts to live independently, is pleased to announce that Ellen Gage, BCBA, has joined the organization as Clinical Director.
Clinical services will support individuals who are part of LIFE’s supported independent living communities, group homes, shared living, community-based day services (CBDS), or receive supported employment services. Ellen will lead the rollout of Positive Behavior Supports, a proactive and person-centered approach to behavioral support. In addition to programmatic oversight to ensure universal tiers of support are in place for all participants at all times.
Ellen will also provide direct support to individuals who require additional behavioral intervention, and conduct professional development in managing behavioral challenges, supporting communication and decision making, and building self-advocacy skills.
Weekly social skills groups at LIFE’s supported independent living communities on Cape Cod and in Plymouth, MA will target skills across a wide range of topics, including stress or frustration management, emotional regulation, setting boundaries, navigating relationships, maintaining organization, self-advocacy, and goal setting, among others. These topics are largely determined by the interests and needs of the participants. Previous topics included scam/internet safety, navigating conflict, and setting boundaries.
Additional upcoming social skills meetings will incorporate healthy lifestyles and wellness topics as part of The Karen Reheiser Fund for Fitness & Wellness (“The Karen Fund”) mission to support LIFE programs that enhance health and wellbeing. Ellen will help develop individual health and wellness goals and a self-monitoring plan to motivate LIFE Individuals toward these goals.
Ellen has a master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis from Western New England University, is a board-certified behavior analyst, and holds a state licensure.
Living Independently Forever® (LIFE) services include supported independent daily living skills, social programs, healthy living, employment services, and community-based day programs and services for adults with intellectual disabilities.
LIFE is committed to helping individuals continue their progress toward greater independence in their pursuit of a happy, independent life. To learn more about residential and community services provided on Cape Cod and in Plymouth, MA, we invite you to explore our website, send us an email info@lifecapecod.org, or call 508-790-3600 for more information.
