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Keith Pohly, Adult Services Director
Community integration is the ultimate goal of the Adult Services
Department and Community Employment a significant focus. The Highland
County MRDD Employment Services Department is growing by leaps and
bounds. This program finds jobs for individuals who want to work in
the community, offers regular job coaching and support, and works
consistently to break down barriers to employment that may exist in
areas of physical accommodations and modifications and/or job carving.
Persons are supported, as long a they want to be, by Employment
Services personnel.
For individuals who want a more intense work experience but who are
not ready to leave a supportive environment, mobile work crews are
available. On a mobile work crew, individuals are able to work in the
community and earn substantial wages, but still receive transportation
and on site supervision from program staff. Current crews consist of a
work enclave at a community location and the janitorial and lawn crew,
which maintains the roadside parks in Highland County 6 days per
week/52 weeks per year.
In addition to community employment, the Highco Sheltered Workshop
provides either day programming or vocational experiences to
individuals who are not interested in seeking work or activities in
the community. If a person is of retirement age and is no longer
interested in paid work or a more active day program, a Senior Program
is offered.
The Adult Services program also practices and supports self
determination, which all choose the supports and programs they wish
from either inside or outside the agency and allows freedom and
choices.
It is the belief of the Highland County Adult Services Department that
adults with disabilities should be included in their community as much
as they want to be Therefore, it is our mandate and goal to provide
the supports, training and opportunities to make that possible. |
