“To improve the living and working conditions and opportunities for
persons with severe disabilities.”
EEO/AA/M/F/D/V
The Director’s Corner
By: Phil L. Taylor
Over the last couple of years we have experienced a lot of growth in
our Adult Development program at Jonesboro. It is co-housed at our
production center location which makes it very convenient for pre-vocational
training and Work Activity programming. As the program has grown
our production demands for space also has increased the last year which
has made it difficult to expand services as needed. This need helped
us to be receptive to relocating the Adult Development program. A
window of opportunity presented itself in February and with Board approval
and support we have been able to start work on its new location on Monroe.
The more spacious building will allow for different programming opportunities
for the consumers. We are building some accessible restrooms and
will be moving in by the end of April. Everyone is excited about
the possibilities this enlarged area will give and the ability to take
more referrals.
During the last couple of weeks we have completed our bimonthly staff training/meetings in each location. There have been so many good things going on that I think it would be good to pass them on. Blytheville continues to grow and make improvements. The staff is really doing a great job. Their thrift store is really looking good. We are still working toward more employment and work training opportunities there. Adult Development and the Waiver Conversions continue to grow. Paragould is making some good increases in the numbers of consumers being served and are near 25 which is good for there. The Paragould thrift store and the Unlimited Consignment Shop are really bouncing back with improved sales and customer relations. My hat is off to everyone there. Jonesboro thrift and the processing center are doing really well. The processing center which supports four stores has made some remarkable progress. Our thrift store on Union remains our backbone of support for all the stores and is solid in sales. PAC is needing to get a couple of apartments ready for new referrals and the staff works hard to make this program interface with the community as much as possible. The production department has had its hands full with the meat trays and is bringing another large contract on line very soon. One of their goals is to help provide work to the other sites. All of the facility-based programs have been working hard to meet their goals as we end the first quarter of the year.
As it was pointed out to the Board, we are still looking at a variety of sewing projects. Another one we will be studying is that of adaptations to brand named clothing for people with certain types of disabilities. If we do this, it will start out small and maybe lead into a line of easily accessible clothing for all occasions. Lorene is working on this the next few months just to see where it can go. Another thing I brought up for consideration is the absorbent pigs used in industrial applications to contain oil spills around certain types of oil bath metal working machines. We once looked at this, so I think we will take a new look at it and see what the usage may be around this part of the state. We are still going through the process to determine if the sweaters I mentioned last month may be viable. It would require us being partners with three other Americas-Group members and a UK member of the Workability International. We are having to go through a qualifying process to see if the UK member can have enough confidence in our sewing capabilities, which we have not done in many years. Also, manufacturing mattresses will be researched later on in the year to see if they may be a viable opportunity in particular at the Blytheville location.
Thanks for everyone’s help in working with our consumers. Blytheville
Site Begins New Strategy for Clients
By: Christy Wyatt, Case Manager
We are following a strategy right now in Blytheville where anyone who
can move to the Medicaid Billing side of the house has been moved. This
has a multifaceted affect on the clients and on business in general.
For the clients, we are able to provide improved services by providing
them with a broader range of training to include Adult Development which
is not related to seeking and keeping work. Some of the things the clients
have shown an interest in other than work activity would be reading, math,
home-making skills, counting money, and writing in cursive. Many have shown
an interest in getting drivers licenses, which of course we can only help
with the written portion. Most of the clients who have moved over, did
not feel ready for job placement, but certainly did not want to be discharged
when their Extended Services were up.
The move of clients from Rehab to Medicaid billing also opens these
clients up to ACS Waiver Services in which they can get one-on-one training
in areas that they choose. If they had remained in Rehab, they could not
have availed themselves of this training.
The move of these clients has helped AUI because the agency is now
able to fill the 22 pre-approved slots for ACS Waiver Services, where that
dream had begun to seem impossible when we were only picking from the WAC/AD
class. Another benefit to AUI is of course that Medicaid bills at a higher
rate than does Rehab.
We have split the classes, not by billing method, but by the abilities
of the consumers. We now have the WAC/AD Class containing both Rehab and
WAC/AD clients, and the Habilitation Class, containing both Rehab and WAC/AD
clients. Their goals are in line with the requirements attached to those
funding sources, and both teachers are doing both types of documentation.
The Hab class contains clients whose work tolerance is very high, and whose
need for reading and writing types of activities is lower, while the WAC/AD
class contains people who do not tolerate work well, or whose production
or quality are low and functional needs are high.
So far, it is working well and the clients and teachers are all happy
with the arrangement.
Easter “Eggstravaganza”
at The Unlimited
? April 5th - Green tickets are 40% off
? April 7th through April 15th - Easter “Eggstravaganza” Drawings!
? April 16th - Easter Basket Drawing!
? April 19th- Blue tickets are 10% off
? April 26th - Blue tickets are 20% off
Medical Reimbursement
“Use It, Or Lose It”
Medical reimbursement of funds for the year May 1, 2002 through April
30, 2003 is coming to an end. This is a reminder to be sure and use these
funds as soon as possible. If you have any funds left for this above listed
year, please submit any outstanding receipts on the appropriate reimbursement
claim form. REMEMBER, IF YOU DO NOT USE THESE FUNDS, YOU LOSE THESE FUNDS!!
If you have any questions, please call Lorene Gibson.
