Programs for people with developmental disabilities
Here at Project Care, we have dedicated ourselves to providing individuals with special needs the resources they need to succeed. Project Care provides Financial Support, Education, Housing and Living Support, Employment Opportunities, Healthcare Services, Advocacy and Legal Support, and More.
Partner Programs for Employment Opportunities
To learn more visit: Project Search
ACCESS Initiative is an innovative job-training program providing a nine-month internship program for young adults, with developmental disabilities. Interns in the program complete (3) ten-week rotations at a partnering business with the goal of gaining the necessary skills to obtain competitive employment. Upon completion of the program, staff provides assistance with finding employment within the community and continued support during employment.
Programs:
Those businesses that host the various internships include:
- The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and Arkansas Children’s Hospital, both located in Little Rock
- CHI St. Vincent in Hot Springs
- Ouachita County Medical Center in Camden
- St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro
- Mercy Fort Smith in Fort Smith, AR
- The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
Who’s a fit for Project SEARCH:
- Individuals between the ages of 18-35, who have a diagnosed disability.
- Young adults with a high school diploma, GED, or certificate of completion.
- Individuals with a desire to work.
- A willingness to work on social, communication, and employability skills and take direction from staff and co-workers.
- Individuals who have the ability to gain independence within the workplace.
To Learn More visit: Arkansas Department of Human Services
The Jonesboro Human Development Center is a state-funded residential facility that provides training and care for people with intellectual challenges or related conditions. The center serves approximately 100 people on its campus, while also offering support services to those in the surrounding community who might benefit from alternative living/service options. The goal of the center is to provide the support and training needed to help people reach their maximum potential in life while considering their rights to dignity and respect.
Programs:
TEFRA: The Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act (TEFRA) is a Medicaid program that can help families with children younger than 19 years old who have a disability receive care in their homes rather than an institution.
CES Waiver: The Community and Employment Support (CES) Waiver offers services in your community to support clients with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD) with all major life activities, such as living independently and working at a job with help from an employment coach.
To learn more visit: pathfinder, Inc.
Pathfinder, Inc. is a nationally recognized nonprofit organization dedicated to the development and implementation of individualized strategies designed to provide citizens with developmental disabilities and/or behavioral health needs total access to community life.
Programs:
These programs include evaluation, vocational training, professional counseling, work opportunities, habilitation training, and protective and socio-legal services.
Adult development programs provide prevocational and vocational adult development training for individuals with disabilities and receive funding from several sources.
Services may include:
- Evaluation
- Vocational training which is provided in a real work environment
- Physical, Occupational, and/or Speech Therapy
- Work opportunities including job placement in the private sector
- Habilitation training
- Protective and socio-legal services
- Active day treatment for severely involved individuals who reside in Intermediate Care Facilities
- Referral to other agencies when necessary.
AbilityOne
Through AbilityOne contracts from the nationwide SourceAmerica network of nonprofit agencies, Pathfinder provides employment opportunities for individuals with intellectual disabilities.
Pathfinder’s Contract Services Department manages several AbilityOne contracts through the nationwide SourceAmerica network of nonprofit agency partners to provide employment opportunities for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Our AbilityOne contracts include two on the Little Rock Air Force base. We provide a full range of Janitorial Services on one contract and Food Service Attendants to assist with food preparation and kitchen maintenance on the other. We have an AbilityOne contract with the Veterans Administration that supplies mailroom attendants for the VA facilities at both Little Rock and North Little Rock locations. We also have an Ability One contract with the Corp of Engineers at the Federal Building in Little Rock that supplies mailroom attendants. Outside of the Ability One contracts, the Pathfinder Contract Services Department provides the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department with crews to pick up litter along the highways in and around Pulaski County.
Pathfinder, Inc. is proud to be a Supported Employment vendor for Arkansas Rehabilitation Services! Supported Employment provides services to consumers with significant disabilities to assist them in obtaining and maintaining employment at an integrated labor site.
A job coach serves as a teacher, mentor, and facilitator by assisting the consumer with the job search, interviews, and training of job duties at the work site. The job coach helps the consumer look for jobs that interest them and match their abilities and skills to the job.
The overall goal for the consumer is to foster growth towards maximum independence in the community and at their place of employment. Competitive Employment will be procured in the community and within Pathfinder, Inc. Consumers will generally work a minimum of 15 hours to 25 hours per week.
H.O.W.L Transition Program
The H.O.W.L. Transition Program provides the A-State experience to students. The H.O.W.L. Transition Program also provides support to students who may need: Mentoring Social Skills Career Planning Independent Living Skills Tutoring
Programs:
The H.O.W.L. Transition Program: provides the A-State experience to students. The H.O.W.L. Transition Program also provides supports to students who may need:
- Mentoring
- Social Skills
- Career Planning
- Independent Living Skills
- Academic Support
Students will engage in experiences that enrich and enhance educational, social and interpersonal skills to achieve their individual aspirations.
Find the help you need today!
Why do We do it?
Project Care is a wonderful collaboration of programs, specialists, and special education teachers in our community who share a vision to enrich the lives of our special needs population. We do this through advocacy, education, and legislation because everyone deserves the same opportunities.
Our goal is to bring awareness, provide resources, and education services, and be a part of the legislative process that will improve the overall quality of life for our Special Needs Population.
How we Provide support to people with special needs
Thanks to the help from our partners we are able to provide several avenues of support to those with special needs.