Until further notice, the Mark D. Elmore Center will be closed to visitors. Due to the COVID-19 public health crisis, all day services and supported worksites, including Project SEARCH, are suspended.
Effective March 19, supported worksites, including Emerging Artists and Papercrete Works, are suspended until further notice. We are continuing to support integrated, competitive employment based on individual needs. This includes Project SEARCH.
To lower the risk of exposure to COVID-19, we have made the decision to suspend day services at the Elmore Center and discourage all visitors effective March 18. This is in response to growing concern for the safety and wellbeing of staff and people served at JCDS and recommendations from public health officials and our medical staff. This action will remain in effect until further notice.
At Johnson County Developmental Supports, we are working to ensure staff, residents and the people we serve continue to thrive as we navigate the changing nature of the current public health crisis. We are continuing to prioritize preventative measures such as social distancing, event rescheduling, and enhanced cleaning and sanitization processes at the Mark D. Elmore Center and in residential settings.
When you walk through the halls of Johnson County Developmental Supports, you may notice several staff members using American Sign Language. And now, thanks to a new program created by community employment specialists Vicki Besco and Tasha Markovich, the number of employees learning ASL is increasing.
Johnson County Developmental Supports is proud to announce that we have received the three-year Basic Assurances® Accreditation from the Council on Quality and Leadership. JCDS had been accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities for more than 30 years. JCDS is the largest provider of intellectual and developmental disabilities services in Johnson County.
The Johnson County Board of Commissioners issued a proclamation on Oct. 3, 2019 proclaiming October as National Disability Employment Awareness Month.
As JCDS has grown through the years, the focus of supports has moved significantly toward employment first. The unemployment rate in the U.S. for people with disabilities is twice the rate of those without a disability.
A county program called Papercrete Works that provides community employment opportunities for people with disabilities, along with the county team who manages the program, received recognition from the Board of County Commissioners today.
When you walk through the halls of Johnson County Developmental Supports, you may notice several staff members using American Sign Language. And now, thanks to a new program created by community employment specialists Vicki Besco and Tasha Markovich, the number of employees learning ASL is increasing.
