[music playing] ANNOUNCER: The following program is a production of Ozarks Public Television.

Good evening, and welcome to "Sense of Community."

I'm Jennifer Moore.

About one in every four adults in the US lives with a disability.

Many children do too.

On this evening's program, we're exploring local opportunities and resources for people living with developmental disabilities in the Ozarks.

Our guest is Michele Fields with Abilities First.

Join us as we learn more about this community resource.

[music playing] ANNOUNCER: Welcome to "Sense of Community."

"Sense of Community" is a public affairs presentation of Ozarks Public Television.

Michele Fields, thank you so much for joining us this evening.

You're welcome.

Glad to have you.

You work with an organization called Abilities First.

Can you tell us in a nutshell what it does and what its mission is?

Sure.

Abilities First is the Greene County Board for People with Developmental Disabilities, and our mission is turning abilities into opportunities.

So we feel that no matter what abilities someone has, there's always an opportunity for them to participate in school and in employment and in our community in general.

So there is a wide range of programs at Abilities First, starting with the youngest children that you serve, ages, I think, birth to three.

MICHELE FIELDS: Yes.

What is the First Steps program, and how does that work?

First Steps is early intervention.

So that is birth through three years old.

And they are referred to First Steps.

There's several different ways you can-- a child can be in First Steps.

They can have an automatic qualifier.

So they might be born with Down syndrome or some seizure disorders-- things like that-- cerebral palsy.

And so a lot of times, NICUs will send over a referral to First Steps, our office, and we contact the parent and give them information.

First Steps is a completely voluntary program.

We're just there to offer extra supports, another way doctors in the area make referrals.

And the parents can refer themselves or for their own child to First Steps.

So once they get started, if they have an automatic qualifier like Down syndrome, there's really no need to decide whether they qualify.

They automatically qualify.

There's another way that a child can come into First Steps.

It's if they have a half-age delay.

So let's say they are two years old, and they're not walking.

That would qualify as a half-age delay, and so they could be in First Steps and get the therapy services that they need.

And once they're done and caught up, then they can leave First Steps-- they've accomplished what they needed to accomplish-- and go on.

But First Steps is really super important.

It gets that early intervention in there right away.

And the therapists are able to go into the parents' homes and teach the parents what to do with the kiddos so that they're not waiting around for a therapy session.

The parents actually work with the child.

And we know that early intervention is very important in development.

MICHELE FIELDS: Yes.

That's a wonderful resource.

So then for older children, there is a program called Next Step.

MICHELE FIELDS: Yes.

What is that?

If the child lives in Greene County-- and let's say they have been in First Steps-- they can slide on over when they age out of First Steps over into the Next Step.

And that is case management for ages three and older.

And throughout their entire lives, they can have that.

That part is only Greene County.

First steps is statewide program, and we manage 13 counties here.

If they are in another county, it's going to be a different-- it's going to be a different organization that does that.

Great.

So in terms of what families could expect to experience with the Next Steps, what does that look like?

I'm sure there's so much variation depending on the child.

MICHELE FIELDS: There is.

What are a few examples?

I like to think of our support coordinators-- that's what we call our case managers-- that they're kind of like life coaches.

So depending on the age of the person, they help them navigate life.

They help people find resources.

So let's say there's a school-age kiddo.

They will help them.

They can be at the meetings that they have at the school, be a neutral party between the parents and the school and help do what's best for that child.

We can help guide someone if they want to go on to college, let's say, like the Bear POWER program that we have discussed, or if they want to find a job.

So they help them navigate life.

There may be certain resources.

Like, we may not have a resource directly at Abilities First, but maybe someone else in the community has resources.

So they put them in touch with those resources as needed.

Oh, that's wonderful.

So speaking about the families who may be watching this and may be interested in reaching out and taking advantage of some of these services, one thing that I would be wondering as a parent would be if is there a cost associated with these services.

Can you speak to that?

Sure.

With First Steps, they are on a sliding scale.

But it's so high that rarely does someone-- does a kiddo not qualify.

I mean, they would have a zero co-pay or a very low co-pay.

