Wings Special Needs Community, Inc

PROJECT PURPOSE

Wings provides an educational Day Program and Social Club for adults with developmental disabilities. Unlike many programs that serve disabled adults, Wings is not just a daycare; we empower our Members to reach their fullest potential through meaningful work, education, and enrichment opportunities that promote independence. Wings is raising money to build a thriving community with residential options and an expanded educational and vocational day program on 74.5 acres at 1315 E. Wilshire in Oklahoma City. ARPA funding would support Phase One construction of the community, which includes a Program and Education Building, Fellowship/Social Commons and Chapel, and our first ranch home for eight residents. This is a critical issue in Oklahoma, which has very few educational, vocational, or social programs for this population. K-12 special education programs have made great strides in the last decade, but post-high school programming is still scarce. Wings is the only educational program for developmentally disabled adults that is accredited by NCASES (Natl. Commission for the Accreditation of Special Education Services) in Central Oklahoma and, when completed, our residential community will be one of only a handful of private communities for developmentally disabled adults in the state.

EVIDENCE

Nationally, the 2019 Annual Report from the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Disability Statistics estimates that 222,345 individuals with coginitive disabilities live in Oklahoma (https://disabilitycompendium.org/). According to the 2020 Federal Census Report, about 35% of Oklahoma's population lives in the OKC Metro. Using that same percentage, we can estimate that this means that 77,820 individuals in the Wings service area have a documented cognitive disability. (This includes all age groups.) Furthermore, based on conversations with special education administrators at school districts in our service region, we know that about 450 students with cognitive disabilities will be graduating from local high schools within the next four years. These students have very few options within the OKC Metro - or even the entire state - if they want to continue their education. Our community also includes several Members with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). While symptoms of ASD can vary dramatically, our Members with ASD cannot live independently and require supervision. Wings Educational and Vocational Program strategies and curriculum are built on best practice standards that exceed requirements by NCASES accreditation.

POPULATION DESCRIPTION

The Wings Membership Community includes individuals with Down syndrome, autism spectrum disorder, developmental delays, and other cognitive and physical conditions. At Wings, we do not let our limitations define who we are, and our membership includes adults of all ages (19 to 64 currently) with diverse interests, capabilities, needs, and cultural and religious backgrounds. While all of our Members can be described as developmentally disabled, they each live with unique cognitive and physical challenges that make independent living impossible. Some are non-verbal, while others love to talk all day, every day, to anyone willing to listen. Some are physically very able and healthy, while others have profound physical disabilities and require assistance with some basic tasks. Wings is currently serving 64 Day Program Members and we are at maximum capacity at our current (rented) facility. The new campus will enable us to welcome up to 200 Day Program Members and provide homes for up to 120 residents. Our research shows that we will serve residents from across the state and region. During COVID shutdowns, our Members were forced to stay at home, away from friends, with nothing to do. They became depressed; as ?God?s Forever Children?, they suffered along with our state?s youngest victims of the pandemic.

PERFORMANCE MEASURING

Wings tracks the success of its programs on both an individual level and program level. Every Wings Day Program Member has an Individualized Success Plan (ISP), based on person-centered planning principles, with curriculum and personal goals determined in consultation with staff and family members. ISP outcomes are measured in the following categories: Interpersonal Skills & Interpersonal Relationships; Vocational: Skills, Participation and Communication; and Residential: Independence. We consult with Members? families twice a year to review progress, address any challenges, and update the ISP. The Construction Project?s success will be measured by adherence to budget and timeline, and sustainability/quality of construction.

ONGOING INVESTMENT AMOUNT

$

ONGOING INVESTMENT DESCRIPTION

None

ONGOING INVESTMENT REQUIRED

Able to continue operation without additional funding from the State of Oklahoma