Adult Services
The Stark County Board of DD provides programs for adults. Click here to download the 2011/2012 Adult Services Program Calendar.
Habilitation and Day Programming
After the age of 22, individuals with developmental disabilities rely on Stark DD to provide assistance, life-long learning and activities that add to the quality of life for individuals of all abilities. Habilitation services for adults provide training and support in vocational skills and opportunity, self-care, behavior supports, communication and socialization skills.
Work might include contract production, shipping and receiving, janitorial and specialties like ceramics, wood products, crafts and hand-sewn products. These individuals may be employees of The Workshops, Inc.
The Workshops, Inc. (TWI)
The Workshops, Inc. (TWI) is a 501c3 non-profit organization that enters into an annual contract with the Stark County Board of DD to employ adult enrollees. TWI secures and manages the work performed in the workshops and other sites and uses its earnings to pay enrollee wages and benefits, provide and purchase equipment, materials, vehicles and other necessities. Work groups include up to 15 people and each is directly supervised by a Workshop Specialist II who is registered by the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities.
The Workshops operate year-round. Work days are typically six hours long.. Enrollees are paid based on their productivity and receive a minimum of ten paid vacation days during the workshop shut down in July and December, paid holidays and up to ten absent days. Most enrollees pay Social Security (FICA), federal, state and city tax through payroll deductions. Individuals are assigned to the nearest workshop to minimize travel time
Sheltered Workshops provide paying jobs that include sorting, collating, painting, ceramics, assembling, packaging, woodworking and more for local manufacturers and organizations. Enrollees are placed on specific jobs based upon their programming needs.
Community Work Experience (CWE) helps enrollees make a transition from a workshop setting to employment in the community. Job opportunities include custodial work, manufacturing jobs, etc. throughout Stark County. Individuals employed through CWE typically work in a work crew or enclave.
Supported Employment assists an enrollee in finding a job in the community and provides important supports, such as job coaching and counseling, to help that enrollee be successful on the job and more independent.
In some cases, individuals may be employed in work enclaves, These are groups of individuals who work in a community setting under the direction of a supervisor who is employed by Stark DD. Enclaves can be either a mobile unit or a single setting. One hundred fifty eight individuals are employed in these enclaves and work at jobs such as janitorial, recycling, grounds keeping and assembly/production.
The minimum age for enrollment is sixteen, but individuals typically join the program at eighteen years or older.
Artist Renee Hentsch proudly displays her work.
How do I enroll in adult services?
Qualifying – To qualify for Workshop employment, an individual must be a resident of Stark County and have substantial functional limitations as determined by the Ohio Eligibility Determination Instrument (OEDI) administered by the Intake Specialist.
The enrollment process – Once an individual determined to be qualified, an intake specialist will help the family or caregiver complete the necessary forms. The completed forms are reviewed during a meeting that includes the intake specialist, the program nurse supervisor, the vocational evaluator and the individual and his/her family, when appropriate. A vocational evaluator will then complete a work evaluation Plan and will as the individual's plan coordinator, until the individual is assigned to a work group.
An intake specialist then forwards the admissions Packets to the adult services director for review and recommendation to the superintendent for approval.
Once the individual is approved for an adult services program, a functional assessment will determine his/her interests, preferences, choices and functional abilities. The assessmenet includes independent daily living skills, vocational and social development, auditory, sensorimotor skills and career interest.
Based upon this information and the individual's interests and preferences, the team recommends appropriate placement and programming within in the adult services program.
The functional assessment report is reviewed with the individual, his/her family and the assigned staff. A permanent plan coordinator is assigned and the placement area is finalized.