As far as the Next Step, a lot of our people are on Medicaid.

They have disabilities, so they are on disability Medicaid.

And if they are not, we still continue to serve individuals, even if they're not on Medicaid.

And that's something that changed a few years ago, but we still feel it's the right thing to do, to help those people get the services that they need.

And we do not charge a cost for that.

There's no fee for doing that.

Now, you were saying that-- before we started recording, that Abilities First collaborates or coordinates with other organizations in the community.

Can you explain the framework for that, how that works exactly?

Sure.

Abilities First is what's called a Senate Bill 40 board.

So that means, years ago, that the taxpayers of Greene County voted to have a portion of their property taxes be set aside to help with services for people with developmental disabilities in Greene County.

So Abilities First doesn't keep all that money.

There a lot of other agencies in our community that support people with developmental disabilities, such as Developmental Center of the Ozarks, Arc, Nova Center, Bear POWER here at Missouri State.

And they will come to our board of directors, and they will submit a grant request.

And they will tell us what it's for, what they plan to use the money for.

And then our board-- if it's appropriate for funds to be issued that way, then our board will grant that fund request.

I see.

So there's a wide range of opportunity for young people.

But there's also a lot of opportunity for adults to live their fullest life of opportunity.

And a big focus is on independence and employment.

MICHELE FIELDS: Exactly.

So can you tell us a little bit about what happens at Abilities First when a local person or the family of someone with a disability reaches out to Abilities First and says, we really would like your help in finding a great job.

Sure.

Some of our referrals come through Voc Rehab.

So if they choose Abilities First, we get to work with them that way.

Other times, it might be an individual that we serve through the Next Step.

And if they do that, we have Abilities First Employment Services.

So there are several different options.

It really depends on what that individual needs.

So we have programs where they can go in.

Maybe they would like to work at a boutique.

So they will go into-- they'll set it up.

They'll have them come into an employer that has agreed to work with us on that and, basically, let the person be there, see if this is something they want to do, kind of like a job shadow.

They'll have a job coach with them.

And they'll kind of show them what the job is all about.

And that way, the person can try it out, see if this is something they want to do.

And they may decide, no, that's not at all what I thought it was.

So there's that option.

We also have employers who need employees, with the shortage of employees that we have.

And then we have people that want to work.

So rather than just moving someone into a job-- here, here's a job for you.

There you go-- we get background.

We find out what their experience is, if they even have any-- what they want to do.

So it would be-- we don't stick somebody in a job just because there's a job available, so here you go.

We want to make sure that the employer is happy with the employee that they're getting and that the employee is happy with the job that they're doing.

So we coordinate with the employers.

And we are still there.

We don't step out.

If there's an issue or a problem or maybe we need to discuss some things or give a training of employees, we are able to do that.

So that we want this to be a success.

Yeah.

What a neat collaboration in our community.

Having worked over on the radio side of our operations here at Ozarks Public Broadcasting, I can say that we worked with Bear POWER program here at MSU on multiple occasions to have a paid intern work for us.

And we went through much of the same process, having the student come over and shadow and see if that was what they wanted to do.

And I'm curious.

Over the past, say, decade or so, has there been a sense of progress or more awareness in disability awareness in the Ozarks?

Have you noticed anything different in terms of employment in particular?

We have noticed that we have made more of a push in the past decade as far as employment goes.

It has been our policy for many years, even before we had employment services, that we weren't all about getting somebody a job just to get them a job.

We wanted them to be-- enjoy what they were doing.

But I have seen a change personally.

People are more open to having someone work in their place of employment that does have a disability.

That's not to say, like I said, that there isn't training that needs to go on both sides.

But people are more receptive to it and more receptive, just like they are in the schools lots of times.

The same thing is happening in employment.

We would love it.

I think we have a long ways to go still with that, with both employers and with individuals with developmental disabilities realizing that they can actually get out in the public and have a job, at least minimum wage, if not more.

And that's-- we feel that's the right thing to do.

If there were to be an employer watching the program who is interested in working with Abilities First to find a new employee, what's the best way to go about that?

