University of South Carolina Libraries
Program to trs By CLAUDETTE JAMES Gamecock Staff Writer A new public-awareness project, administered bv the univprsitv facilities program, will provide training for professionals and para-professionals who work with the developmentally disabled. Developmentally disabled persons are those suffering from mental retardation, autism, epilepsy and cerebral palsy, where the disability occurred before 18 years of age, and is expected to continue indefinitely. SPECIAL TRAINING is required for those who work with handicapped persons. Project field coordinator Papti Rajagopal said the program at USC will administer the statewide technical assistance and training project. The United States Department of Health, Education and Welfare approved Senator to speak ||1|h State Sen. Tom Tur nipccu win sptaK ai a forum at 7:30 tonight in the Campus Room of Cap- IHjNttM Also speaking will be John Harper of the Richland County Council. PWtoj The forum is sponsored by the USC Young Democrats and will con uauiitic on a receni controversy surrounding the S.C. Public Service Commission. T v? i S fWS TT* iwinn Kive: is Comii 1 DOUG K< m. wi Student Body Pi fT" T Hi " aw WBmW He Knows How to Get T XT?* 1U1 l/UU^ AUI lin those who i funding for the three-year project in September. Rajagopal said the project "will train at least 1,000 persons in the first year." Project-training sessions will be open to the public, and many of those who attend will be staff members from state agencies, including the mental health department, and criminal enforcement agencies, Mary Atkinson, acting director of the USC piugictm, saiu. "The main outcome of this project is to acquaint the public and promote awareness of developmental disabilities and service in South Carolina," she said. ONE OF THE priority areas of this project deals with the developmentally disabled criminal offender. Steve Dillingham, who is in charge of this section said, "We want to educate and train public officials, law enforcement officers and urnipaeed J __? 4?? M mmm m. 1 OWfcA* r Band >1JVAU ELECTRI 925 Hun I 1 from >TTI ~M evident JjP iM i he Job Done I II April 4 vork with disa people involved in the criminal justice system to the special needs of the developmental disabled offenders." The problem is that these disabled persons are arrested and put in jail along with other offenders, where they can't protect A ITAT? kl Z Ai J 21 uitmociyco. n u/ir PUUIICUUUII UtSCI'lOCS the situation: "Other inmates manipulate these individuals, abuse them sexually and financially, and teach them criminal behavior previously unknown." If prison staff understand how to deal with the developmental^ disabled, program officials say that institutions can prevent such "abuse and disruption." Dillingham said he hopes the outcome of this segment of the program will bring about better services which are tailored to meet the offender's specific needs. Jay Smith, a graduate assistant working with thp nmiivt coiH fhou Koim doiFolniu>J > ...... r.?j^vv, MM.VI Vlivj 1IUVV UCYCIupcu C* 2 PIPE R/ !! BIG! 1 m FHDAY 9 I ERS 4|EC TC UES A V $9 V lTERS fGi LIES *4"| $11 C WAREHOUSE DISCO [er Street-off Gervais Open 6 days 12 noon to midnioht ARK P REASU Experi< bled tape presentation to explain wliait developmental disabilities are. The tape is available to the public. Raiaeat>ol said. "There are verv four people who are aware of this project. We are trying to make the citizens aware of the present problems that exist with the developmentally disabled." Some of the problems are special education and job placement. Others involve living situations. 'Hie physically handicapped person needs specially designed building entrances, elevators and wide doorways. A mentally handicapped person needs a normal community setting with specially supervised homes, wherp Hp can live a normal life. Atkinson will administer the project at USC. Other directors will be Roger Smith of Winthrop College and Robert Mende of The College of Charleston. kCKS > ALE >PS niUB) MJCHOS I VALUES $C|99 | BIG DENTSVILL.E WAREHOUSE 6033 Two Notch Road 754-2896 Daily L Sat. til 7 p.m. ^^^^^T^hurs^Fri. til 9 p.m. \ ITTS 1 no m ' M*%s JO ?# \ j nee ,