November 2022 Special Needs Living Akron/Canton

Siffrin- Making Life Accessible

NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT: SIFFRIN

BY SARAH SMITH

Siffrin Inc. is a nonprofit organization established in Canton in 1976 by family members and advocates for people with disabilities. Through a donation by Elsie Siffrin, the agency’s first community-based housing option was made available. Almost 50 years later, Siffrin now offers a variety of services to hundreds of people in eight Ohio counties. Siffrin’s service areas include supervised living and respite, community support and integration, shared living, financial management, nonmedical transportation and employment support. These services help make life more accessible to people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities.

Siffrin staff knows they are part of providing more than a service. They strive to support each individual with innovative ways to live the life they envision. Because of this, Siffrin offers a variety of choices when it comes to adult day services so that each person can select the skill development, social connections, community volunteerism, and employment outcomes that meet their idea of a good life. These options include traditional day services at one of the Bridge locations, Siffrin Academy, and the EPIC program. Each option builds upon the one before with the intent to create a path to community employment.

The Bridge Community Integration Service focuses on each person becoming more active, involved, and integrated with their community. Activities include volunteerism projects, trips, tours and other fun outings.

One of Siffrin’s signature programs is made possible through a partnership with Kent State University at Stark and Trumbull Campuses. Siffrin Academy is a unique program that provides adults with disabilities the opportunity to have a personalized, holistic university experience with opportunities for volunteering, skill enhancement, interning, and participating in university and community activities. Siffrin Academy is an extension of Siffrin’s adult day services and a forerunner to the employment program. Interested individuals can apply to participate in Siffrin Academy with or without having attended day services at Siffrin’s Bridge locations.

EPIC, which stands for Enduring Practices Integrating to the Community, is a program available to individuals whose goals include sharpening their skills and potentially entering community employment. This is a vocational training program for young adults with disabilities that prepares participants for employment by fostering skill development through participation in a paid internship at Aultman Hospital in Canton, Ohio.

Many interns have been offered positions at Aultman Hospital.

Adia Willock participated in Siffrin Academy at Kent State University. Although Adia had achieved many of her skill development goals while in Siffrin Academy, shealso was inspired to apply to Siffrin’s EPIC program at Aultman Hospital and was accepted into the 24-week internship program. Adia is an example of someone who was able to enhance her personal goals as she learned new skills. Having additional growth options enhances an adult’s independence and increases personal choice.

Amanda Wallick started her journey at The Bridge program in her early 20s. She enjoyed developing social connections through making friends while accomplishing her goals year after year. Her goal was to obtain employment in a retail environment, so she worked on skills such as working with money and organization. Some of her daily goal-directed activities included supporting day service visitors, handling orders and money at the snack center, volunteering for Meals on Wheels, and pre-employment education. When she heard about Siffrin Academy, she decided to enroll in the first Academy class in Stark County. Her participation in the program was an innovative way for her to further her skill development which helped her obtain her current position at Siffrin as a clerical assistant.

The organization can be supported through a variety of ways. Financial donors can donate to the HOPE fund at www.siffrin.org. Funds can be used for renovations for a person’s home to help them live there longer, funeral arrangements for people with no family or funds, travel expenses to reunite family members, or to provide Thanksgiving dinner and Christmas gifts for those without family. Siffrin can be chosen as the nonprofit of choice on AmazonSmile, where a portion of the funds from purchases are donated to Siffrin. Additionally, following Siffrin on Facebook and Instagram, and by liking, commenting on, or sharing the posts, helps the organization better connect with and share its efforts with the community.

More information can be found at www.siffrin.org or by calling 330-478- 0263. Siffrin’s main office is located at 3688 Dressler Road NW in Canton.

Siffrin now offers a variety of services to hundreds of people in eight Ohio counties. Siffrin’s service areas include supervised living and respite, community support and integration, shared living, financial management, nonmedical transportation and employment support.