The Athens County Board of Developmental Disabilities has served Athens for over 50 years as one of the state and nation’s top education, support and employment services providers for individuals with developmental disabilities.
Through their programs such as Beacon School, Atco Adult Services and Passion Works Art Studio, ABDD has helped individuals from a young age to try to reach their full potential as well as be a part of the Athens Community.
One of ABDD’s most sought out services from people across the state is Atco affiliate Personnel Plus, a no cost employment training and placement service designed to increase a person’s employability, accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Service Facilities.
Director Douglas Mitchell said since 1983, the program has flourished and provided great training followed by well-paying jobs for individuals and people continue to relocate from different parts of the state to have their family members receive this service.
“We have a waiting list for people wanting this service but we are serving them rapidly,” Mitchell said.
With 70 workers employed at over 40 businesses throughout Athens County, Mitchell said that Personnel Plus has created a sense of hope for many families.
“We have over 30 years of experience, a great reputation and are nationally recognized in training people with varying disabilities and skill levels,” Mitchell said. “That is what makes us so appeals as well as what makes us so successful”
Director of Adult Services at Atco, Theresa Fulk said another reason for the program’s appeal is that the majority of the people who are placed through Personnel Plus are paid minimum wage instead of just a time study, a fraction of wage earned based on productivity.
“Many new businesses will call and ask what they are suppose to pay these workers,” Fulk said. “Then we say ‘Whatever you would pay anyone at an entry level position.’”
Atco provides time study employment for adults in their program, but many people who want to work more hours switch to Personnel Plus.
“Due to the economy being the way it is, we can employ as many people as we would like,” Fulk said. “We also don’t have enough work for them to do.”
Trainees at Personnel Plus go through 3 months of training, consisting of classes on different works skills as well as activities that help individuals see what they are interested in. Individuals also have to complete an internship program with 5 local businesses.
“We help them find something that they enjoy and that they will be motivated to continue doing,” Mitchell said.
Though the job search time and placement has slowed due to the economy, Personnel Plus trainees normally acquire an entry-level position between 6 month and a year after completing their training, Mitchell said.
Not only does Personnel Plus create opportunities for these individuals, it also helps local businesses save money.
According to ACBDD’s 2010 Annual Report, Personnel Plus’ internship program placed 37 workers in 34 businesses to be trained and gain more experience in the workplace. The workers contributed 1400 hours of free labor for those local businesses, saving these local owners and managers over $10,000.
“When we try and place a person in a new business, the owners usually are hesitant about if the person can do things by themselves or if they need help,” Mitchell said. “But we assure them that we wouldn’t place a worker who wasn’t ready.”
Personnel Plus does not only instill skills for these individuals to do their jobs correctly, but also the motivation to be great at their jobs, Mitchell said.
“The people we place have an 80 percent or high retention rate,” Mitchell said. “The standard industry rate is 68 percent or lower.”
Fulk and Mitchell said that support for Personnel Plus and the ACBDD through the Athens community helped make the program what is today and what it will continue to be.
“Without these local businesses and Athens’ strong support system, we wouldn’t have been able to provide this amazing service that these indivduals really need,” Mitchell said.
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