“To improve the living and working conditions and opportunities for persons with severe disabilities.”
EEO/AA/M/F/D/V
 

DIRECTOR’S CORNER
By: Phil L. Taylor

More and more I am able to work with our Board of Directors on many issues that are global in nature.  We are able to move in that direction because we have developed competent  professional staff in business, production,  HR, accounting and client/consumer services who take charge of their respective departments and responsibilities.   It is through them and their staff that  the everyday activities of our organization are handled.  This type of staff and management style means the Board doesn’t have to get into the actual management of the organization.  They basically set policies, approve the budget, approve salary ranges of staff, review incident reports, and act on various recommendations that may deal with expenditure of certain funds, revisions to administrative procedures, and input on building projects and/or starting new programs.  Of course, they have to hire and retain a capable Executive Director in the first place to have this type of organization.  But, I believe the hardest thing they do during normal meetings is to get a handle on the future.  I try very hard to achieve a shared vision for our organization.  Some of the ways I try to accomplish this is  to keep the vision before the Board through the 3 Year Strategic Business Plan, the Annual Board Report, and my monthly Director’s Report.  Our last Board meeting was exciting to me because I could sense some of their enthusiasm with two topics in particular that were more visionary in nature.

One dealt with trying to develop small start-up businesses for people with disabilities in the Delta area.  These small business initiatives could give much broader employment opportunities for people who live in these very poor areas.  I have talked about this concept for the last few years.  This current proposal I have put forward, which could help to bring this idea closer to reality basically uses a grant process to help accomplish our goal.  This would award scholarships for viable business plans for these types of businesses which are both suited for the Delta area and people with disabilities.  These small scholarships and special recognitions for the best 14 grants would only cost a total of $2,500, but they could give us some very useful ways to set people up in their own business with only minimal business supports necessary.  We would then work with Arkansas Rehabilitation Services (ARS) to match some of their clients to these businesses and provide the support needed to help them become successful.  We would provide some of the initial evaluations to determine applicable skills to handle the business and some preliminary training.  ARS has some additional funds  available in some cases to help make this a successful program for their clients.

Another area where I got a very good response and it was reassuring to feel that the Board understood and agreed with some of the dynamics was that of trying to develop more global business opportunities.  Often, I believe it is harder for people to see the overall benefits for this type of activity,  then it is for other more readily visible goals.  Part of this approach  has to do with developing our business ties and networking with the Americas-Group (AG).  This group actually represents all of the Americas (North, Central and South).  The other part of this approach deals with being members of the Work-Abilities International which represents more than 40 different nations.  I have tried to use these memberships to leverage work to come back to the U.S. and Arkansas.  We have had some success with this already.  Even though, our organization hasn’t gotten some of the in-house jobs yet, we have met our mission by helping to create more jobs and employment opportunities for people with disabilities in a couple of other members’ programs.  My efforts with both of these global organizations will be to continue to have the type of involvement that will get as much results as possible.  This last year we have formed a Business to Business Committee that should increase business between all of our members in various countries.  I will work particularly in this area to help create more business opportunities.  Another concept of which I talked and now has been adopted by that group was to become the official broker for the AACRP members (Arkansas Association of Community Rehabilitation Programs) of which we are an active member.  I am in the process of surveying individual members to see to what degree they would like to form partnerships or a collaborative in an effort to secure more work.   Also, I will be able to take a portfolio of products produced by our members to promote them internationally.  I believe this type of work will have benefits over the years to come.

I hope this has been informative to you.  It should give you some insight to where our organization is going in the future.  The more we grow in different areas and the more diversified we become will help us meet the ever increasing demands placed upon us to remain viable.  As always I truly appreciate all that you do on behalf of our consumers.  Keep up the good work.
 
 

A.U. Blytheville
Hello from Blytheville. Things are going fairly well here. Since this is my first contribution, I would like to express how much I like working for Abilities Unlimited, Inc. Each day I come to work excited by the work I do and the people with whom I work. My time thus far has been spent tying up loose ends and getting my feet on the ground. Two major projects under way involve the rearranging of some of the areas in the store and getting more work for the clients to do.
So far, with the help of the ladies at the store and Sean, we revamped the miscellaneous sale room to make room for some new room displays, built additional book cases and shoe racks and cleaned out an area in the back to be used for an appliance and furniture show room. We are continually looking for ways to make the store more appealing to our customers. The employees there are doing a great job.
In the next week or two the production staff and I will be making some calls and visits to the local businesses to contract work for the clients here at the workshop. Much of the local business here in Blytheville has been sent south to Mexico, but we feel there is plenty of work left here, we just need to get out and find it.
We thank you for your continued support and I thank you for the opportunity to be part of this organization.

    Mike Hart
    Site Manager

Monroe Adult
Development Center
We want to thank everyone who came to our “Irish Jiggin’ at the Forum” art and dance performance. Also, a big thanks for all those who bought art pieces, we appreciate your support. We are continuing to collect the AOL 9.0 cases- you can drop these off at the Business Office on North Church or at the A.D. Center on Monroe. They will be used in future art projects so we will appreciate your help in collecting these cases. Also, we have been collecting scraps of wood, trim, paneling, etc.
Big high fives!! DDS has come and gone. Hope everyone’s spirits are up and keep up the good work. “To success, and the road to it, which is always under construction.”

    Stephen Posey
    WAC/AD Supervisor
 
May Service Awards
Congratulations to Mike Chism on his 10 year anniversary with Abilities Unlimited and to Spencer Ponder for his 5 year anniversary. Each received a plaque and a pin for their dedication. Several employees celebrated their one year anniversary. They are: Cynthia Cassulis, Dianna Dennison, Megan Easley, Sandra Porter, Teresa Selvy and Jacklon Steele. Congratulations to you all!
 
