Stryker – Quadco’s Executive Director Bruce Abell spent most of the rehabilitation center’s monthly board meeting on Tuesday discussing regulations concerning community integration and community-based settings. He spoke at length with the board members about the regulations governing providers of service to individuals with disabilities being funded through home and community-based service (HCBS) waivers.
He said the rules established by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) outline requirements for providers and also provide guidance from CMS regarding what the guidelines do not require.
Abell told the board members that the guidelines are a useful tool to ensure that the center continues to meet the CMS requirements and reinforces the organization’s focus on community integration. Abell also emphasized the importance of the center’s continued support of each person’s goals as set forth in their individual plan and support of their right to make choices.
He also presented the board members with an article from AdaptAbilities published by the Franklin County Board of DD. The article highlighted the accomplishments of Chavonne, an individual who recently gained community employment at Burlington Coat Factory with the assistance of Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD). Job development was secured with OOD funding and the individual was assisted in obtaining and maintaining employment at Burlington.
Abell offered praise for the accomplishment and the collaborative effort between Chavonne, the Franklin County Board of DD, OOD and the job development team, stating cooperation such as this will continue to lead to increases in community integration opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
A review of Quadco’s summer youth program concluded with very positive feedback from the participants, according to Rachel Lange, manager of Quadco’s employment services provided through Northwest Employment Services. She said the youth program included hands on as well as classroom experiences.
She also noted that her department is currently serving 41 individuals in a variety of employment services that include job development, coaching, job retention, follow along and job seeking skills.
Program Manager Shannon Zellers said that individuals being served by Quadco participated in a number of different community integration activities throughout the month of July. She said several groups attended the Henry County Fair and the Henry County Humane Society. Individuals active in the Garden Club participated in the Bryan Farmers Market selling items grown in the Center’s garden. She also mentioned that members of the Seniors Group made Sea Glass Art and plan to enter their creations in the upcoming Williams County Fair.
The next regular meeting of the Quadco Non-Profit Board will be September 27 in the Stryker facility conference room.
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