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ET le hi EG Sa RITA a - RCS tar, Ser ET LO ~~ RT oe SE ri TRO ic ASR £5 Say, Son ong HD a = . en A eh A A Ea RR LAE TDPRI Major expansion plans for Central Seven The Central Seven Association has come 4 long way in the last. 20 yea From modest beginnings in 1967 running a childrens schoo! on Scugog Island for the mentally han- dicapped, Central Seven today of- fers several kinds of services to developmentally handicapped adults, has nearly 50 full and part time people on staff, and the annual budget is pushing $750,000. While the Association has grown gradually over the years, 1986 will see a major expansion for Central Seven. Nine adults, ranging in age from 21 to 80 will be taking the new "life skills" training program which is designed to 'improve the quality of their lives in a real community setting." These people have been in institu- tions all their lives, most recently at Durham Centre in Whitby, which is now in the final stages of being clos- ed by the provincial government. Central Seven has taken a lease on two units at the industrial mall on the corner of Regional Road 8 and Simcoe Street (just across Simce from the Central Seven workshop) and extensive renovations have created a full kitchen and living room area beautifully furnished and equipped. "Life skills" means a whole range of activities, everything from per- sonal hygiene, cooking, doing laun- dry, shopping, banking, even very small things like shutting doors and turning off kitchen taps. "By developing these personal skills, their dependence on the system becomes less and less, and as a result there is less cost to the government,' said Chuck Preston, Central Seven Association board chairman, last week. Teaching life skills to the developmentally handicapped is nothing new for Central Seven. It has always been part of the voca- tional training provided, said manager James Duncan, who's in charge of the vocational aspect of Central Seven Industries at the workshop. He works closely residential part of the organization which currently operates a home on Scugog Island, supervises two clients who are living on their own in a Port Perry apartment and will soon move four more clients into two more apartments in the community. Also this summer, Central Seven be breaking ground for con- a of a new residence home for six people just to the east of the workshop. The new home should be finished by the end of the summer. Mr. Duncan and Mr. Murphy stress the "team approach' to their staff in teaching vocational and liv- ing skills to the handicapped. The closing of Durham Centre in Whitby by the province meant that about 150 people would be put in small non-institutional setting similar to what's offered by Central Seven. Efforts have been made to move the people closer to their families, if they have any family. Mr. Preston said that along with improving the quality of their lives, there is no question that having small groups in communities is cheaper than operating large institutions. Central Seven was adamant, however, that before it would accept the people from Durham Centre, all the necessary infrastructure had to be in place here in Port Perry such as housing, vocational training, even such things as speech therapy and motor skills development. Mr. Preston stressed as well that integration of the people into the community is a gradual process to avoid negative reactions or other problems. Central Seven receives the bulk of its annual budget from the provin- cial government, but the Industries (printing, packaging and labelling) generate about $50,000 a year in revenues. As well, the Association Board, made up of volunteers, ac- tively raise money for special pro- jects and the purchase of new equipment. Mr. Preston points out that wherever possible, the Association makes every effort to purchase from local suppliers and businesses. Central Seven has become a large employer in the Township with the equivalent of 30 full-time positions. There are actually about 50 people working with the organization. Residential supervision is a 24-hour a day, seven days a week job, which explains why there is a large number of people working for Cen- tral Seven. By the time the summer arrives, Central Seven will have nearly 40 handicapped people in its care, pro- viding them with job skills, living skills, and chance to be active con- tributing members of the communi: ty, and a chance at a better life. MACKEY & BAILEY BARRISTERS & SOLICITORS Oshawa Rd., Port Perry Saturday Mornings 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon Lake Scugog Lumber Building 116) 989-7391 You have plans. We have plans to help. When you're looking for individual life insur- ance, group life and health insurance, annuities, registered retirement savings plans or estate planning, look at what we have to offer. Even if all you want is advice, get in touch. ERNIE GREENWOOD 124 Simcoe St.N., - PORT PERRY - 985-9451 Mutual Life of Canada PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, April 8, 1986 -- 31 Apartment means freedom Central Seven Association president Chuck use in a "life skills" program for the developmen- Preston (left) with residential manager Frank tally handicapped. This year, Central Seven is Murphy and vocational manager James Duncan under-going major expansions. (See story) inspect the new kitchen that the Association will THEY HOLD DOWN - MORE TH Kubota's mid-sized tractors are very versatile. You'll find them at work on farms, in parks, nurseries, estate homes and even on construction sites. The reason is simple. 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