Breakthrough Corporation is a 501c3 non-profit organization, located in Knoxville that supports primarily adults with autism and other intellectual or developmental disabilities. Breakthrough is licensed to provide a full continuum of services through TennCare, and is in-network for managed care organizations Blue Cross Blue Shield, Wellpoint and United Healthcare.
Other sources of funding for our programs include the State of Tennessee Department of Disability & Aging (DDA), State of Tennessee Vocational Rehabilitation, through grant funds, and private-pay participants.
RECREATIONAL THERAPY
Our Recreational Therapist, whom is a Certified Therapeutic Recreational Specialist (CTRS), creates goal driven programming with measurable objectives that assist the participants in attaining their personal best. The CTRS addresses the participant’s physical, social, emotional needs through a variety of Goal-oriented activities such as: book club, yoga & exercise programs, special olympics, gardening club, and more. Given appropriate planning and implementing, the participant can embrace the opportunity to experience Recreational Therapy and it’s benefits.
R & R PROGRAM
Our R&R program is a structured recreation program directed by a Recreational Therapist. The program focuses on recreational therapy goals and allows the participant to experience their community and surrounding areas by giving them the opportunity for community recreation that may not be readily available otherwise. Some activities include: Movie outings, local festivals, hikes and exploring nature trails, and visiting local tourist attractions. R&R also provides opportunities to work on social skills and community integration.
COMMUNITY EMPLOYMENT
We offer employment placement, resume writing workshops, one-on-one vocational coaching, employment classes, and job coaching. We sincerely believe that every single person who desires an opportunity for competitive wage employment should be given a chance to achieve their goals.
Transitioning from high school to the real world is hard for anyone but can seem especially daunting for students with disabilities and their families. Working within the schools and with the state, we provide instruction in self-advocacy, workplace skills, applying to jobs and colleges, and much more! Ask your teacher about Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) at your school.
Project SEARCH
Project SEARCH at the University of Tennessee Medical Center is a licensed replication of a nationally recognized program developed at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital to provide adults with developmental disabilities with education and experiences to learn skills needed for successful employment. Adults accepted into Project SEARCH participate in nine month internships, five days per week, at UTMC. Each day participants receive at least one hour of classroom instruction on vocational, social, and independent living skills and approximately four hours of training as an intern at a worksite in the hospital.
MAPs (Medicaid Alternative Pathways)
MAPs is a program that will set people with intellectual and developmental disabilities on a path to learn skills to help them work, live independently, learn about their neighborhoods, and find hobbies that interest them. MAPs service give people in the program the tools, technology, and support they need to meet the goal they set for themselves.
This program is available to anyone with an I/DD diagnosis who has graduated high school or will graduate within three years. MAPs participants cannot be enrolled in another long term services and supports program including ECF CHOICES, CHOICES, the Katie Beckett Program, or 1915(c) Waivers.
COMMUNITY LIVING
Our South Knoxville neighborhood contains seven fully accessible homes, a larger duplex housing unit, and efficiency apartments for adults with Autism. Breakthrough also services multiple homes in the greater Knoxville area. These homes are staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week throughout the entire year and serve up to three persons per home.
INDEPENDENT LIVING
Independent Living is for individuals who can function in the everyday circumstances of life with just the minimum of supports. Staffing is provided for a maximum of two hours a day initially and lessoned as the needs of the individual are assessed. Persons in this program should have high level skills in areas of living such as medication administration, cooking, cleaning, and accessing community services. Individuals who are receiving Independent Living services will have 24/7 access to staff in case of emergencies.
ENABLING TECHNOLOGY
Anyone that we support, is eligible for Enabling Tech if the funding is available! When a staff or family member recognizes a way that Enabling Technology could enhance someone’s life, we get in contact with their Independent Support Coordinator (ISC), who then puts us in touch with a contact from the state who advises us. We can get everything from induction stove tops that are connected to a speaker for the purpose of reminding an individual to turn it off, iPads, seizure monitors and seizure bed pads, devices with GPS in it so they can spend time independently, Spencer devices to encourage self-administration of medications, and much more.
DRIVING SIMULATOR
**Please Note: This service is NOT currently being offered at this time**
Researchers from Vanderbilt University’s Frist Center for Autism & Innovation have created a Simulator for Individualized and Adaptive Driving (SIAD), which is powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and provides driver training in a safe and secure virtual reality (VR) environment. This intelligent simulator monitors gaze patterns, driving patterns and errors, and provides customized feedback to facilitate driving skill learning, designed to meet the needs of autistic learners.
COMMUNITY SERVICES
Our community services program provides a structured program of vocational, social, and recreational activities. The community services program creates a meaningful day by providing integrated opportunities throughout the greater Knoxville community.
