Facility Dedicated To Bettering Lives Of Disabled Breaking New Ground

Since 1954, the Countryside Association for People with Disabilities in Palatine has helped thousands of children and adults with developmental and other disabilities live better lives by providing job training, family support and in-house respite, among other programs and services.

The not-for-profit organization, which also operates a facility in Waukegan, serves more than 650 individuals with disabilities each year. In fact, there is a waiting list that ranges from 25 to 50 at the Palatine location.

With the demand for services and enrollment increasing each year, expansion is a necessity, said Countryside Executive Director Wayne Kulick.

“There are thousands of adults with intellectual disabilities living in our state who desire to be productive and who want to engage in healthy daily activities as well as develop new social relationships.”

“However, our state simply has not been responsive to significantly expanding either community residential or day support services for people with disabilities. Countryside cannot continue to turn individuals and their families away, so expanding our work and training center is vital to assisting individuals and their families now and in the near future,” said Kulick.

at 21154 W. Shirley Road, Palatine. The first phase of the project is anticipated to be completed in the summer of 2012 by Des Plaines-based Glenn Johnson Construction.

Plans call for a 9,000-square-foot addition to the facility’s existing 20,000-square-foot Work and Training Center. The project will increase space for group activities, senior programs and support services, improve the restrooms, and expand the lunchroom.

Additionally, said Kulick, full fire sprinkler protection will be added throughout the building, while site improvements will allow for better distribution of rain water and a connection to the Lake County sanitary sewer system to eliminate Countryside’s reliance on a septic system.

Most notably, the expanded space will allow Countryside to provide opportunities for an additional 50 people to move from a waiting list to participation in paid work opportunities and healthy, individualized activities each day.

“With more than 20,000 children and adults with disabilities waiting for support services in Illinois, our efforts to expand paid work opportunities to those who want to work, learn and socialize, are more timely than ever,” said Kulick, adding this expansion is the first phase of a four-phase master plan for the property that will eventually add 40,000 square feet of space to the facility over the next 10 to 12 years.

Next year, Countryside’s Lakeside Work and Training Center in Waukegan, which opened 25 years ago, will enlarge and modernize several classrooms and restrooms. Significant renovations were made in 2009 to allow for more recreational activities, therapies and social opportunities for seniors with disabilities.

The need to expand and make improvements to Countryside’s Palatine location was identified by the organization’s board of directors in 2009.

A capital campaign was launched the following year to begin funding the estimated $2.5 million project. Donations to an established building fund have been provided by a recent bequest, the 2010 Illinois Capital Fund, Countryside Foundation and the Foglia Family Foundation.

To date, Countryside has received 70 percent of the resources needed. Additional support for the project is welcome. Several naming opportunities are still available as well as a need to acquire a variety of interior enhancements.

SERVICES AND SUPPORT

Countryside Association for People with Disabilities, said Kulick, believes all individuals should have opportunities to be productive, which is why it supports vocational training.

“Some individuals with intellectual disabilities transition directly from high school to our work and training center and are content to remain after learning our center-based jobs. For them, Countryside is their employer. Others, once introduced to a variety of community employment opportunities, may choose a type of job and employer that fits them the best.”

Countryside has partnerships with many companies such as Assembled Products, Cardinal Health Care, ITW, Staples, Rustoleum Corporation, Jewel, Dominick’s and Culver’s.

Examples of jobs include animal caretaker, housekeeper, building maintenance person, assembly or factory worker, data entry clerk and grocery clerk.

“During the last fiscal year ending in June 2011, Countryside Association assisted 36 individuals become employed in the community. Of those, 33 retained their jobs beyond 90 days,” said Kulick.

In addition to job training services, Countryside provides disabled individuals with developmental training that may involve group discussions, day trips, cooking classes and more. Family members and caregivers can also get support, including in-house respite.

To learn more, visit www.countrysideassn.org or call (847) 438-8855. Watch a video from Countryside at www.youtube.com/countrysideassn.