SRVS Completes $5.5 million Capital Campaign

SRVS is pleased to announce that it has completed a three-year, $5.5 million capital campaign to renovate and equip a new headquarters building to enhance the programs and services for the people it serves.

“We are thrilled with the opportunity to significantly increase our operating space and serve more people with disabilities in a state-of-the-art facility, in addition to creating more jobs,” said Jeffrie Bruton, SRVS Executive Director. “We will be able to more than double the number of people we serve.”

The newly renovated, 80,000 square foot facility at 3971 Knight Arnold Road, will house SRVS Learning Center, SRVS Clinical Services and SRVS Community Living program, in addition to other administrative offices. SRVS Industries will remain at its current location at 3592 Knight Arnold.

Renovations to the new headquarters are nearing completion and the building is expected to be fully occupied by March. The main program space will be the learning center, where SRVS offers weekday programs for adults, concentrating on social skills, self-care skills and pre-vocational training, using Montessori teaching techniques. The learning center will also house SRVS’ elder care program.

Its features include expanded classrooms, music room, art room and a model apartment to teach independent living, and a teaching kitchen for food preparation training, grocery shopping and nutritional education. Other key areas include a media room, sensory stimulation area, computer lab and reading library. The clinical services program will have state-of-the art equipment to provide physical and occupational therapy, and areas for behavioral health assessment and other services.

“Our new headquarters will make a major difference in our service delivery,” said Anne Wesberry, SRVS board chairperson. “Community support for the campaign was overwhelming and we are tremendously grateful for the support individuals, corporations, foundations, small businesses, and others provided for people with disabilities.”

Mayor Luttrell Visits SRVS

Joe shakes hands with Mayor Luttrell.

SRVS was fortunate to have a visit by Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell last week. Luttrell toured SRVS Learning Center, SRVS Industries and SRVS’ newly renovated building at 3971 Knight Arnold.

As the Mayor walked through the halls of the learning center, he was greeted by many individuals supported by SRVS who shook their hands, waved and welcomed him. The mayor visited several classrooms, and watched the new drum therapy sessions being taught at SRVS. At SRVS Industries, Luttrell learned about the outsourcing business, met several workers and signed an autograph. The employees were thrilled to have the Mayor tour their facility.

Several of SRVS Board members and administration showed Mayor Luttrell SRVS new Sensory Garden.

At the end of his tour, Luttrell visited SRVS new headquarters expected to open in Spring. While touring the new classrooms and clinical services area, staff discussed how the rooms would be used and what improvements the building would bring to the people supported. SRVS is grateful to have Mayor Luttrell tour SRVS and learn about its mission and what the future holds for SRVS.

Deb Nichols Becomes Greater Memphis Chamber Ambassador

SRVS is pleased to announce that Deb Nichols, SRVS Community Outsource Consultant, has been chosen as a Greater Memphis Chamber Ambassador. We are excited that Deb will be involved in promoting the chamber and representing SRVS in our community.

Deb has worked at SRVS Industries (formally SOS Industries), soliciting businesses to create jobs for the workers at SRVS Industries. She has secured several contracts for the workshop, and continues to build new relationships with potential vendors. SRVS Industries services include boxing, labeling, packaging, promotional displays and hand assembly.

Greater Memphis Chamber Ambassadors are a group of knowledgeable volunteers serving in a year-round effort as official hosts for the chamber events. The members provide information and answer questions about the chamber, and serve as an additional resource and communication link between the chamber and its members.

In Memphis, there are about 35 ambassadors.  However, the chamber is looking to expand to 50 over the next year. The chamber is comprised of a variety of industries and who are committed to serving the Memphis business community. The ambassadors have outgoing personalities, enjoy networking and are community oriented people.

Deb holds all of these characteristics. She will be making connections in our Memphis community and spreading the word about SRVS. We know that she will contribute greatly to the chamber and be a wonderful liaison for the chamber and SRVS.

Congratulations to Deb Nichols on becoming a Greater Memphis Chamber Ambassador!

The Family Support Program Stays with the Help of Supporters

Governor Bill Haslam has restored $4.5 million for Tennessee’s Family Support program for 2012-2013, and will keep the program as a reoccurring line item in the budget.  We thank our many supporters who advocated on behalf of our program!

While we are encouraged by the news, the state typically has budgeted more than $7 million. We will continue to advocate for funds to at least remain at the current level of $7 million and will need your help in this effort. For more information, contact SRVS’ Family Support Program at 901-869-7787 or visit www.srvs.org.

Success With The Rhythmic Arts Project

Eddie Tuduri works with Victor on his colors and beats!

Eddie Tuduri, founder of The Rhythmic Arts Project (TRAP), came to SRVS January 23-25 to train staff members on how to teach basic life skills to people with disabilities by using drums and percussion. Staff members and people supported by SRVS had a wonderful time learning skills and having fun with the drums.

Tuduri taught several groups of people supported by SRVS on Tuesday and Wednesday and made significant progress with them. He sat down with each member in the circle to work one on one with them which increased their levels of confidence and self-esteem. They were smiling from ear to ear while staff clapped in affirmation for them.

