| Developmental Services |
 |
 |
Changing the way we think about people with Developmental DisabilitiesDS Crisis Line: (802) 250-3244
The most significant changes in how we as a society approached the issues of mental retardation are rooted in the civil rights movement of the 1960’s. We recognized rights that are inalienable, rights that belong to all of us, including those among us who are unable to defend their rights themselves because of a disability. This new recognition brought many improvements to life in the institutions and it brought increasing recognition that a fully realized life requires the liberty to choose one’s own community, to pursue one’s own best abilities, one’s own happiness, and one’s own desires. Self-respect, personal dignity and a higher quality of life are more likely to be found in a town than in an institution. HCRS' Developmental Services provides comprehensive supports for individuals with developmental disabilities. DS assists families and individuals in navigating their state and local service network. The ultimate goal in DS is preserving the family/community component of care and ensuring that individuals have opportunities and freedom of choice in all aspects of their lives. Developmental Services provides homes for around one hundred individuals as well as school, community and employment supports. All of our services are community based. Our staff work with clients in the community to assist them in reaching their full potential and in becoming as independent as possible. Staff members regularly volunteer to support many community activities such as dances, dinners, and the local chapter of Special Olympics. Also included in Developmental Services is an aggressive therapeutic sexual offender treatment program called Brick by Brick. Brick by Brick is responsible for managing the treatment of these offenders and for supervising a program that will ensure the safety of the community. HCRS is on the front lines in the global effort to manage and understand Autism Spectrum Disorders. Autism occurs in about 1 out of every 150 children born today and those numbers are increasing. We are working to provide critical supports to individuals, families and to the community. We assist individuals and families in accessing healthcare and other essential community resources. Our mission is to consistently evolve to meet the ever-changing needs of our communities.
Developmental Services Director: Joshua Compton Developmental Services Manager: Bart Mair |
For generations in this country and elsewhere, people with disabilities were set apart, hidden from the mainstream of society. They were often expected to live in large “homes for the mentally retarded,” and many lived out their lives confined to a single institution. Some of these institutions grew to be very large, larger than some Vermont towns. Some institutions were more progressive than others, some were more negligent, and some were more abusive. In almost all institutions, personal rights were limited to “dependent patient’s rights” at best, “inmate’s rights” at worst – which is to say no rights at all. Individual choice, individual abilities and desires were often sacrificed to the needs of the institution, its staff and administration. © 2007 HCRS. All rights reserved.