Life Skills Development — support for your family. Building confidence for everyday independence, with personalized skill building, 24/7 support available and a trusted care team. Daily living skill support, goal-based learning plans and quality care you can trust from Miracle Makers Home Care.
ODP · Life Skills Development · Philadelphia

Life Skills Development in Philadelphia

Building confidence for everyday independence.

Cooking, budgeting, communication, transportation, self-advocacy — taught at the person's own pace, one real skill at a time, until independence sticks. If your loved one has a Pennsylvania ODP waiver, it costs your family $0 out-of-pocket.

(484) 229-3455
Licensed & Qualified ODP Provider All 3 ODP Waivers Accepted $0 Out-of-Pocket With a Waiver

What is Life Skills Development? It's an ODP waiver service focused on teaching the practical skills of adult life — cooking a meal, managing money, using public transport, communicating needs, staying safe. Unlike support that does tasks for a person, Life Skills Development is built around clear, personal goals so the individual can eventually do more on their own.

Independence, One Skill at a Time

Every family we work with has a version of the same hope: that their loved one can do a little more for themselves, and worry a little less about what happens down the road. Life Skills Development is the service built specifically around that hope.

Instead of a fixed curriculum, we start with a goal that matters to the person — make my own lunch, catch the bus to my program, handle money at the store, tell someone when something's wrong — and break it into steps small enough to actually master. Each skill learned is a piece of independence that stays.

It's coordinated through your Supports Coordinator and Individual Support Plan, with progress reviewed openly so everyone can see what's working and what to aim at next.

ODP Office
Philadelphia
Serving all of Philadelphia County
& families statewide across PA
(484) 229-3455
[email protected] Monday – Friday · 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Skills We Help Build

Chosen with the individual — because a skill only sticks when it's one the person actually wants.

Cooking & Nutrition

Planning meals, shopping for ingredients, cooking safely and eating well — from a simple breakfast to a full weekly routine.

Money & Budgeting

Handling cash and cards, budgeting for the week, paying at the register, and understanding the value of what things cost.

Transportation & Travel

Learning SEPTA routes, reading a schedule, staying safe on the go, and building the confidence to travel independently.

Communication

Expressing needs and wants, everyday conversation, phone and message skills, and using assistive tools where they help.

Self-Advocacy & Safety

Speaking up, making choices, understanding rights, and knowing what to do — and who to call — when something goes wrong.

Home & Daily Routines

Laundry, tidying, managing a schedule and building the daily structure that makes independent living workable.

Our Goal-Based Approach

Skill-building only works when it's structured. Here's how we turn a hope into a habit.

1

Set the goal

We start with something the person genuinely wants to be able to do — not a generic checklist. Motivation is what makes a skill stick.

2

Break it into steps

Big goals become small, achievable steps. "Make lunch" becomes wash hands, gather ingredients, use the toaster safely, clean up.

3

Practise with support

We do it with the person, fading the help as they gain confidence — hand-over-hand at first, a nod from across the room later.

4

Track & celebrate

Progress is reviewed openly with the team, and every milestone gets recognised — because confidence is built on visible wins.

Free to ask — no obligation, ever No contracts — provider choice is your right No service gaps when you switch to us

Licensed, Qualified & Serving All of Pennsylvania

LicensedQualified Pennsylvania ODP provider
3ODP Medicaid waivers accepted — all of them
67Pennsylvania counties served statewide
100%Background-checked, state-trained staff

Questions Families Ask Us

What is Life Skills Development?
Life Skills Development is a Pennsylvania ODP waiver service focused on teaching the practical skills of adult life — cooking, budgeting, communication, transportation, self-advocacy and daily routines — to people with intellectual disabilities, autism and developmental delays. It's goal-based: support is built around clear, personal goals so the individual can do more independently over time, rather than having tasks done for them.
How is this different from In-Home & Community Supports?
The difference is the aim. In-Home & Community Supports provides hands-on help with daily living as it's needed. Life Skills Development is specifically about teaching those skills so less help is needed later. Many people receive both — support today, while building the skills for a more independent tomorrow.
Who decides which skills to work on?
The individual does, with their team. We start from goals the person genuinely cares about, document them in the Individual Support Plan, and build from there. A skill someone wants is one they'll actually keep practising — motivation is half the work.
Which waivers cover Life Skills Development?
All three ODP waivers Miracle Makers is qualified under: the P/FDS Waiver, the Community Living Waiver and the Consolidated Waiver. Whether the service is authorized, and for how many hours, is set in the Individual Support Plan — not by the provider. Call (484) 229-3455 if you'd like help checking yours.
How many hours can someone receive?
The hours come from the Individual Support Plan, and the ceiling depends on the waiver. The P/FDS Waiver has an annual funding cap set by the state; the Community Living Waiver has a higher cap; the Consolidated Waiver has no annual dollar cap. Your Supports Coordinator sets the authorized hours with your team — and if the current hours aren't enough, we can help you make the case for more at your next ISP meeting.
Is there an age limit for building these skills?
No. People grow and learn at every stage of life, and skill-building isn't only for younger individuals. We tailor goals and pace to the person in front of us, whatever their age.
Does this cost our family anything?
No. ODP waiver services are funded through Pennsylvania Medical Assistance. Families approved for a waiver do not pay Miracle Makers directly for authorized services. Any cost-sharing is determined by the state.
What areas do you cover?
All of Philadelphia County — every neighborhood, from Torresdale, Holmesburg, Mayfair, Bustleton, Somerton and Fox Chase in the Northeast to North, West and South Philadelphia and Center City.
Do you serve areas outside Philadelphia County?
Yes — Miracle Makers proudly serves all 67 counties across Pennsylvania. Families in Bucks, Montgomery, Delaware and Chester counties reach us most often after Philadelphia, but wherever you are in the state, call (484) 229-3455 and we'll talk through support in your area.

More Ways We Support Your Family

Life Skills Development is one of four ODP services under one roof — most families combine two or more.

Community Participation SupportFriendships, volunteering & community life
In-Home & Community SupportsEveryday living skills, taught not done-for
Companion ServicesConsistent company, safety and family respite

Or see everything in one place on our Intellectual Disability Care hub for Philadelphia.

The First Skill Starts With One Call.

Tell us what independence would look like for your family member — one skill, one hope. We'll explain exactly how Life Skills Development gets them there, and what your waiver already covers. The conversation is free, and every month of waiting is a month of practice they don't get back.

(484) 229-3455