Pathways leads to greater independence
By MARY ANN GREIER (mgreier@reviewonline.com)Article Photos
LISBON - Opportunity Homes recently opened a new facility for its residents in an effort to place them on a more productive path for learning work and life skills.
Known as Pathways, the new workshop for people with mental retardation and developmental disabilities stands just a short distance from the 22-bed residential care facility located at 7891, state Route 45, Lisbon - so short a distance that plans call for constructing a pathway between the two buildings.
Opportunity Homes Executive Director Mary Jane Jones said they noticed the building for rent just a couple doors down at 7941 state Route 45 and decided to start their own workshop to give some of their residents an alternative to the facility operated by Columbiana County MRDD.
She explained that many of the residents still go to the larger facility for work, but they wanted to offer a quieter, smaller place where some of the residents could receive more individualized attention. A change in law permitted people with mental retardation or developmental disabilities to choose where they received workshop services, making an alternative possible.
"We're just trying to get the word out that we're here - we exist," Jones said.
They currently have eight residents enrolled, but the facility is open to anyone in the community with developmental disabilities or mental retardation.
The name Pathways recognizes the path between the two buildings, but Jones said the name also signifies a path to greater independence and learning with activities aimed at increasing skills and communication. She said it's a means for attendees "to feel good about themselves."
So far they've done some work for Women, Infants and Children, stuffing envelopes and putting together giveaway bags. They've also lined up a job with Angels for Animals, putting together gift bags for the annual Doggie Daze Reunion set for July 12.
"The hope is that we can get paid jobs," Jones said.
Besides work skills, workshop attendees learn life skills from helping to prepare their own lunch to tending to the huge garden planted behind the building. The garden boasts a variety of fresh vegetables and produce, such as cabbage, zucchini, tomatoes, peppers, beets, letture and onions. Plans call for enrollees to sell their crops when they're ripe for some spending money.
They're also learning about composting and recycling, using different recycling projects to make some money. Besides the aluminum and tin cans, they're collecting drink pouches which a company called TerraCycle will use to make into bags, earning 2 cents for each drink pouch. They're also collecting inkjet and toner cartridges, old cell phones and Nabisco cookie packages, such as Oreo packages.
"We're trying to make Pathways a really green facility, teaching the residents about recycling," Jones said.
The facility plans to hold a garage sale and health fair on Aug. 2 and will begin a speakers bureau in September open to anyone in the community. The speaking engagements will offer topics to assist people with handicapped individuals in the home, such as behavior management.
"The community has always been good to Opportunity Homes all these years," she said.
The non-profit home has been in existence for 27 years, currently with 22 residents. The Board of Directors includes president Carol McGaffick, secretary Nancy Dailey, and members Ralph Landwert, Tad Rose and TK Hiscox.
Nursing services are available on-site daily, along with dietary services. Besides offering work skills training, the facility offers cognitive skill development, communication skills development and life safety training, such as pedestrian skills.
"We're already seeing improvements," Pathways Manager Jenna Emelo said about the residents.
Anyone interested in seeing the facility can call Emelo at 330-420-8659 or Jones at 330-424-1411 or by e-mail at admin@opphomes.org.\
