Adult Programs
Community Crossroads
This past year we have been offering individuals a wide variety of facility-based groups. Each day, individuals have over 14 choices of facility groups from which to choose. Groups are reviewed and changed as needed at least every three months.
Group topics and activities are driven by individual objectives, interests, and suggestions from family or other caregivers. Our curriculum addresses academic, social sensory needs, as well as physical fitness and health based activities. We welcome suggestions and are always looking for ways to improve our services and help individuals have a more meaningful day.
In fact, a parent suggested we try a yoga group. We started the group and everyone who participated really enjoyed it. We had an individual say in his meeting he would like to learn Spanish. We started a Spanish group, in which he and other individuals have learned many Spanish words. A generous individual who had a WII Gaming System he wasn’t using at home, made the decision to donate his WII to MSDC. We now use this as a facility-based group playing baseball, bowling, and other games. Everyone loves this group. It’s a lot of fun and everyone gets very competitive. Another family has a daughter that loves baseball games on WII, so they thoughtfully purchased a bat attachment to use with our existing system. Another parent recently heard about our sewing group and donated her sewing machine. She told a friend, who told another friend and we now have three sewing machines and a lot of sewing supplies.
We recently acquired classroom space in Kaleidoscope, our adjacent building, and many of our groups are now located in that space. This additional space was much needed and appreciated. Individuals really are learning a tremendous amount from the group they attend.
Community Crossroads Benefits
- Daily Living Skills
- Personal Health and Safety
- Socialization
- Work Attitudes, Skills and Exploration
- Academics
- Recreation
- Communication
Accomplishments
- 136 Individuals Served
- 82 Facility-based groups offered
- 25 Community-based groups offered
- 8 Volunteer sites
- 74% Individuals met their objectives
- 90% Individuals satisfied with program
- 100% Stakeholders satisfied
- 94,748 Hours of programming received
- 6,372 Transportation trips provided
- 99% Transportation trips on time
Industrial Services
The program provides an opportunity for individuals to earn a paycheck while enhancing their work skills. Marshall-Starke’s two largest products are wooden shipping blocks and plywood reels. The reels are produced through Real Products, a Division of Marshall-Starke. The building of our wood products requires the use of saws and other power tools. Wooden products; however is not the only sub contract work that is available to individuals attending our Centers. Because we have numerous skill levels, we attempt to secure a variety of jobs including packaging, heat sealing, paper shredding, collating, and labeling.
Working with area businesses to secure sub contract work is always a priority for us. We hope the service we provide to the business community is recognized as valuable to them as the ability to provide work for the individuals enrolled at both Marshall-Starke and Manitou Training Center is to us.
Industrial Services Benefits
- Increase productivity rate
- Increase attention to task
- Follow workshop safety rules
- Recognize supervisor authority
- Accept constructive criticism
- Follow directions
- Build stamina
- Demonstrate appropriate reactions to change
- Develop efficient and effective work methods
Accomplishments
- 21 Individuals enrolled in Industrial Track
- 73% Individuals met objectives
- 100% Individuals enjoyed coming to MSDC
- 100% Stakeholders satisfied with services
$69,351.00 Sub-Contract Sales
$1,465,680.00 Real Products Sales
- Airvac
- Atwood Mobile
- Dexter Doors
- Hehr International
- Bourbon Plastics
- Fun Coins
- Rochester Homes
Sub-Contract Businesses
- Advance Electric
- Bridgewater Tech
- Chore Time
- Coleman Cable
- Material Resources
- Standard Motor Products
- Sigma Wire
- Unified Wire
Real Products Customers
Community Employment Services
This year MSDC began new business relationships with three companies. A young man, Roger, began a work experience at Plymouth Tire which turned into a job offer. Work experience was also developed at Smith Farm Stores in Plymouth. That experience also turned into a permanent job placement. The third new business relationship began when a young man was placed at Fortess, a factory in South Bend.
Roger has been employed almost a year. Roger’s favorite thing about the job is that he has made new friends. He has come a long way in learning his job duties and is always looking for work that needs to be completed. The employer is very happy with the way Roger fits in with the other “guys” and is very happy with the progress Roger has made in working independently. MSDC checks on Roger and the employer at least two times a month. Issues are resolved, questions are answered and advocacy is provided. Roger, the employer, and MSDC hope this relationship last for years.
Employment Services Benefits
- Career Profiling
- Job Trials
- Resume Building
- Interview Skill Building
- Benefit Counseling
- Job Development
- Job Coaching
- Follow-Along
Accomplishments
- 80 Individuals served in Employment Services
- 12 Individuals placed with 8 individuals retaining employment for 90 days or longer
- 14 Average hours per week
- 95% Individuals met their objectives
- 100% Participants satisfied with services
- 100% Stakeholders satisfied with services
- 66% Successful placement rate
- 13% Individuals placed in professional and technical positions
- 25% Individuals placed in clerical and sales positions
- 63% Individuals placed in service industry positions
- 38% Individuals had a developmental disability
- 25% Individuals had a physical disability
- 13% Individuals had mental illness
- $7.47 Average wage per hour
Supported Living
Individuals residing at our Supported Living sites enjoyed numerous community activities this year. There was something for everyone including sporting events, fairs, festivals, and musical performances. After working all week, everyone wanted “fun” activities for the weekend; and that’s what they got. They attended Silver Hawk baseball games, Civil War Re-enactments and festivals galore, Blueberry, Round Barn, and Latino. For music lovers, the Rock Fest, Pulse Festival, and the B100 Birthday Bash were high on the list of most enjoyable. For those who wanted a quieter approach to music found attendance at musicals like the Wizard of Oz to be to their liking.
For the second year in a row, the most anticipated event is a three day camping trip to Lake Mississnewa in Peru, Indiana. During the day, everyone enjoyed swimming and fishing; and at night, sitting around the campfire singing and telling stories.
Staff and residents have already begun planning activities for next year. If it is anything like this year, it is going to be busy and a lot of fun.
Supported Living Benefits
- Improve daily living skills
- Encourage independence
- Increase social interaction
- Initiate community involvement
Accomplishments
- 17 Individuals residing in six sites
- 82 Different community activities attended
- 94% Individuals met their objectives
- 100% Individuals satisfied with the residential program
- 100% Stakeholders satisfied with services
- 100% Participation in Special Olympics