Rebecca Walkup
The Sheltered Work Activity Program, also known as INCOR, began in 1981 as an arts and crafts program with six clients, one staff member, and a budget of $30,000 received from private donations. Today, INCOR provides a full range of services to more than 170 individuals through funding and partnerships with the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, Developmental Disabilities Services Division. Their mission is to help individuals of all ages with disabilities increase their self-sufficiency and quality of life.
INCOR's services are divided into four categories: residential services, a sheltered workshop, transportation services, and recreation programming. Residential services include in-home assistance in which staff help individuals with daily living skills including dressing, bathing and eating. There are several levels of in-home assistance ranging from assistance preparing individual meals to round the clock care. Staffing for the in-home care program is tailored to meet the needs of each client, and staff are trained in specialties required for the needs of the individual as well as in basic care and emergency assistance.
As another residential service, INCOR operates four group homes for individuals with disabilities who are unable to live on their own. The ADA accessible homes are staffed around the clock and provide residents with common meals and activities and independent daily living skills classes. The Department of Housing and Urban Development has approved funding for INCOR to build two new group homes, one for men and one for women, and groundbreaking is planned for this spring. The land for the new homes was donated by a generous local individual. Both of the new homes will be within four blocks of the INCOR sheltered workshop on Okmulgee Avenue, making it convenient for residents to travel to and from their jobs there.
The sheltered workshop provides a safe non-noncompetitive work environment for 60 to 80 individuals with disabilities. Transportation is provided to and from the workshop. Workers perform labor-intensive hand assembly tasks and are paid for each piece they assemble. INCOR currently has contracts to provide assembly services to one local manufacturer and one Michigan manufacturer. In addition to the workshop, INCOR provides clients with a range of employment services including resume preparation, training in basic job skills, job placement and job coaching in the workplace. A computer-based literacy lab provides the opportunity for reading instruction as well as access to job search tools.
Transportation services include providing clients who work in the workshop transportation to and from work. Each group home has the use of an ADA accessible vehicle to assist residents with transportation to work, appointments, shopping, meals out and other activities.
In addition, INCOR provides recreation programs including hosting the regional Special Olympics bowling tournament at Green Country Lanes. This year, more than 100 service recipients will participate in a variety of Special Olympics events.
For more information about INCOR and their services, contact Linda Morgan Clark at linda@incor-ok.com.
Reach Rebecca Walkup at rwalkup@muskogeenonprofits.org or 683-4600.
