Press Releases
With her diploma in the foreground, Jessica Brewer prepares dinner with help from Tammy Gibson (L), a direct support professional Milestone diploma earned
By LINDA D. SMITH, Public Relations Director
Champaign Residential Services, Inc.
Urbana: Jessica Brewer is all smiles and grins as she shows off her Graham High School diploma. As well she should be. The twenty-one year old has traveled a long road and has worked hard to earn her diploma. Jessica lives with the challenges of a developmental disability and is a consumer of CRSI services, so earning this diploma is a milestone. She currently lives in the Scioto Street group home for ladies (where services are provided 24/7 through the Medicaid program) but has visions of living more independently and is working towards that goal.
Brewer has been a participant in Project Search, a program administered through Ohio Hi Point Joint Vocational School that teaches vocational skills to high school seniors. For the past year, she has worked at Logan Acres, a nursing home in Bellefontaine under the JVS program. She learned vocational skills such as laundry, housekeeping, dietary and hospitality services. “I like to clean and do laundry”, says Brewer, who is excited about having graduated from high school and starting her working career.
“Jessica has learned a wide variety of vocational skills including the importance of time management, how to dress for work, how to interact with coworkers and stay on task,” says Carrie Foley, QMRP for CRSI. She has also learned about filling out employment applications and the interviewing process.
At CRSI, Jessica is participating in Adult Day Services to further her vocational training. In that program, she is expanding her resume in some of the janitorial areas such as cleaning the long hallways and bathrooms of a business facility. At home Jessica receives CRSI support services for daily living needs.
Jessica’s dream is to move on to a more independent living arrangement. She is currently on a waiting list to receive an Individual Options Waiver (I/O) that would allow her more independence while still receiving CRSI’s support for daily living needs. The I/O Waiver is a state-funded resource for qualified consumers, but it’s availability is limited.
Jessica is like any other high school graduate. This is an exciting time in her life, looking at the horizon with hope and enthusiasm.