Center's Focus in Teaching Adults

02/06/03

Doug Couch - Douglas County Sentinel

A new training and resouce center for assisting people with development disabilities is up and running in Douglas County.

The "NewDirection" center focuses on adult learning, offering training sessions on self-determiniation, self-advocacy, computer training, and employment skills resume writing, interviewing skills, and work ethics. The center also provides an art studio, a woodworking studio, and offers community-based volunteer oportunities.

"The center - which opened in early October - is a philosophical change in service delivery for the Douglas County Community Services Board," said Develpment Disabilities Director Nancy Brooks-Lane. "We currently have 28 people from Douglas County using the facility. We look at the site, not as a school, but as a community resource."

With funding from a federal workFORCE Initiative Grant, NewDirection will provide the opportunity for consumers to create their own small business. The Douglas CSB was one of only three applicants approved nationwide for the grant, which will provide about $100,000 per year for five years.

As part of the grant, NewDirection has been designated an Olmstead Demonstration site, providing supportd to people of the commnunity rather than traditional day programs. There are four Olmstead sited in Georgia.

The Douglas Conty site will help provide training for others in implementing the Olmstead plan for persons with disabilities.

"This is an demonstration site on how persons receive support," Brooks-Lane said.

People with development disabilities have a history of being in day programs, institutions, or nursing homes.

"This will give consumers a whole new avenue in choice of employment," said Project Employ Director Doug Cantrell. "It goes a step further to self-employment. Consumers will be able to apply for funds to start up their own small business."

According to Brooks-Lane center resources are open to anyone who has developmental disabilities needs and is at least 18-years old.

NewDirection is located at 8331 Office Park Drive in Douglasville, in the Magnolia Park office annex. For more information, call Wanda Strandridge or Frances Kiminta at (678)214-0291.