 

Happy Birthday

Bobbie Fisher  1st
Evannelle Jeffro 1st
Rick Alsup  2nd
Shirley Donnerson 10th
Maylynn Kitrell 10th
Peggy Hudson 10th
Mary Greer  10th
Sandra Porter  13th
Heidi Rigsbee  13th
Brett Casey  14th
Billy Lambert  16th
Alex White  19th
James Alcorn  20th
Cheryl Foster  20th
Becky Lowe  20th
Carrie Armstrong 21st
Ryan Holt  22nd
Olene Cope  22nd
Becky Vinson  23rd
Sandra Grimes 24th
Sherry Veteto  24th
Brandy Shelton 27th
Adrian Mitchell 28th
Jamie Rosier  28th
 
 
 
 

Reminder to Implementors
While working with your consumer, you both are able to access the YMCA free of charge!! Take advantage of the many activities they have to offer and have a safe and fun Summer!!! For more information, you can call the YMCA at  932-8482.
 

     Welcome to A.U.
Horace Bailey  ACS Implementor
Matt Crawford Flex
Melinda Denton ACS Implementor
Evannelle Jeffro Work Instructor(Blytheville)
Curtis Kelly  Flex
Donna Nelson  ACS Implementor
Rose Owens  ACS Implementor
Lilly Sledge  Driver(Blytheville)
Jodi Tucker  ACS Implementor
Kimberly Wilson ACS Implementor

401K Open Enrollment
For employees currently participating in the 401K Retirement Plan, now is the time to make any changes. If you would like to increase or decrease your salary contributions, please let DeeDee know by Monday, June 21st. Employees who are just now eligible to participate, I will be sending you notification of your eligibility this week. Then, those of you wanting to participate for the first time have until June 14th to notify DeeDee so she can arrange a meeting with a representative from The Principal. As always, you can change your investment mix at any time by calling the TeleTouch Interactive Voice Response System at 1-800-547-7754. Have your social security number ready and our contract number(428773.)

CPR & First Aid Training
If you are working in direct care as an implementor, work instructor, supervised living trainer, etc., you are required to be CPR/1st Aid certified. You can call the American Red Cross directly and schedule a time to do this. The number is 932-3212. If you have any questions, you can call Carrie at ext. 32. 
Consumer Services   - Jonesboro

A Challenge
by Janet Gregory

We finally made it through another year of sweating and preparing for the return of Licensure.  This yearly visit is very taxing on all of us because we want to shine and show the world what a wonderful, caring and professional  group of individuals we are.  Therefore, we struggle to ensure that all our files are in tip top shape.  I would like to thank everyone involved with our organization for the effort that they put forth.  Now that I have had time to calm down and gather my thoughts, I would like to challenge everyone at AU to develop a more positive attitude.

I would suggest that we begin by eliminating all complaining from our lives.  This may seem like an obstacle that is too large to overcome.  But, I am convinced that with practice it can be accomplished.  It may not come naturally at first but with continued effort and attention to what you say and how you react to individuals and events you can begin to be able to see the world with a more positive attitude.  Just begin by stopping yourself from complaining.  Actively keep score, mark the length of time that you go with out complaining.  Place a reminder in your work space.  Begin each day with a renewed effort not to complain.  With time and effort, you can find that you will be a happier and more satisfied individual.  Life is too short to spend it complaining and worrying about how to deal with situations that are beyond your control.  Remember there are things in life that you can change and there things in life that you have no control over.  Determine which is the case and take the appropriate action.

Martha Washington said “I am still determined to be cheerful and happy, in whatever situation I may be; for I have also learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends upon our dispositions, and not upon our circumstances.”
 
 

Important Message for Implementors

Effective immediately, AUI will no longer accept case notes that are not complete.  This means that case notes must have your consumer’s name, your name and the complete date (month/day/year).

If your case note comes into our office incomplete, we will return it to you to complete and we will hold your time sheet until the case note is returned completed.
 

Employee of the Month
Jeanne Bailey has been selected as our June employee of the moth.  She has worked for us for almost 4 years.  Jeanne is the sweetest, most patient person!  She maintains complete flexibility through her work schedule, programming and parent’s needs.  Jeanne has such an admirable determination in assisting her consumer to achieve whatever he might be capable of - from the smallest to the biggest goals.  Jeanne has a true gift of creativity - she has no methods and yet continues to search out new way  to assist her consumer.  Another gift Jeanne has is being observant of her consumer’s needs and promptly tries to find ways to meet them.  Jeanne just glows!  She is a positive ray of sunshine that is simply beautiful!

Free Lunch Program

The Fisher Street United Methodist Church located at 301 North Fisher Street will serve lunch every weekday during the summer.  It is a free program and it is open to everyone.  If you have any questions concerning this program please call the church at 934-8304.

  Summer Events At ASU

Now until June 23rd - Museum Exhibit “ African - American Life in the Arkansas Delta: Through the lens of Roger Line Johnson.  Monday - Friday 9am till 4pm   Free Admission

June 2 - July 25th  -  Art Exhibit “ From Abstraction to Minimalism” Fowler Center   Tuesday - Saturday 12pm till 5 pm    Free Admission.

June 7th - Blue Monday Concert featuring Reba Russell 7 pm at Sheffields Free Admission

June 23rd - June 25th - ASU Children’s Theater “Raggedy Ann and Andy” Fowler Center Wed and Thurs 10 am and 2 pm Friday 10 am and 7:30 pm Admission is $3.50

July 28th - July 28th ASU Children’s Theater “ Sleeping Beauty” same time, place and admission as above.

AUI Mission Statement... To improve the living and working conditions and opportunities of people with severe disabilities.