Independent Living Services, a private nonprofit organization located in Conway, has an opening for a Full-Time Speech Therapist.

This person will be an integral part of a therapeutic team working in a day habilitation setting where our focus is on assisting and supporting adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities to live as independently as possible.

Independent Living Services offers a competitive salary, health and life insurance, paid holidays, paid time off, and retirement plan.

Click here for the printable version of this job announcement.

Send resume to:

kathy@indliving.org

or

Kathy Weatherl
P.O. Box 1070
Conway, AR  72033

The Sunshine Optimist Club, a civic organization for individuals who have intellectual and developmental disabilities and Profiles Enrichment Center, are holding a Back to School Supply Drive for the Special Education Students at Conway High School. The drive will be held from August 1 – August 12, 2011.

If you would like to donate school supplies please drop them off at either Profiles Enrichment Center 1105 Deer Street Suite #9 or ILS Admin Offices at 1615 Independence between the hours of 7:30 am and 4:30 pm.

For more information please contact Chris Smith or Kathy Weatherl at (501) 327-5883.

Download: School Supply Flyer

Thank you in advance for your support!

All men are encouraged to attend.

Menu

• Grilled pork chops
• biscuits
• bacon
• eggs
• pastries
• coffee
• juice

The questions on the survey remained the same as last year, however, the rating system changed this year.   In 2009 the system was rankings of 1-3 and in 2011 the rankings were 1-5.   This may account for some of the changes in the satisfaction level of the individuals served.

On the question of do you feel like you can talk to your case manager or staff the ranking went up from 80% Very Satisfied in 2009 to 44% very satisfied in 2010.

The satisfaction level with services they are receiving went down from 80% very satisfied in 2009 to 44% very satisfied in 2010.

Individuals who felt staff listened to them went from 93% very satisfied in 2009 to 30% very satisfied in 2010.

Individuals satisfied with quality of services went from 70% very satisfied in 2009 to 41% very satisfied in 2010.

Individuals who felt their home was comfortable and met their needs went from 96% very satisfied in 2009 to 41% very satisfied in 2010.

Due to the change in numbering system it is difficult to determine if satisfaction with services truly changed.   Next year the number system will be set to one level and will remain the same from here on so that each year’s results can be compared to track for changes in satisfaction levels.

Satisfaction questions that are asked of individuals throughout the year on quarterly reports, home visits, etc indicate that the individuals are overall very satisfied with their services.

For the past 2 years ILS has offered one survey to individuals in the various programs that we offer.  While we have gathered data for the previous two years, it was often difficult to distinguish exactly what programs the individuals were happy or unhappy with.  In an effort to make the survey more program specific, ILS decided to divide the survey up this year and have one survey for those individuals who attend day services and one survey for those individuals who receive residential/waiver services.

The day services that ILS offers has a computer lab that all individuals have access to, so a survey was developed using Survey Monkey.  For individuals that we support who cannot read, a Foster Grand Parent sat down with them at the computer and asked them each of the questions and then the individual answered the survey question by clicking the appropriate circle on the survey question.   The grandparents also had a sheet of 3 smiley face icons so if the individual was unsure of what number to mark to represent their satisfaction level, they could look at the smiley face icons and use the number that represented that smiley face.

THE SURVEY

The survey was placed on the ILS web site and all individuals who attend day service programs were given 30 days to complete the survey, if they chose to participate.

Of the 120 individuals enrolled in the day services program, 113 choose to participate and answer the survey questions.

The survey consisted of 8 multiple choice questions where they could indicate if they were Very Satisfied, Satisfied, or Not Satisfied.  The other 2 questions were open ended questions that gave the individuals the opportunity to give us personal feedback regarding their likes and dislikes in the day programs.

THE RESULTS

The results of the survey will also be used as we continue to grow and expand into the new building that ILS has recently purchased. The result of this survey are shared with the individuals who attend day services, and the staff of the organization.   Further input will be solicited from individuals served in hopes of getting more clarification on some of the answers to the responses.

Of the 8 multiple choice questions, the two that received a percentage of 10% or greater in the unsatisfied category were:

Question #3: Do you like the lunches that are served at Profiles?