Health Insurance Information
We are in the process of getting our quotes in from the insurance companies
for our health insurance renewal. Open enrollment is April 1st-April 30th.There
will be two options available and they will be priced accordingly. I have
enclosed a brief summary and comparison of the two plans.
Consumer ServicesThe following individuals need to complete their annual training before the end of April. Please contact Kim Young for details.
LaTonya Anderson Rick Alsup
Harriet Beaugard Melanie Bumpers
M. Ben M’hammed Tim Bowers
Karen Butler Rita Cansler
Laura Clark Andrew Cline
Brian Crayton Sherry Davis
Cynthia DeAnda Nicole Dietz
Amy Ellis Fred Ellis
Bobby Fisher Lisa Foster
Ashley Gardner
Wanda Garner
Sharon Garner Sean Greene
Martha Harris Diane Hicks
Laura Holt Travis Honeycutt
Peggy Hudson
Sara Humphrey
Roger Hudson Christina Jackson
Shirley Jackson Angela Kifer
Wayne Johnson Tiffany Lee
Jon Legvold Linda Legvold
Meagan Levacy Amber Luster
Darrell Marks Kathy Maxwell
Melanie McGhee Lakeisha Millbrook
Marion Morgan
Jessica Newsom
Sabrina Parker Jesscia Pfitzner
James Pigram Harriett Ponder
Dennis Raines Debra Rogers
Freda Shaker Darren Smith
Michelle Smith
Pat Sutton
Patricia Smith Keith Todd
Tankia Truitt Duawayne Veteto
Penny Walker
Patrick Weaver
Jennifer Williams Phyllis Bullard
Earlene Coleman Sharon Croft
Sharon Davis Clarissa Garner
Candace Kane
Tiffany Jackson
Erocktonya Kilow Jeanette Morris
Debra Parker George Presmeyer
Iva Ring Brian Simons
Lilly Sledge Rochelle Smith
Natasha Walker Verlinder Williams
Yearly training is important ... it ensures that you will be eligible
for a raise and DDS requires that you maintain a high standard of training.
Please attend to this matter quickly. Thank You! March Training:
“7 Steps to a Lifetime of Better Communication”
Janet Gregory discussed techniques that can be used to communicate
better with consumers. The following are the 7 steps that she introduced
in that training:
1. Listen carefully and respond.
2. Explain your intent and invite to consent.
3. Express yourself clearly and completely.
4. Translate complaints and criticisms into requests.
5. Ask open-ended questions.
6. Express more appreciation.
7. Make better communication an important part of your everyday life.
If you are interested in reviewing this training material in detail,
please contact Kim Young.April Training
Date: April 30th
Time: 9:30am and 1:30pm
Topic: “Wavier Socialization and Community Integration Services”
Paul Gunter will introduce a new service that will allow more
consumers to attend special monthly community events and socialize with
their peers. The first of these trips will be to Memphis to watch
a baseball game. Come to this training to get more information concerning
these great trips.
Give a man a fish, and you feed him a day. Teach him to fish,
and you feed him for a lifetime.
Chinese Proverb
March Service Awards
Several employees celebrated their one year anniversary with Abilities
Unlimited and received a pin and certificate. They are Megan Levacy, Saprina
Aldridge, Kimberly Bobo, and Jennifer Williams. Linda Legvold celebrated
her five year anniversary with AU and received a pin and a plaque. Thank
you all so much for your hard work and dedication!
January and February
Incentive Awards
The incentive award winners for January and February were chosen from
a drawing at the March staff meetings. The safety winners were: Brian Simons,
Jeannie Hyde, Chris Paslay, Kim Head, Kitty Swindle, Carrie Armstrong,
Angie Byrd, Treece Speed, Bonnie Coleman and Charles McKinley. The attendance
winners were: Brian Simons, Jeannie Hyde, Chris Paslay, Stephanie Gotay,
Kathrine May and Darren May. The grand prize attendance winner was Brian
Simons. He will receive four hours off with pay. Congratulations to all!
? Attention Implementors ?
Please check with Sherry or Jennifer to make sure we have your CPR/1st
Aid cards, TB test card and auto insurance card. These cards must be in
your file according to DDS guidelines. It is your responsibility to make
sure we have all of these cards in your file. Your cooperation is much
appreciated!
Happy
April
Birthdays!
Nicole Landreth 2nd
Natasha Walker 2nd
April Rinkines
8th
April Ashley 9th
Sharon Croft 10th
Ruthie Beal 12th
Diane Hicks 15th
Lucille Qualls 17th
Krystal Morris 18th
Vicky Goodwin 19th
Michael Harris 20th
Karen Butler 21st
Sue Nelson 23rd
Boyce Cate 30th
Welcome to Abilities Unlimited!
Jennifer Alexander Case Manager Asst.
Loretta Cook ACS Implementor
Laura Slayton ACS Implementor
Mandy Denton ACS Implementor
Terrie Goodwin Flex
Jason Cooley Flex
Kimberly Cavaness ACS Implementor
Judith Taylor ACS Implementor
Sharon Burns Flex
Lapez Dooley ACS Implementor
Crystal Lackey ACS Implementor
Nicole Landreth ACS Implementor
Becky Hall ACS Implementor
Jedsia Brown Van Driver
Daniel Crawford Flex
Jason Heath Flex
Hassan Amegdoul Flex
Marcus Nealy Flex