Although the group was comprised of people with different skill levels, Tuduri helped each one to learn beats, colors, shapes, repetition, notes, math skills and basic listening skills, all while encouraging each participant. By the end of each session, staff members, visitors and friends of SRVS looked on the participants of the project with pride and contentment at their happiness and progress during the sessions.

The individuals from the day center and SOS Industries had a wonderful time. Each of them worked hard according to their skill level and had a blast!

We appreciate Eddie Tuduri coming to SRVS and kicking off The Rhythmic Arts Project!

SRVS Brings The Rhythmic Arts Project to its Day Center

About 80 people with disabilities who attend SRVS’ Day Center will soon have access to an internationally recognized, percussion-based skills development program created by a former rock drummer after a paralyzing surfing accident.

Using drums and percussion, The Rhythmic Arts Project (TRAP) was created to teach basic life skills to people with developmental disabilities by drummer Eddie Tuduri after his recovery from a paralyzing 1997 body-surfing accident in Northern California. Tuduri will lead TRAP workshops for SRVS staff January 23-25 as the agency incorporates the program into its skills building activities for people attending SRVS’ Day Center.

Troy Allen, Day and Programs Team Leader for SRVS, said that in the years he has led SRVS’ day programs, a wide variety of techniques and activities have been used to help with skills development. He said he was convinced right away that TRAP could be a great addition to SRVS’ new day center curriculum.

“TRAP is one of the most creative and inventive programs I have seen and we are looking forward to incorporating it into our activities,” Allen said. “It’s implementation is part of our ongoing efforts to provide the people we serve with the most effective tools to live fulfilled lives and be as independent as possible.”

Before the accident that paralyzed him from the neck down, Tuduri had drummed for the Beach Boys, Rick Nelson and other well-known music groups. He underwent surgery and rehabilitation, eventually overcoming the paralysis. After regaining sensation in his right hand during recovery, one day Tuduri instinctively began to tap drumsticks on the side of his bed and soon other patients joined in with percussion instruments brought by his friends to a Santa Barbara, CA rehabilitation facility.  That was the beginning of TRAP.

“Through inventive exercises, the program teaches and enhances skills such as maintaining focus, using memory, socialization, turn taking, developing leadership, recognition and use of numbers, shapes, and colors, spatial awareness, motor coordination, following instructions, and communication,” Tuduri said.

Tuduri said introducing TRAP’s rhythmic concept in any arena gives the participants a fun way to approach basic life skills and scholastics that are as enjoyable to learn as it is to teach, making it  “a win- win situation all around.” Building basic life skills is part of a higher mission for the program, that Tuduri has now taken to 35 cities across the country and South America.

“TRAP’s primary objective is to promote the inclusion of people with disabilities in all aspects of everyday life,” Tuduri said.  “We look forward to a world in which people of all abilities are treated with respect and dignity and are free to fully engage in the world around them.”

To learn more about TRAP coming to SRVS, please contact Anthony Hicks, Director of Public Relations & Development, 901-312-6800 or anthony.hicks@srvs.org.

Not So Different

Often times, in our society, people with disabilities are looked at “differently.” Although many people try and treat them equally, the population of people with disabilities seem to be kept hidden from the public eye more often than not. However, Target took a different approach with a recent ad, and supporters of people with disabilities could not be happier.

In a recent advertisement  for children’s clothing, Target used Ryan Langston, a six-year old boy with Down Syndrome, as a model. The ad places Ryan with four other children modeling clothing, and looks like any other ad that Target would send out. That is what makes it so special.

Huge corporations like Target and Nordstrom have used people with disabilities in their ads for over a decade, and people are now starting to respond. Although Target has not made a big deal out of the ad, the corporation shows that their views of beauty and acceptance are different than others.

Although people with disabilities don’t fall into certain categories of what society thinks is beautiful, Target has shown with this ad that people with disabilities are not so different from you and me. Hopefully, we will see a positive change in society by accepting those who are different and showing how beautiful they are to the world.

To read more about Ryan and his journey, go to http://news.ninemsn.com.au/world/8404482/child-model-with-down-syndrome-inspires-others.

Last Town Hall Meeting to Voice Concerns for Family Support Program

This is your last chance to voice your concerns about the funding for the Family Support Program in a town hall meeting. The last town hall meeting is Thursday, January 19, 2012, and we are hoping you will attend!

If you have not heard, SRVS recently learned that funding for the Tennessee Family Support Program is in jeopardy.  For the past three years, the family support program has been funded with state funds from the Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities budget.  It was confirmed at a recent DIDD budget hearing with the Governor that the Family Support Program will not be funded after June 30, 2012.

The family support program provides critical supports and services to more than 4,000 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including 393 families funded through SRVS.

Please help us reverse this action by asking your legislator to restore funding for the Family Support Program!  Here are two ways you can help:

1)      Attend the LAST upcoming town hall meeting and voice your concern:

January 19, 2012 – Bert Ferguson Community Center @ 8505 Trinity Road, Cordova, TN  38018, 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

2)       Call or write your legislators as soon as possible!

For a list of your legislators and their contact information go to http://www.capitol.tn.gov/. If you’re not sure who your legislators are, you can find out by typing your address in the boxes under Find My Legislator on the right side of the screen.

• Ask your legislator to restore funding to the state budget for the Family Support Program.
• Share your personal story about how the program benefits your family or anyone you know who receives supports from this program.
• Remind them that 4,500 families are at risk and additionally, more than 3,500 people are on a waiting list.
• Mention how the program is cost effective and the most economical home and community based program for people with all types of disabilities and ages.
• Tell them there are no Medicaid-funded home and community based programs for people with developmental disabilities other than those who have an intellectual disability. Without Family Support, their families have to struggle to help them or in the worst case scenario, they have to look for more expensive services, such as a nursing home.  There are over 6,900 people on the waiting list for services for people with intellectual disabilities, so even though there are services for people with intellectual disabilities, those who have depended on the Family Support Program will not be able to obtain services.
• Thank your legislators for their past support of the program and for their efforts to save the program.

For more information or assistance, contact Cherry Davis, SRVS’ Director of Family Support @ 901-312-6849 or cherry.davis@srvs.org.

SRVS’ 50th Anniversary Year, Full of Opportunities

For many of us, a new year brings new opportunities and changes. Not only will this year bring many exciting changes at SRVS, but this is also SRVS’ 50th anniversary year. We have many new opportunities ahead for our agency and much reflection on how we have grown over the years.

SRVS began in 1962 with the Sheltered Occupational Shop (now SOS Industries), SRVS oldest program. It was founded by parents in November of that year to provide a sheltered work environment in which individuals with developmental disabilities could earn a competitive wage while learning valuable job skills, build a strong work ethic, and promote their self-confidence and self-esteem. Although a small beginning with one program, SRVS now provides support for more than 800 individuals throughout a variety of programs.

With the growth of the agency, SRVS decided to expand to another building. As many of you know, SRVS will be moving one mile east of its current campus to 3971 Knight Arnold. Although much of the administration and staff have moved into the new building, the day center and remaining administration and staff will be permanently moved in the Spring of 2012. SRVS staff and friends are overjoyed at moving to a larger facility that will allow learning and growth for the people supported by SRVS. Moving into the new building is an opportunity for SRVS to give the needed care to people with disabilities, while growing in the MidSouth. Once the building is fully renovated, SRVS will celebrate with a grand opening and 50th Anniversary celebration.

SRVS will also continue its annual events this year including a kick-off to the Spirit of SRVS auction at the Playhouse on the Square and the 14th annual Spirit of SRVS. Playhouse on the Square will present Xanadu on July 8, 2012 for the kick-off celebration, and the Spirit of SRVS will be held on August 25, 2012 at the Hilton Memphis.

To learn more about what is new this year at SRVS and upcoming events during the year, visit www.srvs.org, or follow our blog!

Remember to Help Out SRVS’ Family Support Program

Remember that SRVS still needs your help with the Family Support Program. There are three upcoming town hall meetings in January that you can attend to help voice your concerns for this program.

If you have not heard, SRVS recently learned that funding for the Tennessee Family Support Program is in jeopardy.  For the past three years, the family support program has been funded with state funds from the Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities budget.  It was confirmed at a recent DIDD budget hearing with the Governor that the Family Support Program will not be funded after June 30, 2012.

The family support program provides critical supports and services to more than 4,000 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including 393 families funded through SRVS.

Please help us reverse this action by asking your legislator to restore funding for the Family Support Program!  Here are two ways you can help:

1)      Attend one of the upcoming town hall meetings and voice your concern:

January 5, 2012 – Hollywood Community Center @ 1560 N. Hollywood, Memphis, TN  38108 from 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

January 12, 2012 – McFarland Community Center@4955 Cottonwood, Memphis, TN  38118, from 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

January 19, 2012 – Bret Ferguson Community Center@8505 Trinity Road, Cordova, TN  38018, 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

2)       Call or write your legislators as soon as possible!

For a list of your legislators and their contact information go to http://www.capitol.tn.gov/. If you’re not sure who your legislators are, you can find out by typing your address in the boxes under Find My Legislator on the right side of the screen.

• Ask your legislator to restore funding to the state budget for the Family Support Program.
• Share your personal story about how the program benefits your family or anyone you know who receives supports from this program.
• Remind them that 4,500 families are at risk and additionally, more than 3,500 people are on a waiting list.
• Mention how the program is cost effective and the most economical home and community based program for people with all types of disabilities and ages.
• Tell them there are no Medicaid-funded home and community based programs for people with developmental disabilities other than those who have an intellectual disability. Without Family Support, their families have to struggle to help them or in the worst case scenario, they have to look for more expensive services, such as a nursing home.  There are over 6,900 people on the waiting list for services for people with intellectual disabilities, so even though there are services for people with intellectual disabilities, those who have depended on the Family Support Program will not be able to obtain services.
• Thank your legislators for their past support of the program and for their efforts to save the program.

For more information or assistance, contact Cherry Davis, SRVS’ Director of Family Support @ 901-312-6849 or cherry.davis@srvs.org.