Preparing for the Sweetheart Ball

Menumenu

February 13, 2015 | Bob Luckey for Greenwich Time

Theo Brown, left, gets a lesson in boutonniere pinning from Doreen Harrison (red hat), an Abilis job coach, who was leading a group in the fine art of boutonniere making at Abilis in Greenwich, Conn., Friday, Feb. 13, 2015.

Kristy Kasmarski, left, smiles after giving the boutonniere she made to her boyfriend, Chris Walker, at Abilis in Greenwich, Conn., Friday, Feb. 13, 2015. Kasmarski and Walker are both members of the Abilis community and are taking part in the Sweetheart Ball at the Arthur Murray Grande Ballroom in Greenwich on Saturday night (Valentine's Day evening), where the boutonnieres will be exchanged for corsages by the Abilis couples. According to Doreen Harrison, an Abilis job coach who was leading the boutonniere making, 10 couples will be exchanging flowers with each other and dancing the night away courtesy of the Arthur Murray Dance Studio of Greenwich. Abilis is a Greenwich organization that serves people with developmental disabilities.

At center, Doreen Harrison, an Abilis job coach, leads couples, including Theo Brown, left, and Kristy Kasmarski, right, in the fine art of boutonniere making at Abilis in Greenwich, Conn., Friday, Feb. 13, 2015.

Kristy Kasmarski, left, pins a boutonniere on her boyfriend, Chris Walker, at Abilis in Greenwich, Conn., Friday, Feb. 13, 2015.

Doreen Harrison, an Abilis job coach, leads a group in the fine art of boutonniere making at Abilis in Greenwich, Conn., Friday, Feb. 13, 2015.

Doreen Harrison, an Abilis job coach, holds a plate containing boutonnieres at Abilis in Greenwich, Conn., Friday, Feb. 13, 2015.

A rose in the hands of Doreen Harrison, an Abilis job coach, who was leading a group of Abilis clients in the fine art of boutonniere making at Abilis in Greenwich, Conn., Friday, Feb. 13, 2015.

Therapeutic Services

Abilis is home to experts who work together to create a cohesive approach to personalized therapeutic care. Our therapies, housed in our Therapy Center, are administered using best practices and are available at Abilis or in the environments you choose, including your home and places in the community where the therapy will be the most effective.

Life Services

Abilis provides needed supports to people throughout their lives. Our goal is to enhance each person’s quality of life through social activities, meaningful employment and high quality residential services. Our Life Services programs include health and wellness care delivered by certified professionals.

The Individual Life Plan

The Individual Life Plan (ILP) is our signature service. Abilis works collaboratively with families to assess existing needs, plan for future needs, and create a personalized roadmap for anticipated therapeutic and life skills services for their family member with disabilities. From birth through adulthood to later stages in life, the ILP will help families and individuals with disabilities prepare for and successfully navigate major life transitions.

Activities

Abilis offers social and recreational programs for children, teens, and adults. These programs range from weekly music, art, and cooking classes to monthly birthday parties with dancing and teen social gatherings with games and pizza. In addition to these regular events, Abilis schedules special outings to New York City and other destinations to enjoy arts events.