Annual Report 2016

Augusta North Augusta Walterboro

Where the options are endlessSince 1994, Walton Options has provided services and resources to help people withall types of disabilities live independently.

Our MissionWe believe all persons with disabilities,should be able to participate in their community. We promoteequality, inclusion and independence through:

Personal Choice & ResponsibilityCommunity AccessEducation Employment

Our goal is to help each person find and utilize the necessary, available resources ontheir personal journey to independence.

Our OfficesWe have three office locations to provideservices to all of our coverage areas.

Augusta, GeorgiaNorth Augusta, South CarolinaWalterboro, South Carolina

Our WorkWalton Options offers much more than

resources and services. Our variousprograms and outreach guides

persons with disabilities asthey work toward new

goals.

Through our servicesand programs, we areable to offer real-life

training programs andopportunities for our

consumers on how to utilize resources to achieve

their independence.

In addition we work with consumers asthey work to achieve self-sufficiencythrough understanding benefits such asSocial Security Insurance (SSI) andSocial Security Disability Insurance(SSDI).

Services developing independenceWe offer five core services and several programs that are not included at every Center for Independent Living. These are enhancements to our services for our consumers, their families and caregivers.

Core ServicesInformation & ReferralAdvocacyIndependent Living SkillsTransitionsPeer Support

ProgramsAssistive TechnologyEmployment ServicesNursing Home TransitionsYouth & Young Adult ProgramsHome ModificationsSTAR Program HubWorks Incentives Planning & Assistance (WIPA) Program

“Walton Options challenged me to attend Independent Life Skills Training classes and to get out of myown home. They helped me overcomemy barriers and now I enjoy traveling,and look forward to meeting new people! I gained confidence andachieved independence.”

Serving the communityOur StaffWe have an amazing team who understandour consumers because they themselves arepersons with disabilities. Many of our staffhave national certifications and are equippedto work with consumers in multiplecapacities such as peer support and benefitsguidance.

Of the 32 Walton Options employees in2016, only four did not identify as having asignificant disability.

Disabilities represented included:Visual HearingSensory PhysicalMental/Emotional MultipleIntellectual/Cognitive

Our ConsumersIf a person has a self-declared disability, we offer services to them as a consumer. We serve a variety of demographics fromthe CSRA and SC Low Country.

154

684Consumers Served:

GA CountiesSC Central Counties143 SC Low Country

11 OutsideCounties

Our Board of DirectorsWe are governed by a consumer drivenboard, meaning 51% of those serving on theBoard have a disability themselves – someare even previous consumers. Of the 10 Board members who served in2016, seven identified as having a disability.which are representative of physical, intellectual, and sensory disabilities. OurBoard holds open meetings bi-monthly atthe Augusta Office.

Executive Board:Elizabeth Morrison, CPA, Chair Lisa Sistare Harkins, Vice Chair

Board Members at Large:Arthur Shealy, Esq Dr. Joy EllenbergerColette Hughes Rose Lawas-SmithDr. Dennis Skelley Victor RattnerJames HeffnerExecutive DirectorTiffany Clifford

Options by the numbersThrough a variety of funding resources, we serve a variety of demographics at allthree of our offices. By tracking age, sex, race/ethnicity, and disability, we are betterequipped to continue to offer the best options to our consumers.

Financial Statistics

Age

Race

Foundations/Private, 6%

GA State, 9%

GA Federal54% SC Federal

31%

Funding

Services

Expenditures

CIL Mentor, 3%Employment Services, 3.5% General & Administrative, 1.5%

Youth Transition, 1.5%

ountry Core Services, 6%

GA Core Services

E 24%mpW loo yrk m eI nn t/E ced nu tc ia vt eio1 n4%SC Core Services

Institutional 12.5%Transition odsMSupport ome veH Assisti y

18.5% &  ologhnTec cesrviSe

5.5%1

Consumers Statistics

MaleFemale 36%

64%

Gender 25 to 59 60 plus36.7% 55.2%

3%5 to 9, 4.3% Under 5, 0.8%

20 to 24,

HispanicTwo or more races, 0.2% American Indian/Al

/Latino, 1.28% Asian, 0.2%

White29.7%

Black/AfricanAmerican

68%

aska Native, 0.5%Unknown, 0.2%

Hearing, 0.9%

Multiple, 3.5%

al/onal%

Low C

Disability

Physical61.1%

Vision16.3%

Cognitive Ment10.5% Emoti

7.7

Key partnerships & resources

Volunteers make a lasting impactMs. Lura has volunteered with Walton Options foralmost ten years. She spends hours talking to consumers about their goals and what ways we cancontinue to provide support for them. She exemplifies the philosophy the Independent Livingmovement and our mission. The hours she has putin over the years have enabled us to continue to provide the one-on-one support that makes WaltonOptions a unique resources for the disability community.

To provide our variety of services, information, and resources, Walton Options partners with a variety of federal, state and community partners. In addition, we aresupported by numerous private businesses, foundations & volunteers.

Administration on Community Living • Division of Aging • Area Agency on Aging •Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency • SC Department of Health and Human Services • Georgia Advocacy Office • Georgia Ombudsmen • Georgia Independent Living Network • City of Augusta • Lions Clubs • Aiken County Board of Disabilities • Walton Foundation for Independence • Meals on Wheels America • Project Independence • Social Security Administration • Georgia Statewide Independent Living Council • South Carolina Independent Living Council • Georgia Rehabilitation Institute • First Baptist Church • BurkeCounty Schools Burke Build • Augusta-Richmond County Library • Richmond County Schools• Aiken County Schools • City of North Augusta • ADP • The Cleveland Group • Georgia Tech• Able SC • AccessAbility • AHHS •Dobbs Foundation • Friends of Disabled Adults and Children• South Carolina Assistive Technology Project • Tools for Life • The Augusta Chronicle • StateBank • WAGT 26 • Legends Club • Flowers on Broad • Tracer Audio • Tedford CPA • GeorgiaLibrary for Accessible Statewide Services • Southern Wesleyan University - North Augusta •Channel 6 • Coca-Cola • North Augusta Police Department •

Events throughout the year

Legislative RoundtableDuring December we hosted a roundtablediscussion with Rep Howard & otherlocal officials to discuss the benefits ofCILs in the CSRA and how we can worktogether towards an inclusive community.

Love Shouldn’t HurtOur annual event to raise awarenessabout domestic violence within the disability community was held in February. We had a variety of resourcespresent including the North Augusta Police Department.

ADA26 CelebrationsTo mark the 26th Anniversary of theAmericans with Disabilities Act, wehosted an Ice Cream drop-in social at theAugusta Office. Local representatives,consumers and staff attended.

TEK QuestJuly saw our summer camp introducekids age 8-12 to assistive technology.Partnering with the Augusta-RichmondCounty Library and GLASS to operatetwo half day camps for 13 children.

MVP Community Awards In 2016, planning took place for the 1stAnnual Most Valuable Partner (MVP)Community Awards that was hosted inNovember. These awards were designedto highlight the businesses, governmentorganizations, partners, and individualsin the community who were personifyingthe spirit of the ADA in their work towards an inclusive community.

Throughout the year, we host a variety of events to encourage community inclusion,advocacy and options for persons with disabilities. In 2016, we hosted:

948 Walton WayAugusta, GA 30901706-724-6262

514 West AveNorth Augusta, SC 29841803-279-9611

2414 N. Jefferies Blvd.Walterboro, SC 29488843-538-1600