Delano Herald Journal

Serving the communities of Delano, Loretto, Montrose, MN, and the surrounding area

ATHC fills a need for region



In Dick Genty’s opinion, the Adult Training and Habilitation
Center (ATHC) in Winsted fills a need.

A member of the ATHC’s volunteer board, he recognizes that
without such services, many of the customers, as they are called at ATHC,
would not receive assistance.

Chairman Jim Moller agrees. A long-time board member and
parent of one of the adult customers, he said that from his perspective,
he is pleased with the ATHC’s performance. Moller’s proof is in the development
of his own child.

Thursday, board members got to tour the facilities of the
ATHC to get more first hand perspective on the organization’s work.

They went not only to the Winsted location, but also the
Young America Corporation in Norwood Young America and Crest Healthcare
in Dassel. At all locations, they met the staff and customers that the ATHC
serves.

In 1966, the ATHC was located in Biscay in an old school
basement.

Over the years, it has changed its name many times, changing
from the McLeod Day Center to the McLeod Day Achievement Center and Day
Activity Center.

In 1980, “Winsted embraced this agency,” Executive
Director Stephen Wilson said.

The ATHC put out a needs assessment to see which cities
would be interested in the program and Winsted opened up its community.

Moller admits that, initially he had some trepidation about
having the facility in Winsted because of its eastern location and transportation
issues. But now he sees it as a positive development, noting that the program
now serves customers in not only McLeod County, but Meeker, Wright, Carver
and Hennepin Counties as well.

So who are these customers?

They are people ­ people with developmental disabilities
as their primary diagnosis, or most recognizable condition.

Wilson said that the customers range from very able persons
to very dependent individuals. Currently, the program has about 99 such
customers.

Licensed by the Department of Human Services, the ATHC’s
program is a strong departure from society’s solutions for developmentally
disabled persons a few years back. Often times, board members said, a parent’s
only choice was a state hospital and at times, it wasn’t a choice.

Missy Karl notes that doctors would often tell parents
they were ill suited to care for such an individual and commitment would
follow.

Karl, prior to the tour, recognized the voice of a customer
as someone who went to school with one of her sons. Board members explained
how just a few years ago, that customer would not have been in school with
Karl’s son.

In 1976, the laws changed and developmentally disabled
persons had to be educated in public schools.

This type of programming is an alternative to commitment.
Here, the customer is trained in individualized vocational programs.

There is also non-vocational training in the form of a
Steps program. Here, the customer learns about recreation and leisure, integration,
and community involvement.

During the tour, customers are anxious to greet board members.
In each room, a board member gets a smile and a hearty handshake.

The rooms each appear to have a different focus. This speaks
to the individualized focus of the programs. Each person is placed in environment
that is suited to them.

In one room, Wilson shows off a communication device. A
group of pictures lie over some buttons representing greetings, people in
the office, and even what the customer might want. Such devices help to
get around communication problems.

Another service comes in the form of supportive employment,
or placing these persons in jobs around the area. The ATHC contracts with
many employers in the area and Wilson noted how easy it has been to get
work for his customers.

Some work is done at St. Mary’s Care Center’s laundry as
well as Holy Trinity Church in the custodial department, or the Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted
school lunch room.

On the tour, the board members visit the mail room at Young
America Corporation where customers sort bins of mail into post office boxes.

The objective of the customers’ employment is the same
as for anybody else. The customers, of course, get paid, but like most of
us, they take pride in their work and are happy to do it.

Wilson noted the enjoyment his clients get. As he prepared
for the tour, a customer greeted him in the hall. Wilson asked how he’s
doing today, and the customer replied, “I am happy.”

Funding for the ATHC programs comes from contracts with
companies and fundraising.

The ATHC will be hosting a golf tournament Monday, June
14. For information, contact Wilson at (320) 485-4191.

Next year will be the ATHC’s 35th anniversary, another
big event for the organization, said Wilson.

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