|
 Har-Tal
emphasizes the needs and desires of this special population
and explores what steps are being taken to expand
opportunities and allow all members of the community to live
independently and with dignity.
In a society that focuses more on what separates us from one
another rather than on commonalties that connect us to each
other, persons with disabilities often live with feelings of
being perpetually "left out" -left out in terms of community
participation, chances for independent living, career
opportunities and social fulfillment. But although persons
with mental retardation/developmental disabilities face
greater
obstacles, their dreams and hopes are much like anyone else's.
They want to be productive members of society, earn a
paycheck, own their own homes and live independently. And like
most other people, they want relationships and families and to
be involved in community life.
The trouble is persons with M.R. or other developmental
disabilities have a difficult time voicing their concerns and
making their needs known. Family members and healthcare
professionals have organized in the past and achieved
significant results in battling for the rights of persons with
M.R. But barriers still exist in many areas.
To address such problems in the last decade a self-advocacy
movement has begun to emerge. Self-advocacy involves people
with disabilities joining together to learn how to speak out
for themselves. People involved in the movement stress
"rights" not "dependence"-the right to speak out and the right
to make decisions for themselves.
Our consumers at the New Horizons Community Service Board
Har-Tal Developmental Center are active participating members
of the Support/Advocacy Group-Parents and Citizens In Action-PCIA.
Through this organization they express their ideas and make
choices. They are also volunteers at various other community
organizations. At the Center they are encouraged to make
choices in areas of work and community-integrated
leisure/recreation.
One area that has seen great improvement involves vocational
opportunities for persons with M.R. or other disabilities.
Through sheltered and supported employment programs, people
with M.R. have begun earning their own incomes. As a result,
they are experiencing for the first time the dignity and
fulfillment that accompanies knowledge of being contributing
members of society.
We are always in need of more community resources, especially
job opportunities for our consumers. In our Supported
Employment Program we place individuals in part-time jobs with
a job coach. We provide on-going support to help ensure
success. At the Center, as a licensed Sheltered Workshop we
perform Sub-Contract
work. Our workers have experience in assembling, packaging,
collating, sorting, and other
hand-intensive services. We have successfully completed work
for many companies in the Harris County and surrounding area
to include Callaway Garadens, Playtex Corp, Litho-Krome,
Benchmark Plastics, Goody Products and Cosmyl. Another service
Har-Tal workers perform is on-site crew work where we come to
your business to perform contract labor. Our janitorial crews
have several such contracts in the local community.
So, call us if you have employment needs, and we will come and
discuss our services further. Also call if you are interested
in being a Job Coach. Har-Tal workers are ready and willing fo
fulfill your company's needs. For further information call
628-7026 or 628-7027.
Also all are welcome to join the PCIA Group and attend the
meeting the third Thursday of each month. For more
information, call Betty Steele at 663-4899.
Yes, much has been done to broaden the views about persons
with disabilities, but there is much more to be done. Every
person, regardless of physical or intellectual capacity is
entitled to pursue his or her dreams. Living with dignity is
the right of all. |
The residents of the Corbit
Walker DDM Home in Manchester are blessed to have an excellent day program
in nearby Hamilton. The Har-Tal Service Center, directed by Joan Skalski,
emphasizes the needs and desires of people with developmental disabilities
and explores what steps are being taken to expand opportunities and allow
all members of the community to live independently and with dignity. 