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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Adult Services
You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers.
Who qualifies? What does a typical day look like? How do I get started? Whether you’re exploring support for yourself or someone you love, looking for the right fit as a case manager, or thinking about becoming a residential provider, you’ll find the questions we hear most often below, grouped by service. And if you’ve wondered why we call the people we serve Members, it’s a term we share with Colorado’s Medicaid programs.
Don’t see an A to your Q? Reach out through our contact form.
Residential Services
Yes! We serve adults 18 and older of any gender and almost all ability levels, from early adulthood to later in life (we’ve had Members in their 90s). For anyone under 18, please visit our child and family services. Many Members stay with us for years, well into later life. Our capacity to serve people with severe medical challenges or high-risk sexualized behaviors depends on having staff and providers with the right skills available. Even so, we do our best to serve all Members. Please reach out to our team to discuss more specifics.
Choosing Ariel means choosing a partner who sees the whole person. We go beyond the basics by offering consistent, compassionate, and individualized support to every Member.
Each Member has a dedicated case manager who acts as their main point of contact and advocate. Regulations require visits every three months. Ariel’s case managers check in at least once a month, building strong relationships, responding quickly to questions, and keeping everything on track. That level of attention helps us know our Members well and support them in living full and connected lives.
That steady presence adds up. One Member spent five years working with her team on safety, boundaries, and speaking up for herself. Today she’s becoming her own guardian.
We’re also known for supporting people with more complex needs, including dual diagnosis (I/DD alongside a mental health condition). In areas where we offer therapy and behavioral services, that work carries into daily life at home. A coping skill practiced in therapy can become part of the routine, with the residential provider trained in the same approach. Members who also attend our day program get the same coordination, with everyone on the same page.
Ariel offers a wide range of wraparound supports to help Members, caregivers, and providers thrive:
- Case Management | Ongoing coordination of services with monthly visits for personalized care, close connection, and responsive support.
- Behavioral Services | Our behavioral team, led by a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), provides strategies and support to help individuals succeed in their homes and communities.
- Therapy Services | Individual, group, and family therapy using evidence-based and trauma-informed approaches like CBT, DBT, and EMDR (availability varies by location).
- Nursing Support (Grand Junction only for direct care) | Our Registered Nurse assists with medical needs, training, and planning—available statewide for team consultation.
- Benefits Navigation (Direct in Grand Junction; consultative statewide) | Our specialists help Members and families understand Social Security, Medicaid, and other systems.
- Program Trainer | Offers customized, hands-on training for Members and providers, including evening and weekend support. This includes assistive tools, tech help, and creative problem-solving.
The Supported Living Services (SLS) waiver offers a more limited level of care compared to the Developmental Disabilities (DD) waiver, which is required for residential services.
If you only have an SLS waiver, you may still qualify for other Ariel services, including:
- Behavioral support
- Vocational programming
- Individual and group therapy
Want help understanding what you qualify for? Contact your regional HQ and ask for a benefits specialist, who can walk through it with you.
Your local case management agency (CMA) often manages benefits. Ariel’s in-house benefits specialists can also help you understand and navigate what’s available. We’ll support you in gathering documentation, filling out applications, and answering questions along the way.
Residential providers usually handle getting to appointments and activities. Medicaid transportation is also available for medical appointments, and your case manager can help coordinate.
The Supports Intensity Scale (SIS) determines what level of care and funding a person qualifies for. It looks at both medical and behavioral needs and assigns a score from 1–6 (with a level 7 for special circumstances).
This score helps determine eligibility for residential services and other supports under the DD or SLS waivers. If your needs change—such as a medical event or new behavior concerns—you can request a reassessment.
Yes. Ariel provides 24/7/365 on-call support for Members and caregivers. Our on-call staff are trained in crisis response, suicide intervention, and trauma-informed care. Our on-call team is made up of case managers who know our Members, including people outside their own caseload.
In a life-threatening emergency, always call 911 or 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline).
If you’re moving between areas Ariel serves, we’ll help make the change as smooth as possible, from finding a new home to connecting you with the new team, so you’re not starting over. Reach out to your regional HQ to talk it through.
Sometimes a match needs adjusting, and that’s okay. Your case manager will work with you, the residential provider, and the guardian to talk it through and look for creative solutions. If a change is the best path, we’ll plan it together.
We love this question! Residential providers share their homes and their lives with Members, with a dedicated Ariel team behind them. Learn what it takes to become a residential provider.
Vocational Services
Vocational Services focus on job skills and employment. Our Day Program is more about enrichment, personal growth, and social connections. Some Members take part in both.
