ADVO
COMPANIES, INC.
“HISTORY”
Advo Companies, Inc. is a non-profit organization that operates a vocational
training center and residential homes for persons with intellectual
disabilities. We have been providing
service in Amarillo since 1991.
Our philosophy is to provide meaningful
and productive employment and a safe living environment for all persons. At present, our primary service
populations are those persons with mental retardation; however, our service base
has expanded to include persons with closed head injuries, cerebral palsy, and
those that are deaf, autistic and diabetic.
The “MISSION” of Advo
Companies, Inc. is to provide a service delivery system that permits individuals
with physical and developmental disabilities the opportunity to choose the level
of educational, vocational and work options needed to meet their personal goals
and objectives.
By making
available a variety of training and work opportunities, an experienced team of
concerned staff, and a well-prepared developmental plan, the individual ceases
to be a passive recipient of services and becomes a decision maker in obtaining
their goals and desires.
Our program was located at 2736 W. 10th Street, Amarillo, Texas where
we occupied approximately 45,000 square feet with 32,000 square feet utilized
for production and training. The
occupancy limit, of our facility, was 100 disabled employees with a current
census of 88. Our facility was
destroyed by fire on October 20, 2007.
On August 8, 2011 we were able to move into our facility located at 5241
south Washington, Amarillo, Texas.
Our new facility is 40,000 sq. ft. and offers a vocational training center, day
habilitation area with support areas to meet the needs of 300 individuals who
need services. Our current program
population is 135 and growing daily since our move in date. Our program provides a disabled
employee to trainer ratio of 8 to 1.
We also provide training for specialized groups with more challenging
disabilities at a ratio of 3 to 1. We also provide for an on-site nurse to give
treatment as prescribed by the physician.
All trainers receive approximately 40 hours of in-service training prior to
client contact which includes: CPR, First Aid, behavioral intervention, training
techniques. Injuries and illnesses, seizure disorders, employee pay calculations
and vocational goals and enhancement.
Trainers also receive specialized training annually and on an as needed
basis. Advo Companies, Inc. employs
a full-time training coordinator that specialized in employee training needs.
All services are developed
based on the principle of normalization that demands that developmentally and
physically disabled persons are provided the same opportunities to interact in
their community as other citizens.
All individuals served are provided activities and learning opportunities geared
to their needs while progressively exposing each to routine tasks that they are
likely to encounter in normal settings.
Individuals who live in the
homes operated by Advo Companies, Inc. are afforded the opportunity to remain in
their home community, close to family and friends, in the least restrictive
environment.
Advo
Companies currently operates 16 homes with 75 individuals being served with 24
hour care to meet their individual needs.
The homes can accommodate 4 to 6 individuals depending on the funding
source and licensing regulations governing the home. Community resources are utilized
whenever possible in order to provide freedom of choice and versatility. They learn ways to take care of
themselves, are given the chance to become active in their communities and
discover that they are an important part of society.
Individuals in the day program
have access to a continuum of vocational and life skills training and work
opportunities.
These
services include a structured group setting in the Advo Companies Training
Center facilities as well as job placements in the community at large. We believe that all individuals can
and should engage in meaningful work, and to this end, opportunities for gainful
employment in our training center as well as work assignments in other settings
are provided.
The basic philosophy that each
individual has value and contributions to make permeates all aspects of the
program.
For this
reason, a range of skill development and work participation programs designed to
meet individual needs are offered. A
team consisting of the individual, family members, agency representatives and
the professional and experienced Advo Companies staff, prepare a developmental
plan geared toward increasing the abilities of the individual served. All goals strive to build upon their
strengths and move them toward a meaningful role in society. First and foremost, this involves the
opportunity for choice. All
individuals are encouraged to become active participants in the learning and
living process, including goal setting, which will encourage them to achieve
whatever level of accomplishment they choose.
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