Project Summary
Through partnerships of individuals with disabilities, parents of children with special needs, community champions, community advocates, and community service providers, the Human Services Management Institute is facilitating a community intervention initiative that demonstrates the effect of people with disabilities directing their own opportunities in the workplace and in the community. This initiative is being modeled in the Southwest Georgia United Empowerment Zone (two rural counties), the Central Savannah River Area Enterprise Community (six rural counties), and the Meriwether County School System.
The target population is estimated to be more than 1400 individuals with disabilities, at least 72% of whom reside in the empowerment zone and the enterprise community. Community initiatives to identify people with disabilities to participate in project activities are being demonstrated. People with disabilities will demonstrate how the use of self-advocacy skills and a supportive community partnership result in jobs of choice and participation in community activities, including being community leaders. Students at risk will gain self-advocacy skills, stay in school, and demonstrate a significant increase in academic success.
Three intervention models will be developed and demonstrated. One demonstration will focus on the rural empowerment zone, one on the rural enterprise community; and one on the school system. The Institute and its partners will disseminate results of these demonstrations to interested communities and schools nationwide.
Southwest Georgia United Empowerment Zone
Individuals with disabilities, parents of children with disabilities, community advocates, school system personnel, and service providers have begun several initiatives:
Barrier Busters: Individuals with disabilities and community advocates formed a group and identified themselves as the Crisp/Dooly Barrier Busters. The Barrier Busters are committed to creating a better environment for people with disabilities in Crisp and Dooly Counties. Meeting are held on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 6:00 PM in the Conference Room on the Cordele campus of South Georgia Technical Institute.
Through strategic planning, the Barrier Busters identified four priority areas to address: 1. Jobs for people with disabilities; 2. Identification of community members who have disabilities; 3. Assuring awareness of available resources and community awareness of disability issues; and, 4. Creating a barrier free community, programmatically and architecturally.
Parents of Children with Disabilities Support Group: Two support groups for parents of children with disabilities have been established. The purpose of these groups is to provide parents a chance to talk to each other and learn from each other. Meetings rotate between Crisp (Cordele campus of South Georgia Technical Institute) and Dooly (Dooly Medical Center in Vienna) counties and are held in the afternoon and evening on the 2nd Monday of each month. Please see HSMI Events for meeting times and locations.
Seminars: Seminars are held throughout the year on topics identified by the Barrier Busters and/or Parents of Children with Disabilities. In addition to providing a viable learning experience, seminars give all people concerned with disability issues the opportunity to interact and network.
Resource Center: Individuals with disabilities and parents of children with disabilities needing information on a special topic or referral to a resource for a needed service may call the Southwest Georgia United Empowerment Zone Office at (912) 273-9111. The Empowerment Zone staff will immediately relay message to the Institute.
Central Savannah River Area Enterprise Community, Inc.
Individuals with disabilities, community advocates, and service providers have formed the Central Savannah River Area Barrier Busters. The CSRA Barrier Busters are in process of incorporating so they can apply for and secure grant funds for advocacy projects, specifically projects to provide transportation services to people with disabilities. The group meets on the 4th Wednesday of each month at 10:00 AM at the Warren County Human Development Center. Several initiatives have been are in progress including the identification of community members with disabilities and the development of a resource guide.
Meriwether County Community Empowerment
In an effort to address student self-advocacy skills, meetings have been held with students with disabilities in the two Meriwether County high schools. In addition, meetings with community leaders, school personnel, community advocates, and service providers have been held to create an awareness regarding disability issues and to explore opportunities for students with disabilities and students at risk. Members of the Interagency Council have voiced strong support for this initiative. Ideas for action include: 1. Job fair for students in the high schools; 2. Exploring solutions to transportation issues related to the transit system; 3. Creating a resource list for students with disabilities, students at risk, parents, and school leaders; and, 4. Creating an awareness of disability issues and student needs by all teachers.
CSRA Barrier Busters Meriwether County Barrier Busters
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