Laura
03-12-2008, 06:05 PM
http://www.kansascity.com/news/neighborhood/northland/story/526229.html
March is developmental disabilities awareness month
By MARTHA ZIRSCHKY
Special to The Star
When Colin Garrison asked Northland officials to renew a job-shadowing grant from the Platte County Board of Services for the Developmentally Disabled, he knew the good the program did.
Garrison, who has a developmental disability, landed his job at Koch Industries in Kansas City after benefiting from the board’s job-shadowing grant for Park Hill students.
He was persuasive in his presentation late last year. The board renewed the grant, which helps people with disabilities find jobs. Garrison, 20, now makes gaskets at Koch Industries three days a week and has learned several manufacturing processes.
“They treat me nice,” Garrison said.
Such programs help both the organization’s clients and their families.
“You don’t know how much that means to me,” said Garrison’s father, Mike Garrison.
Helping people like Garrison interact with the community helps the public better understand the people who are served by organizations like the Platte County Board of Services. That’s something that the board’s executive director, Janice Tilman, said officials are highlighting in March, which is Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month.
It is a month to broaden awareness of the talents possessed by people with disabilities and to see them, rather than their disabilities.
In the 1970s, more disabled people began living away from big institutions as the country shifted to group homes and sheltered workshops. In 1972, Clay County was the second county in Missouri to pass a levy to support community-based services. Platte County became the third in 1974.
In 1976, Tilman was a live-in counselor for the eight residents of Bell House, the first Platte County Board of Services group home.
Today, she heads an agency with a staff of 80 that will open its sixth group home next month and helps 25 people in supported living apartments, where residents can get assistance with tasks like shopping and managing their finances.
The agency also has 29 vans to help its clients get to programs, work and recreational outings.
One client, Carolyn Strode, 32, has worked at the Petco in North Kansas City for nine years.
“She is a great employee, always on time,” said store manager Dee Tiffany. “She runs stock, helps customers and comes in at 7 a.m. to clean and feed the animals.”
Melissa “Missy” Baskerville, 21, is one of 37 people who go to a program for people who can’t work. On Mondays and Fridays she helps deliver Meals on Wheels to Platte County seniors, Tuesdays she helps at Harvesters, Thursdays she bowls and Fridays are for movies. Her favorite thing?
“We go on outings,” Baskerville said. “We went to the Omaha Zoo.”
Programs for people with disabilities are designed to encourage self-sufficiency and illustrate the theme of the awareness month: “Success! When doors open, we succeed.”
Strode shares an apartment with a roommate. Garrison and Baskerville live at home, but hope to move to a group home eventually.
All three have participated in the Special Olympics. Strode is headed to St. Charles, Mo., this month for a basketball tournament. Garrison has 55 medals including a gold for running the 1,500-meter in 6.42 minutes.
Garrison also likes dancing at the Platte County Board of Services’ center and he is looking forward to a trip to New York City in June with 35 special education students.
“We couldn’t have picked a better organization,” Garrison’s father said.
To get help
In Clay County, the Developmental Disabilities Resource Board helps fund services that are contracted to other agencies.
March is developmental disabilities awareness month
By MARTHA ZIRSCHKY
Special to The Star
When Colin Garrison asked Northland officials to renew a job-shadowing grant from the Platte County Board of Services for the Developmentally Disabled, he knew the good the program did.
Garrison, who has a developmental disability, landed his job at Koch Industries in Kansas City after benefiting from the board’s job-shadowing grant for Park Hill students.
He was persuasive in his presentation late last year. The board renewed the grant, which helps people with disabilities find jobs. Garrison, 20, now makes gaskets at Koch Industries three days a week and has learned several manufacturing processes.
“They treat me nice,” Garrison said.
Such programs help both the organization’s clients and their families.
“You don’t know how much that means to me,” said Garrison’s father, Mike Garrison.
Helping people like Garrison interact with the community helps the public better understand the people who are served by organizations like the Platte County Board of Services. That’s something that the board’s executive director, Janice Tilman, said officials are highlighting in March, which is Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month.
It is a month to broaden awareness of the talents possessed by people with disabilities and to see them, rather than their disabilities.
In the 1970s, more disabled people began living away from big institutions as the country shifted to group homes and sheltered workshops. In 1972, Clay County was the second county in Missouri to pass a levy to support community-based services. Platte County became the third in 1974.
In 1976, Tilman was a live-in counselor for the eight residents of Bell House, the first Platte County Board of Services group home.
Today, she heads an agency with a staff of 80 that will open its sixth group home next month and helps 25 people in supported living apartments, where residents can get assistance with tasks like shopping and managing their finances.
The agency also has 29 vans to help its clients get to programs, work and recreational outings.
One client, Carolyn Strode, 32, has worked at the Petco in North Kansas City for nine years.
“She is a great employee, always on time,” said store manager Dee Tiffany. “She runs stock, helps customers and comes in at 7 a.m. to clean and feed the animals.”
Melissa “Missy” Baskerville, 21, is one of 37 people who go to a program for people who can’t work. On Mondays and Fridays she helps deliver Meals on Wheels to Platte County seniors, Tuesdays she helps at Harvesters, Thursdays she bowls and Fridays are for movies. Her favorite thing?
“We go on outings,” Baskerville said. “We went to the Omaha Zoo.”
Programs for people with disabilities are designed to encourage self-sufficiency and illustrate the theme of the awareness month: “Success! When doors open, we succeed.”
Strode shares an apartment with a roommate. Garrison and Baskerville live at home, but hope to move to a group home eventually.
All three have participated in the Special Olympics. Strode is headed to St. Charles, Mo., this month for a basketball tournament. Garrison has 55 medals including a gold for running the 1,500-meter in 6.42 minutes.
Garrison also likes dancing at the Platte County Board of Services’ center and he is looking forward to a trip to New York City in June with 35 special education students.
“We couldn’t have picked a better organization,” Garrison’s father said.
To get help
In Clay County, the Developmental Disabilities Resource Board helps fund services that are contracted to other agencies.