Filling a Need with Love

Since 2010, Scully Learning Center Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, has been serving Cave Creek, Carefree, North Scottsdale and surrounding areas, by enriching the lives of developmental and physical disabled adults. Located in Cave Creek and serving Carefree, North Scottsdale and surrounding areas, Scully provides individuals with disabilities the opportunity to explore the world, find purpose and live meaningful lives.

Headquartered in Cave Creek, Scully volunteers proudly serve adults with disabilities such as autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome and intellectual delays. The organization provides activities allowing them to safely explore and enjoy their community.

For over a decade, Scully Learning Center Foundation has been a leader in the field of developmental disability support. For example, in their organic garden, participants learn to cultivate crops with hands-on composting, planting, weeding and harvesting. Their goats, chickens and ducks add to the experience. A variety of arts and crafts classes allow participants to choose their own media and progress at their own level and experience. Scully Learning Center Foundation also offers cooking and nutrition classes.

Scully plans numerous field trips with the intention of providing socialization and enrichment opportunities. Participants have seen movies and shows, hiked, visited interesting venues in Maricopa County. They’ve celebrated the holidays together through one-on-one time and enjoyed the many amenities in our community.
Some of Scully’s amenities include:

Garden: Created by members, for members. Participants tending to the property garden with help from community experts is especially rewarding, educational and delicious.

Art Studio: Artistic creativity is always encouraged at Scully Learning Center through a full ceramic studio to painting, drawing and arts and crafts,

Farm Animals: Scully’s property is home to several furry and feathered friends. Being able to play with, feed and pet the animals always brings a smile to members’ faces

Classes: Dance, music and yoga classes tap into movement, rhythm and relaxation to improve emotional wellness in tandem with physical health.

Hikes and Field Trips: Excursions both in and outside the community encourages exploration and social interaction.

Parties and Events: Social gatherings build community and friendship.

Scully has also found there to be a crucial need, going forward, among participants living with aging parents, and so the Scully team has recently expanded its mission to include the creation of a unique residential center for adults with developmental and physical disabilities.

Scully recognizes that the needs of physically and developmentally disabled adults are different than most individuals needing residential placement. This is due to multiple challenges stemming from the combination of their physical and developmental delays. In addition, some of Scully Learning Center members have siblings with similar disabilities who have never been separated. These sibling-ships present even greater challenge, as there are no guaranteed adult residential placements for siblings with multiple special needs in the same residence.

In our community, there are very few, if any residential options available to meet the needs of the physically and developmentally delayed adults. This proposed center will offer a nurturing environment that feels like home. Siblings can stay together and family members can live onsite during the transition.

As the first housing of its kind, Preserving Families Home will be a model for other cities and states. This novel residential home will enable a smooth and comfortable transition to a forever family home for physically and developmentally disabled adults and their siblings when their guardians can no longer care for them. Relatives will be welcome to reside in caregiver studio apartments while their loved ones adjust to their new settings and routines. With the right resources and support, participants can transition into a semi-independent (assisted) setting that provides peace of mind for concerned family members.

Scully Learning Center Foundation is poised to fill a crucial gap in services, enhancing the quality of life for its members and strengthening leadership in the field of developmental disability support. Click HERE to learn more about Scully Learning Center Foundation and how to support them in their mission.