Mobility of Persons with Developmental Disabilities

May 5, 2006

Paul Carney, Leo Carrillo, Dave Holterman, Kerri Parker, Jeannie Randles and Mary Wendel

Rock County statistics Approximately 2-3% of the general

population of Rock County are people with developmental disabilities (i.e. mental retardation, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism, brain injury, etc), or approximately 2,800 people.

The large majority do not require institutional care, and in fact, are able to function and live comparatively independently. (8% of KANDU client workers live independently.)

Services – such as development and training – have been considered instrumental in maintaining these levels of independence.

People with disabilities have just as much desire to be active citizens as anyone else.

People with disabilities deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.

Rock County statistics Rock County contracts with 84

agencies providing services to persons with disabilities: Janesville Schools Riverfront Inc. YWCA ECHO KANDU Industries, Inc.

Case Study: KANDU Industries, Inc.

KANDU provides serves to 195 persons with barriers to employment. 50% of clients live in Janesville, 27% in Beloit and the remaining in rural areas.

Ages range from 18-84 with most between the ages of 30-50, 34% live at home, 66% live in other settings (29% in group homes, 17% in foster homes, 8% residential facility, 6% supervised apartment and 6% independent).

KANDU transports 61% (122) of its clients.

Without your car how would you …

Get to work? Go to a movie? Buy groceries? Get to see your doctor? Have come to this meeting today?

Times are changing The Past

Funding has provided door-step to door-step transportation for workers at KANDU.

The Present Budgets are

shrinking. Services provided need to be evaluated.

The problem is: Either / Or – providing transportation limits the opportunity to provide services to additional persons.

This need is not an isolated problem.

There are122 KANDU workers that are in jeopardy of potentially losing their mode of transportation to and from work/home.

These persons with disabilities Are geographically dispersed through out

Rock County Lack some of the transportation options

we take for granted

Our Goal:

Create a training program to aid persons with disabilities gain independence

Provide resources to implement program (both financial and volunteer)

Identify candidates and test program Evaluate the training’s effectiveness and

adapt changes Open the training to all eligible candidates

Step 1: Create a Training Program

Create a classroom style educational program Computer program Instructional flash cards

Create a hands-on, real-world simulation Borrowed bus Sample trip

Step 2: Acquire Resources Financial

Receipt of Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin, Inc. Grant for $2,000.00

KANDU has purchased training tools (Attainment Co)

City of Janesville will provide buses and a trainer to discuss bus routes, transfers, etc.

Volunteer Curriculum

creation Curriculum

implementation Classroom

training staff Real-World

training staff

Step 3: Selection criteria Candidates:

Living within the city limits where transportation is available and homes that do not provide a mode of transportation

Demonstrating the goal of greater independence

Skill sets: Multi-step directions Little or no need for

supervision Demonstrates appropriate

behavior Ability to detect risky

situations

Guardians: Wanting to

help client-workers gain independence

Willing to authorize entrance into the training program

Step 4: Selection processNarrow down candidates eligible to

training groupProvide informational meetings to

guardians or care providers to gain authorization

Provide classroom and real world training

Step 5: Test Program Provide classroom training

Test for knowledge to know they are equipped with the necessary skills

Provide real-world training Give candidates a chance to use their training in a

controlled environment that will mock real life situations in the community

Evaluation What worked? What can be done better?

How will we know if we have been successful?

Persons with disabilities will gain additional transportation options before budget cuts negatively impact lives

Persons with disabilities will gain greater independence and the quality of their lives will improve

KANDU will be able to provide additional work opportunities with the reallocated transportation money

SummaryCommunity needPlan to address needOutcomeFuture opportunitiesThank you