28.3%  Very Satisfied, 48.7% Satisfied, and 13.3% Not Satisfied

Lunches are provided by Profiles and the meals are catered and brought to the program each day.  Profiles utilizes the special nutrition program and must adhere to the regulations of the program.  Several changes were made to the lunches during the past year at the request of the individuals served.  Those changes included upgrading the food warmer cart, adding fresh fruit to the menus, and adding more rice and beans instead of a bread every day.

Question #4: Do you feel you get to go into the community enough when you are at Profiles?

Very Satisfied rating of 25.7%, 59.3% Satisfied, and 10.6% Unsatisfied

The funding for the day services, requires that the services be provided in the licensed building in order for billing of services to occur.  When individuals leave the building for an outing, all billing for those individuals must stop.  Even though ILS looses funds by doing community outings, we do provide opportunities for individuals to access the community while they are receiving day services.  Community  outings consist of , but are not limited to grocery shopping, exercise at the community center, civic club meetings, choir performances, bowling, and various volunteer opportunities.

The two open ended questions where individuals could provide personal responses were answered by 101 individuals.

Question #9: Is there anything at Profiles that you are not satisfied?

More time to  learn things I want to  learn

Don’t like fighting or bad language

Class is sometimes boring

Some things are too easy

Everything is ok

Not happy with some people here

Don’t like still being in school

Breaks

Not happy with doing things over

More money skills to manage my money

Question #10: Are there things you would like to see us do at Profiles that we do not do now?

Photography Class

Learn more about different jobs

Longer breaks

Want to learn to read

Driving Class

Write letters

More puzzles

More Cheeseburgers

I want to help people more

Would like to have a coke machine

More painting

Play more basketball

Sewing classes

More fire drills

More cooking

Lock all doors for safety

I would like another job so I can have more money to manage

Change lunches

The questions on the survey remained the same as last year, however, the rating system changed this year.   In 2009 the system was rankings of 1-3 and in 2011 the rankings were 1-5.   This may account for some of the changes in the satisfaction level of the family members/guardians.

…

Satisfaction Level – “Do you feel like you can talk to you case manager or staff?”

On the question of do you feel like you can talk to your case manager or staff the ranking went up from 58% Very Satisfied in 2009 to 60% very satisfied in 2010.

Satisfaction Level – Services Provided

The satisfaction level with services they are receiving went down from 58% very satisfied in 2009 to 50% very satisfied in 2010.

Satisfaction Level – “Is your family member receiving the level of services they need?”

Rose from 33% very satisfied in 2009 to 53% very satisfied in 2010.

Satisfaction Level – “Do you feel staff listen to you?”

Individuals who felt staff listened to them went from 66% very satisfied in 2009 to 53% very satisfied in 2010.

Satisfaction Level – Quality of Services

Individuals satisfied with quality of services went from 50% very satisfied in 2009 to 45% very satisfied in 2010.

..

* Due to the change in numbering system it is difficult to determine if satisfaction with services truly changed.   Next year the number system will be set to one level and will remain the same from here on so that each years results can be compared to track for changes in satisfaction levels.

The first 3 questions on the survey remained the same as last year, however, the rating system changed this year.   In 2009 the system was rankings of 1-3 and in 2011 the rankings were 1-5.   This may account for some of the changes in the satisfaction level of the staff.

Two  new questions were added this year.  One question addressed the issue of supervisors responding to  issues that are important to the employee and the second question that was added asked if the individual was aware of the staff recognition programs offered at ILS.

Satisfaction Level – Appropriate Training

From 66% in 2009 to 50% in 2010

Satisfaction Level – Adequate Supplies for the Job

From 75% in 2009 to 50% in 2010

Satisfaction Level - “Do you feel your supervisor cares about you and responds to issues that are important to you?”

60% very satisfied and 28% satisfied.

Awareness of Staff Recognition Programs

91%

Satisfaction Level – “Do you like working at Independent Living Services?”

The question regarding whether or not an individual likes working at ILS went from a yes/no question to a rating of 1-5.  In 2009 91% of individuals said they liked working at ILS.  With this year’s rating system, 76% are very satisfied with working at ILS and 22% are satisfied with working at ILS for an overall percentage of 98% being either very satisfied or satisfied with their employment at Independent Living Services.

…

* Due to the change in numbering system it is difficult to determine if satisfaction with jobs truly changed.   Next year the number system will be set to one level and will remain the same from here on so that each year’s results can be compared to track for changes in satisfaction levels.