Day Programs for Adults with Disabilities in Columbus, OH
Adult day support and day programs in the Columbus area for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including autism: daily activities, community outings, and work and life skills.
Open Door Adult Day Services
Open Door in west Columbus is a nonprofit adult day program for adults 18 and older with intellectual and developmental disabilities, with an art studio and gallery, a performing arts program and community outings shaped around each person's interests.
Services & Care
Art studio and gallery, stage and screen performing arts, cooking, gardening, sensory room, volunteering, skill-building and small-group community outings.
Practical Info
Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Adults 18+ with an intellectual or developmental disability connected to or eligible for county board of DD services.
Open Arms Health Systems
Open Arms Health Systems in north Columbus, off Freeway Drive, offers a day program, vocational training and group employment for adults with developmental disabilities, with non-medical transportation to work, day services and the community.
Services & Care
Participant-planned day program activities, life skills, community connections, paid vocational training, group employment and non-medical transportation.
Practical Info
Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Non-medical transportation available; tours can be scheduled online.
Learning Never Ends - South
Learning Never Ends - South in Pickerington is a day habilitation center for adults with developmental disabilities, one of five Learning Never Ends centers around Columbus, offering social and recreational programming, employment services and community outings.
Services & Care
Day habilitation with social skill development, community inclusion, continuing education, employment services and job coaching, behavioral plans, medication administration and transportation.
Practical Info
Google lists Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., plus weekend hours; non-medical transportation available.
Dungarvin Ohio Adult Day Services
Dungarvin Ohio runs a structured weekday day program in northwest Columbus near Campus View Boulevard for adults 18 and up with developmental disabilities, combining skill-building and recreation at its center with community outings and volunteering.
Services & Care
Daily living skills, communication and social skills, recreation, education, volunteering, community outings, behavioral support and assistive technology.
Practical Info
Office open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Adults 18+; Medicaid waiver services.
The Alternative Center
The Alternative Center in northeast Columbus is a community-based day program for adults with developmental disabilities and special needs, founded in 2008 by a mother of a daughter with Down syndrome, with life skills classes, job preparation and outings.
Services & Care
Life skills education, job readiness training, music therapy, community outings and volunteering, transportation and homemaker/personal care.
Practical Info
Program hours Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Transportation offered.
ARC Voyagers Bixby Center
ARC Voyagers Bixby Center is one of ARC Voyagers' Adult Resource Centers in Groveport, on Bixby Road, a weekday day program where adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities build new skills, explore interests and spend time in the community.
Services & Care
Adult Resource Center day programming with on-site classes and group activities, daily community outings, skill-building and social connection; transportation for eligible participants.
Practical Info
Programming Monday to Friday, typically 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Franklin County residents; Ohio DD waivers accepted; transportation for eligible participants.
Beacon Specialized Living Pillars Day Program
Beacon's Pillars Day Program in Worthington serves adults 18 and older with developmental disabilities across the Columbus area, with a campus-based program and small community groups of up to four people per staff member, plus pickup and drop-off.
Services & Care
Campus program with themed weekly activities and a sensory room, 1:4 community-based groups, work exploration, medication administration and transportation.
Practical Info
Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Adults 18+; Ohio IO waiver; pickup and drop-off provided; full or part time.
ARC Voyagers Northeast Center
ARC Voyagers Northeast Center is one of ARC Voyagers' Adult Resource Centers in Gahanna, on North Hamilton Road, a weekday day program where adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities build new skills, explore interests and spend time in the community.
Services & Care
Adult Resource Center day programming with on-site classes and group activities, daily community outings, skill-building and social connection; transportation for eligible participants.
Practical Info
Programming Monday to Friday, typically 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Franklin County residents; Ohio DD waivers accepted; transportation for eligible participants.
ARC Voyagers Grove City
ARC Voyagers Grove City is one of ARC Voyagers' Adult Resource Centers in Grove City, a weekday day program where adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities build new skills, explore interests and spend time in the community.
Services & Care
Adult Resource Center day programming with on-site classes and group activities, daily community outings, skill-building and social connection; transportation for eligible participants.
Practical Info
Programming Monday to Friday, typically 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Franklin County residents; Ohio DD waivers accepted; transportation for eligible participants.
Excel at Hattie Larlham Westerville
Excel at Hattie Larlham in Westerville is the Central Ohio site of Hattie Larlham's day support program for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, built around community trips, volunteering, friendships and daily learning.
Services & Care
Community outings, volunteering and collection drives, social connection, hobbies, daily living skills, current events and educational activities.
Practical Info
Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities; call for hours and enrollment.
Hours not available
How to get a place and funding in Ohio
In Ohio, adult day support and vocational habilitation are mostly paid for through Medicaid waivers run by the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD).
In Columbus, the way in is the Franklin County Board of Developmental Disabilities, which provides case management and access to day programs, employment services and residential options. Outside Franklin County, contact your county board of DD.
Your service and support administrator (SSA) at the county board helps choose a provider.
Official sources: Franklin County Board of Developmental Disabilities, Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities.