In This Issue:

The General Assembly relies on the economic advisor’s estimated projections and has for many years. Sometimes these projections are accurate and sometimes they are way off. Many times the General Assembly uses one-time money that funds budgets that need funding every year thereafter.

This year the State Treasurer has painted a gloomy picture – projecting that we are going to be $500,000,000 short for the year 2001/2002. The Governor has requested all state agencies to prepare budgets with a 15% across the board reduction. This places DDSN on an uneven playing field as we provide life-sustaining services to the state’s most vulnerable population. Our services make a difference in life or death on a daily basis.

We realize that there are going to be cuts but it would not be fair to cut 15 percent across the board. I have a feeling the General Assembly will consider agencies by the quality of their work and their use of Medicaid dollars.

The South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs has a wonderful reputation of meeting the needs of persons with disabilities. They have been proactive in attracting Medicaid dollars to enhance and expand programs. In fact, 65% of SCDDSN’s budget is Medicaid funded. Representative Rick Quinn, Chairman of the Health and Human Service Subcommittee of the Ways and Means, complimented SCDDSN for being creative in using Medicaid dollars. He stated he would encourage other state agencies to consult with SCDDSN to take advantage of the federal dollars available.

What does all of this have to do with us? If we are not aggressive in requesting the General Assembly to support SCDDSN’s budget, then our services will be reduced.

Each of us must help with the initiative to inform our legislators of the needs of our programs. This is one of the most important budget years that we have ever experienced. It is going to be difficult, but it also can be a rewarding year if we all work together for the benefit of the individuals whom we serve.

If you need further information on how you can help, please give us a call at 942-8902.

The following legislators serve our five county area:

(Shown in the photo (left) are Edna Brown, Teacher/Van Driver, working with Anthony "KT" Chambers and Eric Whittington on the alphabet.)

The computer helps to improve the children’s cognitive and fine motor skills. Games on the computer assist with identifying colors, numbers, shapes, objects, sequence and improving reading readiness skills. A weather game allows the children to create their own day with sunshine or rain. Hand coordination is enhanced by drawing pictures on the monitor by touching a color.

"The computer is a wonderful asset to our program. It helps improve the children’s attention span and teaches them to share. With one computer, the children know that they have to wait their turn. While a child is on the computer, the other children participate in circle time," stated Belinda Turner, Children’s Program Supervisor.

The Developmental Learning Center serves infants and children from birth to age 3 through individualized training in fine and gross motor, cognitive language, self-help and socialization skills.

In Grateful Appreciation

It is impossible for my wife, Doris, myself and our family to really express our appreciation in words to all of you who have supported us during this sad time in our lives when we lost our precious child, Debbie. Since December 8, we have rarely spent a day without at least a telephone call, visit or some acknowledgement of what we knew would be some of our darkest days.

This time has been difficult to say the least, as many of you know, but it has been made bearable by your love and support. We especially wish to thank the loving and compassionate staff of Emerald Center for your help throughout the years. You made Debbie feel special and she loved each and everyone one of you.

We received cards, letters, telephone calls, flowers, food and many generous contributions as memorials to the Emerald Center Foundation and we will forever remember your outpouring of sympathy. We will thank you over and over in our hearts in the days and years to come.

— Doris, Felton and family

He stated that "The Debbie Burton Making A Difference Award" will be presented to the professional who has shown outstanding service on behalf of people with disabilities and special needs.Chairman Linder stated, "Debbie Burton loved to advocate for people with disabilities. She could go to the Statehouse and work the lobby better than any lobbyist I know. She had many friends throughout the State of South Carolina and will long be remembered for the way she "beat all the odds" to become a well-rounded leader among her own."

Following the keynote address by The Honorable David H. Wilkins, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chairman Linder, joined by the upstate Executive Directors, presented the first "Debbie Burton Making A Difference Award" to J. Felton Burton. Chairman Linder thanked Burton for his 40 plus years of service to people with disabilities and special needs in South Carolina. A surprised and emotional Felton Burton shared this delightful occasion with, not only the 350 guests at the conference, but his wife, Doris, who has always been a large contributor to the success of Emerald Center and the development of community programs. He expressed his gratitude and stated that this was one of the most humbling and awe-inspiring experiences of his career.

The South Carolina Human Service Providers consists of 39 Executive Directors who administer programs for 23,487 people with disabilities and special needs in 46 counties. The Human Service Providers employ 7,260 staff and contracts with the South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs to provide these services.

Pictured Above, L to R: Pearson Cooper - Executive Director of Cherokee County DSNB, Risely Linder, Sr. – SCHSP Chairman and President/CEO of the Babcock Center, Elaine Thena – Executive Director of Pickens County DSNB, Burton, Lou Stackhouse - Executive Director of Union County DSNB, The Speaker of the House of Representatives David H. Wilkins, and Doris Burton.

Cathy Goldman will represent McCormick County. She is a licensed Real Estate Broker and is pursuing as Associates Degree in Business Management from Piedmont Technical College. Her previous employment includes Office Manager of Davis & Floyd, Inc., Savannah Lakes Village Property Owners Association’s Director of Community Activity Center. She has held positions with Cooper Communities Inc. as Resort Manager and Administrative Manager and Executive Secretary to McCormick County Council. Goldman has served as Chairman of the McCormick County Chamber of Commerce and McCormick County Gold Rush Festival, President of New Bordeaux Property Owners Association, on the Board of Visitors of Piedmont Technical College, Board of Directors of Savannah Lakes Village Property Owners Association and Board of Directors of Cooper Communities. She and her husband, David, reside in McCormick. She has two children, Denise and Dwayne McDaniel.

Millicent Peeler, who will represent Edgefield County, has been employed with Edgefield County School District as a first grade teacher for the past 24 years. A native of Denmark, South Carolina, she is a graduate of Winthrop College with a B. S. Degree in Early Childhood Education and a Master of Education Degree from the University of South Carolina. She is a member of the Edgefield County First Steps Partnership Board and a member of Delta Kappa Gamma Society. She and her husband, Robert, have two daughters and attend Harmony United Methodist Church.

"We welcome Cathy and Millicent to the Board. We consider them outstanding appointments to these positions. Their valuable experience will help to enhance the quality of life for people with disabilities and special needs in Abbeville, Edgefield, Greenwood, McCormick, and Saluda counties," said J. Felton Burton, Executive Director of the Board.

April

May

Emerald Center Golf Classic
Greenwood Country Club

A Special Thanks
From Dr. Charlie Bobo, Chairman, Emerald Center Foundation

It is a sight to behold when the staff members and volunteers go shopping for clothing, food, firewood, water, toys, personal care items, games, shoes, radios, coats, and toiletries needed. Aside from this group, there are people from industries, local businesses and associates of Emerald Center who also provide many of the gifts or funding to purchase gifts. Proceeds from the Emerald Center Golf Classic also provide assistance to this campaign.

Special thanks to Kemet Electronics and Cutler Hammer for their help with the Special Needs at Christmas Campaign. These companies requested a list of the special needs and their employees selected from this list. They brought wrapped gifts to the center for approximately 50 of the individuals/families needing help.

This campaign is a perfect example of what happens when a caring community works together to meet the needs of some very special people. I wish everyone could witness the sheer delight and joy that is shown when these gifts are delivered.

The Foundation first initiated the "Special Needs at Christmas Campaign" in 1993 to provide for families who would otherwise not be able to celebrate Christmas and to assist with their special needs. Since its initiation, over 1000 people have been helped.

Congratulations to…

Quentin Irvin who recently signed with Georgia Military for a full scholarship to play college football. The South Carolina Sports Writer’s Association also recently named Quentin one of the Top 100 Athletes in South Carolina at their annual banquet in Columbia. Quentin is the son of Sonja Irvin, Coordinator of Operational Services for Greenwood Operations.

Melissa Porter-Felder (Edgefield Service Coordinator) on the birth of a baby girl, Rachel Alice, on January 16, 2001. Rachel weighed 7 pounds, 15 ounces.

A DuPont survey of employers reported performance ratings of average or above average for 90 percent of workers with disabilities. A Harris poll of 920 employers found 88% rated "good or excellent", 33% "worked as hard as other employees" and 46% "worked harder".

March is Disabilities Awareness Month in South Carolina. People with disabilities and special needs, along with their families and friends, will join the South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs in celebrating "People with disABILITIES, Helping South Carolina Business Grow". During the month, the focus will be on increasing awareness among South Carolina business people about the value of recruiting and hiring people with disabilities.

Local boards like Emerald Center contract with the South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs to offer services that seek jobs and provide training for workers with disabilities in Abbeville, Edgefield, Greenwood, McCormick, and Saluda counties.

Emerald Center’s Supported Employment Services include competitive jobs, work enclaves (clusters of workers with disabilities, typically working on contract with local businesses), and mobile work crews such as yard maintenance crews or cleaning crews. Job coaches develop employment opportunities and work with individuals on a one-to-one basis to teach them the skills necessary to perform and maintain a particular job. Assistance is also provided to help individuals develop money management, use of transportation and interpersonal skills. In South Carolina, 114 job coaches provide on-the-job training and follow-up services at no charge to employers. They also support workers after they are hired.