Or is it something that typically Abilities First really makes the first move on?

Oh, no, absolutely not.

They would call our office-- 417-886-0404-- and just say just that-- hey, I am an employer, and I'm interested in having someone with me that work with us that has developmental disabilities, or at least explore that option.

What does that look like?

And so we have staff there that can discuss that with them, and even come out to their place of employment, and walk through it, and see exactly what the employer is needing and what that takes, what they think that looks like versus what we think that looks like.

Right, right, so everyone's on the same page.

MICHELE FIELDS: Exactly.

How wide is your service area?

So as far as Abilities First, the First Steps program is 13 counties.

We go as far north as Hickory County and Laclede County.

It goes all the way down to the Arkansas state line for staying in Stone and Taney counties.

And then we go clear over Ozark County, down where Gainesville is, and over to Texas County, where Houston is.

JENNIFER MOORE: Oh, wow.

So, yeah, we have-- JENNIFER MOORE: Big area.

Yeah, a big area.

So we have service coordinators that work directly out of those areas.

And that's for First Steps.

That's for First Steps.

Birth to age three.

MICHELE FIELDS: Exactly.

OK.

So the next step is Greene County only.

So if they-- let's say they were in First Steps, and they were going to-- they turn three, there are other agencies that are like ours.

There are other county boards.

OK, great.

And then for adults, is it only Greene County that you focus for employment?

MICHELE FIELDS: It is.

OK. Well, no, I take that back.

[laughter] If they're served by us, then yes.

But we are able to, through Voc Rehab, if somebody chooses us, that, hey, I want to work with Abilities First Employment Services, then they can go through us regardless.

If they're in Christian County, they can come through us.

Gotcha.

And just so that our viewers understand the meaning of Voc Rehab, we're talking about Vocational Rehab.

MICHELE FIELDS: Yeah, sorry.

Can you in a nutshell-- that's OK-- can you just in a nutshell explain what that is?

Sure.

Very briefly, they help people find jobs.

It's kind of like a job-service-type thing.

And if you need extra assistance, then you go through Voc Rehab to get-- or Vocational-- Yeah.

Well, now everybody knows Voc Rehab.

So I would love to hear a little more about the unique challenges that people with disabilities in rural areas tend to face.

That is a little bit harder because Springfield has such a population, and we have such great resources here.

A lot of times, depending on someone's disability, they may need to-- I mean, they sometimes move to Greene County.

I've seen it multiple times, where they come here if they need those resources.

If they're close to Springfield, then it's not as much of an issue.

But let's say they're in Hickory County, and they do not have a Senate Bill 40 board.

They don't have those services there.

That means they're coming-- if there's no place local to serve them, then they will be coming to Springfield or Kansas City or wherever they need.

It's also an inconvenience because they're having to travel.

No one is coming to them for these services, except for First Steps.

And it's really, really challenging.

They're not able to experience inclusion as much in those counties probably because of the lack of services.

And when we talk about inclusion, we're talking about full opportunity, full evelopement in a functioning and accepting society.

And that is a big theme at Abilities First, right?

It is.

Lots of times, when people will talk about people being included-- and let's say there's a diversity department somewhere-- people with developmental disabilities are frequently not even thought of in that mix.

But our executive director says her dream one day is that our agency doesn't even exist.

Like, there is not a need for us because inclusion simply happens-- that people are able to live, learn, work, and play the way they want to in our community, and there's no special services needed for that.

They just accept it.

And it should be noted-- and I know this is something that the people over working over at Abilities First are careful to mention.

And that is we're talking about people with disabilities, but that is such a massive banner.

And there are so many specifics, even within developmental disabilities.

MICHELE FIELDS: Absolutely.

Each situation is truly unique.

So I know that Abilities First also orchestrates these peer groups for teens, and I think for adults.

What are those?

They are A Good Life Group.

They are a group that meets once a month.

And it's, again, a voluntary group.

You can just call Abilities First and say, hey, I want to be in the Good Life Group.

But it teaches some social skills.

They are able to interact with their peers.

People with and without developmental disabilities attend these groups.

And they teach advocacy, how to be a self advocate for themselves.

