About this class
Adult life comes with a lot to figure out: appointments, paperwork, community resources, knowing your rights, using technology day to day, and making good decisions. Most people learn these things by trial and error over many years. This class gives you a chance to learn them together, in a friendly and supportive setting.
Each week, we focus on one practical area of everyday life — navigating community resources, consumer rights, speaking up for yourself, or building real comfort with the technology that runs modern life (phones, email, video calls, online safety, and AI tools). We talk it through, practice with real examples on your own devices, and connect it to things that matter in your life. The class meets at our offices and out in the community.
This class is designed to be accessible and welcoming for people at any stage of life. We take our time, we keep things practical, and we make sure everyone can participate fully. Guest speakers from local organizations and a cybersecurity expert join us regularly to share what they know and answer questions.
What you'll do
Topics we cover
- Finding what's available in your community: libraries, services, local organizations, and how to access them
- Staying organized: keeping track of appointments, documents, and important information
- Being a smart consumer: your rights, how contracts work, and how to ask good questions
- Speaking up for yourself: how to ask for what you need and communicate clearly
- Using everyday technology with confidence: smartphone settings, email, video calls, maps, calendars, and reminders
- Staying safe online: protecting your personal information and spotting scams
- AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini: what they are, how to try them, and what to watch out for
- Making decisions and planning ahead: weighing options, building routines, and handling the unexpected
How we learn
Mix of activities, Community Excursions, and Guest Speakers.
Who it's for
Whether you're navigating independent living for the first time, working through a big change, or building skills that weren't formally taught, this class meets you where you are. Open to all adult learners. Designed for adults with I/DD, autistic adults, and neurodivergent learners. Self-Direction (IDGS) funding accepted, subject to approval by your fiscal intermediary. You'll need a phone, tablet, or computer for the tech-focused sessions.
Who teaches it
Sarah Tancer
Sarah Tancer is a Master of Social Work candidate at Hunter College, where she is pursuing the Clinical Practice with Individuals, Families, and Groups track. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Early Childhood Education from Tulane University, along with a Liberal Arts Certificate in Gender-Based Violence Studies, and she completed a semester of study abroad in Developmental and Child Psychology through DIS.
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Pricing
$75 per session · 90 min per class. Bundle discounts apply when you register for multiple sessions: 10% off for 4 or more, 20% off for 8 or more, across any combination of classes at The Grove.
Registration is handled on our secure registration site.