Yes! Members involved in our internal programs like Charley’s Cookies or the Work Crew can earn money while mastering employment skills. In these programs, they’re paid Ariel employees, with staff on hand for the whole shift. Earning a paycheck helps foster financial independence and boosts confidence as Members work toward community employment. It can also bring up questions about benefits. That’s a good conversation to have with your Ariel team and case manager.
Vocational Services prepare Members for community employment, which could include retail, food service, clerical work, or other roles that match their skills and interests. Our team works closely with Members to find opportunities that fit their goals. Members have been hired at places like The Home Depot, Texas Roadhouse, and Intermountain Health (St. Mary’s Hospital), and some have stayed with the same employer for years.
At Ariel, we believe anyone who wants to work should have the chance at meaningful work, with the job training and support to get there. Colorado shares that goal for adults with disabilities. As an Employment First state since 2016, Colorado makes jobs in the community the first and preferred option. The Colorado Office of Employment First offers training, benefits counseling, and help navigating the system.
Day Program Services
If you or your loved one is age 18 or older and has a diagnosis of intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), then yes! To confirm and get started, contact your regional HQ.
A daytime engagement usually runs through the morning and into the early afternoon. Depending on the activity, Members may stay at Ariel or head out to nearby malls, museums, the pool, or other community-based locations. Members interested in volunteering might spend time at local organizations like Goodwill, Food Bank of the Rockies, or The Arc.
After-hours (evening and weekend) offerings provide additional opportunities for growth and enrichment outside the traditional program schedule. These may include specialized experiences such as 3D printing in a makerspace, hands-on art experiences, and cooking classes. These options give Members more ways to take part, especially when the traditional schedule doesn’t fit.
We design every activity to foster social connections and real-life experiences, with a balanced, individualized approach to each Member’s growth.
The Member! Case managers also play a critical role, helping identify goals and desires in person-centered meetings. Ariel staff coordinate those meetings alongside other team members.
We know some of our Members may have come from more institutionalized settings with less choice and more restrictions. Choice is the point. Programming, meals, just about anything else (with safety in mind, of course): the Member decides.
Most of our Day Program Members are 21 and up, and some are in their 80s.
We can also serve younger adults, ages 18 to 21. Many in that age group continue in programming through their schooling, supported by their Children’s Habilitation Residential Program (CHRP) or Children’s Extensive Support (CES) waivers.
Day Program focuses on enrichment activities that foster personal growth and social connections. Vocational Services focus on job-related skill building and finding employment.
There are no strict limitations on who can participate in Ariel’s Day Program. We pride ourselves on making room for everyone.
For example, we welcome Members who communicate without words or need help with eating, toileting, or mobility, including those using wheelchairs or walkers, and support each one with care. Ariel also accommodates participants with medical needs, including those who rely on G-tubes or insulin delivery systems. We foster an inclusive environment and offer additional assistance where needed, so everyone can take part, whatever support they need.
If you have questions about your specific situation, please contact us!
Rosa’s story is one example. After she joined Day Program, she found her way into a local dance troupe. “This move has changed my life!” she says.
Suze loves swimming and community outings, so her team—Ariel staff, her mom, and her residential provider—found a float that let her swim safely at the Fruita Pool
When he first joined Day Program, big feelings often came out as aggression. With a team that stayed with him, Roy worked on it, and those moments are now rare and milder. He gets to enjoy more of his day.
Behavioral Services
If you’re 16 or older, have an I/DD diagnosis, and are facing behaviors that make daily life harder or less safe, you likely qualify. Contact your regional HQ to confirm and get started.
Challenging behaviors are often a form of communication by individuals in distress. Our services focus on understanding the root causes and addressing these behaviors by teaching safe, effective ways to communicate. Medication and restrictions can play a role in keeping people safe. Learning new skills does, too, and that’s where Behavioral Services come in. Ultimately, we aim to reduce restrictive measures while promoting independence.
We address a wide range of behaviors, including but not limited to:
- Self-harm (for example, hitting or biting oneself)
- Aggression (for example, pinching or hitting others)
- Elopement or running into unsafe spaces
- Property damage (for example, smashing or throwing objects)
Behavioral Services are very individualized and may look different depending on the person’s behaviors and needs. They might take place in an office, at home, in the community, or alongside other Ariel services like Day Program or Vocational Services. For example, some Members work with us daily; others benefit from simple changes in their environment or caregiver approaches.
We often start with proactive strategies—like structured routines or planned activities—and build in motivational tools to encourage lasting change.
Our team approach relies on the involvement of families and caregivers who work directly with each Member.
