Adaptive Skills Training in East LA, Alhambra and Whittier
An in-home life skills program for autism and other developmental disabilities, from Eagle Rock to Whittier. Your family pays $0.
What can adaptive skills training work on?
Plans begin with your family's biggest needs. Here's what adaptive skills training can cover at each age.
Kids, 3 to 12
-
Getting dressed
Shoes, zippers and buttons, one step at a time.
-
Teeth and bath time
Brushing teeth, washing hands and bath time, without the battle.
-
Mealtimes
Sitting through a busy dim sum lunch in Monterey Park and trying one new bite.
-
Morning routine
A visual schedule that gets everyone out the door on time.
-
Wandering and safety
Waiting at the curb for the light, and for the train, on 3rd Street in East LA.
-
Asking for help
Asking for help at a store in English, Spanish or with a picture card.
-
Playing with other kids
Taking turns at the playground in Belvedere Park.
Teens, 13 to 17
-
Morning routine
Alarm, shower, dressed and ready, without reminders.
-
Hygiene
Showering, deodorant and brushing teeth on their own.
-
Simple meals
Making a sandwich, scrambled eggs or a microwave meal.
-
Money
Buying boba on Valley Boulevard and checking the change.
-
Calling family
Calling a parent to check in, and knowing who to call.
-
Getting around
Riding the Metro E Line from East LA to school and back.
-
Staying safe
What to do if they get lost, and who to ask for help.
-
Talking with people
Ordering at a taco stand on Whittier Boulevard, in English or Spanish.
Some teens are still working on daily care, like using the toilet, getting dressed, bathing and mealtimes. We teach those at any age.
Adults, 18 and up
-
Cooking
Making a big pot on Sunday and packing lunches for the week.
-
Laundry and cleaning
Washing, drying and folding, plus a simple cleaning routine.
-
Money and budgeting
Paying bills, sticking to a budget and shopping with a list.
-
Riding the bus
Riding Montebello Bus Lines and transferring to Metro with a TAP card.
-
Home alone safely
Locking up, answering the door, and knowing what to do in an emergency.
-
Getting ready for work or class
Leaving early enough to make class at East LA College or Rio Hondo College.
-
Making appointments
Booking a clinic visit at LAC+USC and planning the ride there.
-
Talking with people
Asking the pharmacist a question and repeating back the answer.
Some adults are still working on daily care, like using the toilet, getting dressed, bathing and mealtimes. We teach those at any age, too.
How does it start?
- Email your coordinatorAsk your ELARC service coordinator to put adaptive skills training in the plan. We're on the email, so we can follow up for you.
- ELARC approves itELARC covers the cost, so there's never a bill for your family.
- A first visit at homeWe meet at your home, see how your days go and choose the first goals together.
- Skills growSessions follow a steady schedule. Once a skill holds at home, practice moves to the Metro, the market and the park.
See the email to send
Hi [their first name],
I'd like to add Levi Life Skills for adaptive skills training to [your child's full name]'s service plan.
Thank you.
Don’t have their email? Search your inbox for @nlacrc.org, @westsiderc.org or @elarc.org.
Have an IPP meeting coming up? Here's what to ask for.
How do I reach ELARC?
Already a client? Your service coordinator is the one to email about adaptive skills training. If you can't find their email, call ELARC at (626) 299-4700 and ask for your service coordinator.
ELARC, the Eastern Los Angeles Regional Center, has its main office on South Fremont Avenue in Alhambra and a second office in Whittier. There's no office in East LA itself, and you won't need to visit either one to start.
ELARC · Main office
Alhambra office
1000 S. Fremont Ave.Alhambra, CA 91803
(626) 299-4700 Get directions
ELARC · Whittier
Whittier office
13215 Penn St., Suite 410Whittier, CA 90602
(562) 698-0146 Get directions
New to ELARC? Call intake at (626) 299-4770. Our eligibility page explains what comes after.
What does a session look like?
- They do the work themselves, with your professional right beside them.
- Support fades step by step as the skill takes hold.
- Home comes first, then the neighborhood.
In eastern LA, that might be a Metro train, the corner market or the park down the street.
From Eagle Rock to Whittier
We come to ELARC families from Eagle Rock and Highland Park through Boyle Heights, East LA, Alhambra and Monterey Park, down to Montebello, Pico Rivera and Whittier.
Why families pick us
Vera really went above and beyond her work to truly help my daughter.
Questions ELARC families ask
What if my child is nervous around someone new?
We plan for that from day one. We pick a professional whose experience and personality suit your child, often around something your child already loves. The same person comes every week, so trust has time to grow, and if the match isn’t working, we’ll change it.
Can sessions be in Spanish or Mandarin?
Our professionals speak Spanish, Mandarin, Armenian, Russian and more, and we can match by language, culture or gender. Tell us what your family speaks at home, and we’ll tell you who’s available near you.
Can you come after work?
Yes. We offer evening and weekend sessions, so you’re not racing home on the 10 or the 60.
What does this add if my child already has ABA?
ABA targets behavior, and insurance usually pays for it. Adaptive skills training builds everyday skills, like dressing, cooking or riding the bus, and ELARC pays for it. Plenty of families have both.
We already have a provider through ELARC. Can we switch?
Yes. Email your ELARC service coordinator, ask to add Levi Life Skills and copy us. We handle everything after that.
Do adults get adaptive skills training too?
Yes. It starts at age 3 and has no upper limit. Adults practice cooking, handling money, riding Metro and making their own appointments.
Start adaptive skills training in eastern Los Angeles
Answer three quick questions, and we'll show you what to do next, wherever you live in eastern LA.
Find the Right Help