Cardinal Center Honors Workers

For a direct support professional of the Cardinal Center, seeing clients active and comfortable in the community is the main goal of each day's efforts.

"We work towards fulfilling their lives," Teresa Alley, community coach, said. "We know that, with support, these people can lead a normal lifestyle."

With March being Disability Awareness Month, the Cardinal Center and the city of Warsaw recognized Wednesday as Direct Support Professionals Day to honor these workers' dedication to human services.

"It's nice to see that our employees will be recognized," Michelle Boxell, Community Relations Manager, said. "They do a great service for our clients, and help out in so many ways."

Since 1954, the organization has provided specialized attention to individuals with physical and mental disabilities. Believing that every citizen deserves to be part of a community, these workers help clients develop skills and a sense of independence to acquire jobs and enjoy social interaction.

But for direct support professionals, each client they serve needs a unique type of treatment to progress. Cooperation and patience often is needed from both sides.

Social skills become essential for a client's improvement, so workers strive towards making a person comfortable around both Cardinal Center employees and other clients.

"Even the ones who can't verbally communicate to us can still get their point across," Alley said. "And they need to feel comfortable in being able to do that."

Educational and recreational services also are available, and the organization cooperates with local businesses to provide jobs for their clients.

Cardinal Center Inc. Manufacturing is a branch of the company which allows clients to learn productivity skills and the satisfaction of making a profit. As an outsourcing partner for 49 companies, including Zimmer, Chore-Time Brock and Da-Lite, assembly lines allow clients to manufacture various equipment pieces. The help works with coordination skills and provides a sense of accomplishment.

"We get to know them and find out what they're good at," CCI General Manager Jay Tate said. "If they don't enjoy a certain task they're working on, then we ask them what else they want to try or what they think they would enjoy.

"There's a lot to choose from in here, so everyone can find something they like."

And assembly lines are increasing, with new equipment being installed frequently and work conditions improving.

After a week of work inside of CCI, clients are paid based on the number of units they produce. With the money they earn, they can then opt to spend it through various activities in the community.

Groups are offered recreational trips, such as seeing movies at a theater, or going to a bowling alley. Activities with just a direct support professional and a client is not uncommon, Alley said.

"I've picked up a single person before to go see a movie," she said. "It's great to deal with someone on a one-to-one basis sometimes. And people often don't enjoy being in a bigger crowd."

Through these efforts, many clients find comfort and recognition through the various programs offered by Cardinal Center. In a community that might seem impenetrable due to certain circumstances, with the help of this organization's workers, goals and acceptance is reached.