Twenty-two individuals are employed in the community through Emerald Center’s Competitive Employment Program. Shown in the photo at the right are (L to R) Joanne Hawkins & Joyce Langley (Captain D's), Barbara Hix (Fatz Café), Alphonse Botje (Belmont Inn), John Mark McQuown (Winn Dixie), Shane Davis (Aramark Food Service at Erskine College), Danielle Sartin & Joyce Collins (Aramark Food Service at Lander University), Robert Swilling (Winn Dixie), Thomas Brown (Wesley Commons), Renee McPherson (Hardee's - Saluda), William Cox (Piggly Wiggly - Ware Shoals), David Hembree & Kenny Hix (Emerald Center Auto & Truck Repair), Alexander Tennant (Aramark Food Service at Lander), Danny Hardy (Wesley Commons), John Poole (Piggly Wiggly - Saluda), Michael Thomas (Emerald Center Auto & Truck Repair), and Stanton Blyther (McDonald's-Edgefield). Not pictured: Sammy Elmore (Greenwood Packing) and Nelson Gilchrist (Wesley Commons).

Sixteen individuals are employed through enclaves at Greenwood Mop & Broom Company and O’Dell Corporation. Through the three Work Activity Centers located in Greenwood, Saluda and Ware Shoals, 277 people are employed performing contract work with Capsugel, Fuji Photo Film, Greenwood Chamber of Commerce, Greenwood Mop and Broom Company, Greenwood Plating, Kemet Electronics, National Wild Turkey Federation, O’Dell Corporation and Park Seed Company.

"We are grateful to the businesses in our five country area who provide these work opportunities. Many of these business owners have related to us how they have come to discover that people with disabilities want to be treated just like anyone else and have proven to be reliable and conscientious workers," stated J. Felton Burton, Executive Director of Emerald Center.

For more information about the Supported Employment Program, please contact Waddy Babb, Supported Employment Administrator, at 942-8913 or the South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs (803) 898-9692.

Danny has made tremendous progress over the past 16 years. In addition to Emerald Center and Wesley Commons, Danny has something else in his corner — his drive and ambition to make something of himself. He loves to work and make his own money. He is so proud that he supports himself and has a retirement account.

Danny’s first job was in the Work Activity Center at Emerald Center in Greenwood where he assembled mops. He received training in vocational, independent living, socialization, academics and recreation. He lived in a community residence with 7 other men. The staff soon recognized that Danny was ready to pursue bigger things. When the Supervised Living Program II in Ware Shoals opened, Danny moved into an apartment. He worked in the Ware Shoals Work Activity Center where he assumed the role of "staff helper" because he always wanted to help out.

It wasn’t very long before Danny achieved all the necessary skills to move to the Supervised Living Program I - a program where individuals are more independent and require less supervision. A counselor is available at all times and has contact with the individual several times a week.

Danny enjoys visiting with his friends in the community after work and his friends are numerous. On his days off he stops by Emerald Center to see if there is anything he can do to help. He loves to plant flowers at the center and will come by on the weekends to be sure they are watered. He attends Woodfields Baptist Church with his friends, Mike and Pam Posey. Danny also enjoys collecting snow village houses, walking, music, fishing, animals, and helping in the community.

Danny has a strong interest in what’s going on in Greenwood. He’s called "Mr. Chamber of Commerce" because he always reports on new buildings and growth around town.

"Danny is an excellent example of what can be achieved when we work together to provide these opportunities for people with disabilities in the community. We are grateful to Wesley Commons for providing this opportunity for Danny. He enjoys working there and loves the staff and residents," stated J. Felton Burton, Executive Director.

Danny’s next goal – he’d like to move into a house some day so that he can have a pet. He also looks forward to being able to retire but says that’s a long way off. For now he’s just as happy as he can be.

Information about the classics will be mailed in early March. Teams participating last year will receive first refusal until March 31. If you would like to sponsor the golf or tennis classic, please contact Kim Williams at 942-4902 or Teresa Medlin at 942-8902 for more information. Sponsorships consist of: Major Sponsor -$1,000; Silver Sponsor - $500-999; Team-$500; Hole Sponsor-$125; Door Prizes/Donations; Pledges/Stocks. All donations are tax deductible as provided for by law.

Proceeds from the classics will be used to provide for the special needs of people served by Emerald Center in Abbeville, Edgefield, Greenwood, McCormick and Saluda counties. Proceeds from last year’s classic were used to assist families with clothing, food, medical supplies, therapies, ramps, van lifts, funding for camp, funding for client activities, provide travel expenses for medical assistance, and for other special needs where no other funding is available.