ABA is an evidence-based approach that focuses on identifying triggers, building skills, and reinforcing positive behaviors in real-world settings. Decades of research back it, and providers use it to improve communication, social interaction, hygiene, safety, and independence. At Ariel, ABA is person-centered: sessions follow each person’s preferences, with respect for their rights and dignity.
Because caregivers play a central role in ABA success, we’re here to support them every step of the way.
Members often gain life-changing skills: expressing their feelings, forming friendships, caring for themselves, and thriving in group settings. Many achieve greater independence, allowing them to stay in less restrictive environments and enjoy healthier, fuller lives.
One Member, for example, helped develop his own behavior support plan. Hard days that once came several times a week became rare, and he built stronger relationships with peers and staff. Another Member who once rarely left her mother’s side now joins a women’s social group in the community.
The short answer is as long as they need to. Most Members engage for several months; adults may take longer due to longstanding habits.
For Members under 21, Medicaid approves services for up to six months at a time, and we request renewals as needed. For adults, reauthorization typically happens each year.
Our team is led by a master’s-level Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and includes certified Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs) with 40+ hours of specialized training. In addition, all staff receive ongoing training in trauma-informed care, safety, medication administration, and more. The team has completed training in Skill-Based Treatment, an approach focused on teaching communication and coping skills while keeping sessions safe and comfortable.
We also provide training specific to the needs of each individual we serve.
Yes, in some cases, depending on availability. In-person services offer the broadest options. For people who live far from our offices, virtual sessions can make services easier to reach. We’ll help figure out whether remote services are a good fit.
Adult I/DD Therapy Services
Yes. Demand is high, so there’s often a waitlist, and Members already receiving Ariel services get scheduling priority. It’s still worth reaching out! We can tell you what availability looks like for your needs, and if we can’t fit you in on a timeline that works for you, we’ll share other providers and resources to support your mental health and wellbeing.
If you’re on the Western Slope, community providers we often refer to are:
Counseling and Education Center (CEC)
https://www.cecwecare.org/counseling/
(970) 243-9539
Hilltop Community Resources
https://htop.org/therapy
(970) 244-0562
Health Solutions West
https://www.healthsolutionswest.org/
(877) 603-7045
We primarily accept Medicaid, though we may be able to offer private-pay options. For Members who have both Medicaid and Medicare, the DD or Supported Living Services (SLS) waiver can cover therapy.
If you need to apply for Medicaid or learn more about eligibility, visit Colorado PEAK.
Yes. During our initial conversation, we’ll ask you about your preferences so we can best match you to a therapist.
We do our best to accommodate therapist preferences while also considering the best fit for your specific needs and goals.
During our initial conversation to set up services, our team will ask about your scheduling availability. Your first appointment may be the next available opening. From there, knowing the benefits of a consistent schedule (including its link to more positive outcomes), we’ll work to find a regular time that suits both you and your therapist. Then there’s not much need to “schedule” moving forward—you both just know that you’re down for 4 p.m. on Thursdays, for example.
Of course, there are occasions when things need to be rescheduled due to illness or other commitments. When that happens, you will create an alternate plan with your therapist.
Therapy works like any other appointment. Residential providers usually handle getting Members there, and we try to schedule around Day Program hours when possible. Medicaid transportation is also available, and your case manager can help work through any barriers.
The first session focuses on completing required Colorado state paperwork, discussing current challenges and goals, and getting to know one another so we can best support you.
SimplePractice is our online portal for paperwork, messaging, and other account management. Once services begin, you may receive information about how to log in and use this system. If you have additional questions, please ask your therapist.
We provide individual, family, and group therapy, along with specialized approaches such as Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). We tailor each approach to the person’s unique needs and challenges, with compassionate care throughout.
Therapy addresses underlying emotional and psychological needs, helping people process experiences and build coping skills. Behavioral Services focus on observable behaviors and teaching specific strategies to manage them. The two often work together: therapy addresses the why; behavioral support addresses the what and how.
Yes to all. We see many people who are experiencing anxiety and depression, and those who have experienced a variety of types and intensities of trauma. Our therapists are trained in and in tune with how to help Members navigate the mental health challenges they face, so they can improve their quality of life.
By and large, Members feel better overall. They develop stronger coping skills, experience more and deeper connections in their relationships, and carry more hope about what’s ahead. Many begin to engage more with their community and find daily living and self-care tasks easier and more enjoyable.
It depends. When someone is working through more acute challenges, like a recent job loss, a new health diagnosis, or relationship issues, therapy often lasts three to six months, and sometimes up to a year. For more complex needs, like a co-occurring mental health diagnosis, a significant history of trauma, or justice system involvement, one to two years or more isn’t unusual.
