The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, March 31, 1977, Page Page 10, Image 11
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
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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