Saline education program cultivates independence for adults with disabilities

Excerpt from AnnArbor.com: (click for entire article)

Lee Ann Redies says she’s made friends and learned new skills in her first three weeks at Liberty Club, a new four-day-a-week program for adults with disabilities that meets in Room 20 of Liberty School in Saline.

And she’s not alone. Amy Acree of Saline has learned about healthful eating by drawing and discussing the food pyramid.

Lance Massie, another participant and Saline resident, enjoys sanding and painting wooden cars during meetings of the club, which aims to build job skills as well as provide a safe and educational environment for people who may have few other outlets.

Massie has also cultivated business skills through the Saline school system. For the past five years, he's run a small dog-walking and pet-sitting business.

Saline Community Education started Liberty Club earlier this month to assist the families of adults with disabilities, whose needs extend beyond the school years. After age 26, a Saline student is no longer under the district's umbrella, and caregivers must plan daily supervision and continuing education -- no small feat when parents work day jobs or need to go out of town.