Streator Unlimited

Executive Director John Mallaney was featured in the Spotlight profile in The Times today.

We’re hosting a Business Luncheon from noon to 1:00 at Bruce Township on Wednesday, September 30.  Beth Keeton, consultant for our Customized Employment project will speak on the hiring of people with disabilities. We’ll have subs from Grant Street for lunch.  There is no charge to attend.  Beth is a knowledgable and interesting presenter, and does consultation work across the county.

Please give a little thought to this question on your drive or walk to the training:  what would you do for  your business if you had $10,000?

The new Illinois Valley Traumatic Brain Injury Support Group Newsletter is out.  You can learn more about the group at their website.

It’s National Direct Support Professional Recognition this week.  This copy of the US Senate Resolution says it all.  The relationships built between our employees who provide direct services and the people we serve is the whole reason SU is here.  We are incredibly lucky that so many good people are dedicated to our mission.  It is high time that direct support services be funded at a level commensurate with this awesome responsibility.

Here’s a 28-minute program from ADAPT-TV in Chicago.  It describes the general budget climate for developmental disabilites services in Illinois and shows the impact on one family and the agency which supports them.

Here’s a link to an article about one young man’s perception of the Illinois developmental disabilities service system: take a look here.

DHS notified us that our grants are restored through December.  This is great news, though whether that funding will continue is in question.  We have made a budget that will keep SU financially stable without any further cuts/adjustments through the end of June.  We won’t be able to plan too much for after June until we get a better idea of the state’s financial picture.

Thank you to everyone for your support as we all work our way through these economic challenges.

The article linked below is about next year’s state budget for Illinois.  Our state facing a huge budget gap.  What will that mean in terms of funding for human services?  How important will services for adults with developmental disabilities seem in contrast with other priorities for the state?  Are these services important to you?  How do you let people know that?

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/couriernews/news/1725517,3_1_EL20_05SCHMITZ_S1-090820.article

http://streatorunlimited.org recently got a bit of a makeover and switched web hosts.  If you have any comments or suggestions email me or use the “Contact” form. We’re still working on getting the right images together for the site, but they should be coming soon. Check back for updates.

Our classrooms have been enhanced over the last couple of months with two successful grant requests.  The Dollar General Foundation gave us funds for new computer hardware for the classrooms and also literacy software.  One of the things we purchased with these funds was a touch screen with software designed for visual learners, called the DT Trainer.  Employees and consumers have been enjoying the new additions.

Also, Reading Horizons donated phonics software and curriculum out of their Lemons for Literacy Program.  We are in the process of identifying a classroom in which to place these new resources.