And it's a sense of empowerment.

So they will go do fun things, but they also learn a lot when they're in there.

And they're able to have a voice, say what they want to do.

The group makes plans that way.

And so it's really awesome.

And the teens also-- now that we're getting back in school, we kind of put a pause on that while COVID was happening.

So we hope to get that team group going again and get some of these teens from high school in there and try and get them prepared for the outside world.

Nice.

I am sure that working at Abilities First, you get a front row seat to some of the success stories.

I do.

And I'm just wondering if you might be able to share any anecdotes with us about, maybe, an adult who found a great job through Abilities First.

Yes.

There's actually two people that I can think of right off the bat.

We had someone-- she worked-- works in our office.

She still does work in our office.

But she was super shy.

And we opened a boutique.

It's called Inspired Boutique.

So that's another program that we have.

And we ask her, are you interested in possibly working there?

Well, she was so shy, but she really needed some social skills.

So she started working there several years ago.

And she went from not being able to really engage or speak with a customer at all.

But now she is helping people with the clothes.

She's really stepped out of her shell.

And she would tell you that this job was instrumental in helping her have the social skills and technical skills.

She can run the register now.

She can help someone pick out clothes.

She does so many things.

And that's through working-- I mean, that's part of what we do.

But she's a great success story.

Oh, that's great.

We also have someone-- he works at the Greene County Courthouse.

And he went through our Employment Services.

And he is wonderful.

We had an apprenticeship program at the time.

So he was in our apprenticeship program.

And when he graduated from that program, it was really amazing.

Everybody loves him at the courthouse, and he-- they brought him in the courtroom.

And they had a celebration for him.

And everybody was there, all the people-- tons of people at the courthouse.

The county commissioners were there.

Everybody loves him, and he does a great job.

And they even worked with him.

They could see he was struggling in certain areas, and so one of the coworkers took it upon herself to do things for him, to make it easier for him to keep track of what he was supposed to do and where he was supposed to go and things like that.

So she did that all herself.

And that's a huge part of what we love to see happen, is their coworkers are engaged and involved as well.

Yeah.

We've been speaking about developmental disabilities, and I'm just wondering if you might be able to give a brief definition of what we mean when we say that even.

Sure.

So if you have a child, and you believe that there is-- if they have a diagnosis-- let's say Down syndrome-- or you have found out that they have autism-- they're somewhere on the spectrum-- the first thing that you should do is, once you receive that diagnosis, it's important to go through the Springfield Regional Office for the Department of Mental Health.

They will do some testing there.

And our First Steps kiddos, even though they slide over at age three, into the Next Step, at age five, they still have to go through the Regional Office.

Regional Office makes sure that they qualify for services through the state.

And that's really how you get started.

And then Abilities First, the Next Step, gives we do the support coordination for Greene County.

And then in terms of the actual range of developmental disabilities, obviously, it's a wide range.

What are some of the disabilities or some of the diagnoses of people that you serve?

As we've talked about, there's Down syndrome.

There's autism.

There are so many syndromes-- Wilson syndrome-- things I had never ever heard of-- cerebral palsy.

And a developmental disability is one that occurs before age 21, I believe.

And so it happens in those developing years.

So let's say-- and maybe they weren't even born with this.

Maybe there was an accident-- something that happened.

The child lost a limb, or-- that is still-- that would be a developmental disability.

So we have that also, children that are born without limbs.

So it's not just-- sometimes we say IDD, which is Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.

So that IQ factor is there.

And social skills and physical plays into so many things.

OK, we are almost out of time.

But briefly, again, if somebody wants to reach out to Abilities First, what's the easiest way?

The easiest way is to call us.

Phone number's 417-886-0404.

Or they can go to our website as well, which is AbilitiesFirst.net.

OK, Michele Fields from Abilities First here in Springfield, thank you very much for talking to us.

Thank you for having me on.

And we are going to leave you with some information, where you can go to learn more, including websites and those phone numbers.

I'm Jennifer Moore.

Thanks very much for joining us.

Here is where you can find more information about the topics covered in this program.

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