Kroc Center Hailed For Openness To Intellectually Disabled
P.A.R. PRESIDENT AND C.E.O. Shirley Walker joins staff of Kroc Community Center and Salvation Army Developmental Disabilities Program to confer Center’s award for openness to intellectually disabled. Philadelphia’s Ray & Joan Kroc people participated in the conferServices at the Kroc Center inCommunity Center was honored ence. clude fitness equipment, swimfor its commitment to people with The Kroc Center’s winning nomiming, day care, music, visual and intellectual disabilities - ensuring performing arts studios, worship nation came from Maureen accessibility and inclusion for McGlinchey, director of the Salva- and performance space, a comthem as members of the center and tion Army Developmental Disabil- puter lab, culinary arts, adult eduas part of its workforce. cation, job training, a community ities Program, who praised the garden and many other unique ofPAR honored Major Willie Mae Center for its outreach to the disferings. Lyle and staff of the Kroc Commu- ability community “years before nity Center with the 2011 Employer of the Year Award on Wednesday during its annual conference in Harrisburg. PAR is Pennsylvania Advocacy and Resources for Autism & Intellectual Disabilities, a statewide nonprofit association whose members provide services to more than 51,000 individuals with autism or intellectual disabilities. An estimated 500 6|
the building was completed, to ensure accessibility and inclusiveness from the ground up,” said McGlinchey. “The team not only worked to ensure accessibility needs were met, but also that job creation and development at Kroc encompassed those with disabilities, as well as other underemployed residents in the community.” THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD
Three gentlemen from The Salvation Army’s DDP have been employed by the Center since March 2011. DDP’s job coaching staff assisted in the initial training and employment preparation process and continue to support the men weekly, assisting in skill development and job adaptations. All three gentlemen were recently offered additional days and hours, which 31 OCTOBER, 2011