It’s really based on what you’re experiencing or have experienced, and on what you’re ready to work on.
Sessions are primarily in person. We do offer telehealth when appropriate and depending on availability, for example in cases of illness, rural access barriers, or specific diagnoses like agoraphobia.
Our therapy team is made up of master’s-level licensed therapists with specialized training in trauma-informed care. All combined, they represent decades’ worth of therapeutic experience. We’re incredibly proud of our therapy team and the depth of expertise they bring, from education to lived experience, which they continue to build through ongoing training.
Fortunately, there’s a growing number of resources to support mental health and wellbeing.
If you’re having thoughts of suicide, please call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. In an immediate emergency, call 911. If you have an Ariel case manager, our on-call team is also available after hours. For a comprehensive list of suicide, loss survivor, mental health, and related resources, visit https://suicidepreventionmc.org/resources/.
For other challenges, like food insecurity, housing instability, or job loss, we recommend connecting with community providers as well. Learn more at https://www.211colorado.org/ (Colorado) or https://wc211.org/ (Western Slope).
Residential Providers
No. Ariel works with a wide range of providers: some with decades of caregiving experience, others who are newer to it. What matters most is a genuine desire to support people with I/DD and a willingness to do the work. Training covers the essentials for getting started.
Yes. Some providers treat this as their main work; others pair it with a job outside the home. The Member’s daily care needs have to be reliably met, and Ariel helps you think through what that looks like before any placement is made.
Income is tax-exempt, and the amount is based on the Member’s care level. A standardized assessment, the Supports Intensity Scale (SIS), sets that level with a score from 1–6 (with a level 7 for special circumstances). Higher care levels mean more hands-on support and higher compensation. Room and board is also provided, covering the Member’s share of rent, utilities, and basic toiletries.
Compensation is a percentage of the funding tied to the Member’s care level. The same standard applies to all providers.
As a residential provider, you’re an independent contractor. You run your own operation and partner with Ariel rather than working for Ariel directly. That means self-direction matters. You’re responsible for your own insurance, annual training renewals, and documentation. The financial terms are spelled out in your contract before you sign anything, so you know exactly what you’re agreeing to.
It depends on the Member. Mornings usually involve helping them get ready and out the door to work, a day program, or appointments. While they’re out, providers handle coordination: check-ins with the case manager, medication logistics, errands. When the Member is home, evenings might mean working on a life skill together, going out, or just watching something and being present. The steady, calm quality of the home environment matters as much as any specific activity.
Matching starts with a conversation about your strengths, your limits, and what you’re not willing to take on. Ariel shares a referral file before any decision is made so you can ask questions and get a real picture of the person’s needs. It’s about a genuine fit, not filling a space.
Ariel works to identify fit issues before a placement ends, not after. If something isn’t working, the team comes in to help figure out what’s going on, whether that’s a personality mismatch, a support gap, or something else. Sometimes, despite everyone’s best efforts, a placement doesn’t work. That’s not a failure. It means finding a better fit for both of you.
It varies. Some providers are matched within weeks of completing training; others wait several months. The timeline depends on who’s available and what the right fit looks like. Ariel doesn’t place someone just to fill an opening. Providers who rely on this as their primary income should plan for a gap between completing training and receiving their first placement.
In the meantime, staying connected helps. Ariel hosts an annual banquet for providers, and Residential Backup Provider work (stepping in when another provider needs a break) keeps you active and builds experience.
Yes. Many providers travel regularly, pursue their own interests, and maintain full lives alongside this work. Out-of-state travel is fine—just give Ariel a heads-up first. Ariel helps coordinate Residential Backup Provider coverage.
As long as the arrangement is working well for everyone. Many placements last years. Some providers and Members build relationships that last decades; Members can often remain in their residential provider home through the end of their life, which for many people is exactly what they want. If a Member’s needs eventually exceed what Ariel can support in a residential setting, the whole team coordinates the transition.
In many cases, yes. A training coordinator reviews what you’ve already completed and identifies any gaps. Ariel’s Provider Orientation is required for everyone, and current courses like CPR, Qualified Medication Administration Person (QMAP), and Verbal De-escalation Training may transfer.
After matching, training continues with what’s specific to your Member’s needs and routines.
Training costs vary by location. Contact your nearest Ariel office for details.
Different populations, different systems, and a similar foundation: sharing your home with someone who needs a place to belong. Learn more about becoming a foster parent.
Stories on this site are about real people. To protect their privacy, names, details, and images may have been changed.
