They don’t require sympathy or pity. Those who are living with developmental disabilities may need extra assistance on a day-to-day basis. Cardinal Services has different living options for those who need such help. But for those living with such needs, it’s about being seen as a neighbor and friend. It’s about being treated with dignity and respect. With March being Disability Awareness Month, the Times-Union is highlighting different programs offered by Cardinal Services in Warsaw. In terms of living options, Cardinal currently has 15 residential living homes with nine in Kosciusko County. There are three in Marshall County while there are two and one respectively in Cass and Fulton counties. Each group home has eight residents. And while these residents may need assistance with things like medications or cooking meals, every resident is encouraged to be as independent and self-sufficient as they can be. There are four staff members for each home who help Cardinal clients. Kris Hueber is the coordinator for four home in Kosciusko County. One of those homes is on Parker Street in Warsaw. It’s a new duplex replacing an older two-story home. It almost has the feel of a residential living facility on any college campus. “Our clients are taught to do as much as they can for themselves,” said Hueber. “It gives them ownership in the home and in turn gives them pride in themselves.” Hueber said the staff also takes a lot of pride in the look and appearance of the homes Kevin Planck, adult services director for Cardinal Services, said it is important for the clients living in residential housing to have their group homes considered a private residence. “The staff are guests in their home,” said Planck. “A lot of the clients came out of state institutions so we go above and beyond when it comes to making it a real home.” Planck said that when many of the clients came out of the old group homes Cardinal staff found they had a lot more ability than they were given credit for while in state institutions. And like any other neighbor in any other neighborhood, Cardinal clients living in either group homes or independently with some assistance from Cardinal staff want to assimilate to the community their in. There are currently 75 Cardinal clients who live independently with help from staff. For those clients living at home with family, Cardinal also provides Respite Services. Those services allow for family members to run errands, have a night out or even take a vacation while having a direct support professional in the home. Those clients that can work. Others take part in day services at Cardinal. Some, with the help of trusts set up by family, are purchasing homes to live in and rent out to fellow clients. Others have set up a self-advocacy group that looks to bring awareness to those living with developmental disabilities. There is also a real sense of volunteerism among many Cardinal clients. They volunteer at places like the Animal Welfare League or at local soup kitchens. They also are like anyone else when it comes to looking for friendship. Michelle Boxell, community relations manager for Cardinal Services, recalled one client who often visits Big Apple Bagels in Warsaw. He struck up a friendship with owner Todd Earl and before too long the two went bowling together. “Now Todd isn’t a volunteer with us though he is a friend of Cardinal,” said Boxell. “But this gentlemen was just looking for a friend. And Todd was there.” Boxell said Cardinal Services is always looking for community members who are looking to be a friend for clients. Cardinal is diligent in trying to find good matches for clients and friends. “I think people will be surprised at how much they have in common with the client,” said Planck. “There is a pool of folks that need to be matched up.” With funding at both the state and federal at risk for programs like Cardinal Services, the need for community involvement becomes more important. Not only in terms of providing friendship to clients but advocacy as well. Planck and Boxell both said they are concerned with what cuts may come in the future. Some lawmakers have suggested changes like putting four clients in a room at a residential living home. Currently two clients share a room. But not only does that cause health and safety issues but it can also be a step toward the living situations many of the clients had while in state institutions. And other changes could affect Cardinal Services staff’s ability to provide help to clients who are looking to be as independent as possible. Cardinal clients don’t want to be looked at any differently. Planck said they want to be looked at as neighbors, community members and consumers. Planck said one client recently found a website called searchbeyond.com It’s designed specifically as a travel agency website for those with disabilities. The Cardinal client sat down and created a list of goals. One of those goals was to take a trip to Los Angeles. So through the support staff at Cardinal and the travel agency, the client was able to board a plane out west. “Stories like these show that these folks should be looked at by mainstream America as consumers. Like anyone else,” said Planck. Setting goals is a big thing for those who attend day programs at Cardinal Services. For one client, it was his goal to go to the drinking fountain by himself. It took months of work and effort but finally he finally met his goal. “That news spread across the facility,” said Planck. “Everyone from accounting on knew about it. And we were all invested in him reaching his goal.” But with decreased funding or by potentially turning group living homes into mini-institutions, those opportunities for clients may dwindle. Staff gets cut, services are lost, the clients are marginalized. And at that point goals stop being met. “And at that point their world shrinks,” said Boxell. For more information on Cardinal Services, visit www.cardinalservices.org
