SPRING 2011
March is al pment Develo ilities b Disa ness Aware th Mon
friendships blossom at hlc Meet avery & grace
As the winter snow melts and the fresh scent of spring grows near, the flowers will not be the only thing blossoming at the Harold Lewis Center (HLC)! Relationships and friendships also will be in bloom. The relationships are between peer models and students receiving services from the UCBDD. Like anything in bloom, a little nurturing goes a long way toward anchoring the roots. That is where intervention specialists, classroom aides and therapists assist through various academic strategies. The Harold Lewis Center emphasizes the importance of developing social interaction and play skills CONTINUED:
See BLOSSOMING FRIENDSHIPS Page 5
Avery, left, and her best buddy Grace pose for a photo at the Harold Lewis Center
Enrollment Numbers up, dollars down; no easy answers to future of funding
Kim Miller
Most people associate the job of superintendent with someone who takes care of the boring stuff. You know, tax levies, funding, and the budget. To a degree, they’re right. And, to be perfectly honest, there are many times when I find it boring.
What gets my blood pumping is witnessing the incredible work our staff does that makes a difference in the lives of people with disabilities. Sadly, the fiscal reality we face is by far our No. 1 challenge. Although I can appreciate your lack of interest in the “boring” stuff, finances have never been more of a threat to our future than they are today.
Let me share four boring items with you: 1) Enrollment has dramatically increased over the past three years and the rate of increase is expected to continue for the foreseeable future. In December 2007, we provided services to 117 adults. Today, we serve 151 adults, an increase of 32 percent in just three years. There are 105 people currently eligible or will be eligible for adult services by the end of 2013, a potential 60 percent increase. 2) The range and depth of services continues to increase. In 2007, 77 people received waiver services. In 2010, that number reached 150, a 95 percent increase. With ever-increasing demands for services, along with our goal to eliminate the Level 1 waiting list, those numbers are projected to more than double by the end of 2014. CONTINUED:
See FUTURE OF FUNDING Page 4