Statements
Mission
Empowering individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to progress toward their full potential.
Background
Waves was chartered in 1973 by a group of individuals who wanted to "make waves" for adults with intellectual disabilities and other developmental disabilities who, at the time, were living with family members and had little to do. The first program was referred to as an "Adult Activity Center." Over the years, the program emphasis changed from activities to employment and community participation. Residential services, referred to as "group homes," were added in 1974. In 1989, the first support was offered to an adult living in his own apartment. Current references to residential programs are "supported living" and "semi-independent living." Current services for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities include two day programs structured to encourage life skill acquisition and improvement. This improves communication, social, and other adaptive skills. We also provide assistance with job placement and employment support. Our residential services provide 24 hour staff support in homes and apartment settings. Support is also provided for individuals to volunteer at other local agencies. All adult services are designed to encourage individual interaction with community resources. Outcomes include: employment, having meaningful relationships, and contributing to the life of the community. The Early Learning Program, initiated in 1984, provides services for children (ages birth to three years) who are experiencing delays in speech/language, cognitive, motor, and social or self-help skills. Specific delays are identified by specially trained teachers and/or professional therapists who provide activity-based intervention services in natural settings. Through early intervention activities, our program averages 3-4 weeks gain in developmental skills per month of service. Some children have such gains that they no longer meet the definition of developmental delay and, thus, no longer need early intervention services. If continued assistance is necessary, Waves staff assists the transition to educational services offered through the public school system at the age of three. Due to gains made through Waves during the early development years, the services provided in the student's school years will be less intensive.
Impact
Significant accomplishments for 2018 include: continued expansion of TennCare Employment and Community First Services offered through our Community Transitions Program to individuals, increasing from five to seven surrounding counties; continued growth in the number of adults served in Adult Day Programs, both Facility-Based and Community-Based; increasing the number of families served by a third in the Early Learning Program, and increased the customer base for the Office Recycling Program. The Employment and Community First Program provides services to young adults who are completing high school and to adults who have been on waiting lists having never received services in the past. This program focuses on employment support, job exploration, and community integration supports and served more than 40 people through the past year. Outcomes for this program were: people earned competitive wages, worked in community integrated settings, and chose where they want to work. Community-based, Centered-based and In-home Day services were provided to 60 people. Outcomes achieved in the Centered-based Program were: individuals experienced best possible health, exercised rights, experienced continuity and security, chose services, developed friendships, and realized personal goals. Community-based Program outcomes achieved were: connection to natural support networks, established social roles, and participation in the life of the community. Twenty-seven adults received residential services through both full-time onsite staffing and drop-in supports at private homes. Adult Residential Program outcomes achieved were: people chose where and with whom they lived; people lived in integrated environments; chose personal goals; and participated in the life of the community. The Early Learning Program provided developmental instruction in home and community settings as well as developmental screenings to more than 400 children and families over the past year, and continues to experience increased referrals in Williamson and surrounding counties. The Early Learning Program outcomes achieved were: identified delays in early childhood development, enhanced identified areas of development, and prevented further developmental delay. Transportation services were provided to 81 adults including: transportation to and from day facilities, community outings, and residential services. Goals accomplished for 2018 were: continued status as a certified Person-Centered agency with the State of TN, reduced employee turnover and overtime through restructuring starting pay for direct care positions; increased the number of people supported in jobs and/or prevocational activities; reduce administrative overhead costs by updating office services contracts; upgrade the vehicle used in the Office Recycling Program to ensure reliable services to customers, collaborated with local Community Housing Partnership for successful grant from HUD to upgrade a four-person home; collaborating with Sam's Club to create a vocational training program; and initial launch of new Lip-Sync Battle fundraising event. Goals for 2019 are: continue to look for ways to diversify funding streams; increase major donor support and onboard potential individual donors; increase visibility of Waves in the local community; expand Early Learning services to families beyond local community; plan for facility upgrades; advocate for increased employment opportunities for people supported; increase and improve the quality of the vehicle fleet; and pursue national accreditation from a recognized accrediting entity.
Needs
1) Upgrade and add to the Waves' vehicle fleet 2) Create Employment Practice Stations for Day Program participants to develop employable skills 3) Hire staff to fill vacancies in the Adult Programs 4) Continue to expand residential service options through creation of family-model homes, where children and adults will have the option of living within an existing family environment. 5) Facility maintenance and repairs to the two residential homes that Waves owns
CEO Statement
As the agency celebrates the forty-eighth year of providing services, we are using this benchmark as an opportunity to both reflect on our continued community impact while also looking at the challenges ahead. Initially conceived by parents of children with disabilities as an alternative to state institutionalization, the agency has since facilitated positive change in the lives of thousands through their services for adults, children, and families affected by intellectual disabilities. There are variety of ways to support people with disabilities. What sets Waves apart is that we don't focus on what you can't do but on what you can do. We are here to help people live their own life: to plan, to contribute, to participate, and to make choices. Our person-centered approach is based on designing supports and services that meet expectations of people seeking services. Waves recognizes that the measure of quality is not the delivery of a service or support, but the results that service or support produces for each person. We focus on empowering individuals and families to make choices about their services and how they want to be supported, as well as what they want to achieve. Understanding what is most important to each person is the first step in supporting people to make choices. We discover each person's individual priorities by taking time to listen to, interact with, and learn from the person. Waves stresses an integrated approach to services. We are here to guide people, make sense when things are confusing, and to help people base decisions on learning that occurs as a result. Supports in 2020 have resulted in people getting their very first jobs (and promotions), having a home of their own, going on dates, volunteering in the community, using sign language to communicate with others, making full recoveries from serious illness, and many more personal achievements. We are continually striving to set people up to succeed. Excellence is a journey and Waves defines what excellence looks like in action. We look forward to the journey in 2021 as we empower people with intellectual and developmental disabilities opportunities to have friends, be treated fairly, participate in the life of the community, be respected, obtain employment, be ready for school, have good health, exercise their rights, have social roles, and meet a variety of individual personal goals. Excellence is a journey and Waves defines what excellence looks like in action. We look forward to the journey in 2021 as we empower people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Board Chair Statement
Since starting in Fairview in 1973, Waves has built a reputation of community-based services that have improved the quality of life for children and adults with developmental delays or disabilities. These services have brought value not only to those individuals, but to the families we support and the community we serve. Our mission at Waves is to empower individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to progress to their full potential. Our core values are Respect, Integrity and Compassion. The commitment to our mission and values is evidenced by the joy shown on the faces of the individuals we serve. Waves has been a key component in the quality of life for all of us in Williamson County. Key to our success has been the unwavering support of our community. Current and past board members, through our Honorary Board, are engaged in fundraising and actively "telling the Waves story" at every opportunity. I invite you to attend our annual fundraising breakfast in the spring and Lip Sync Battle event this fall. We envision an inclusive community where everyone works, learns, and plays together. Please explore our website to learn more about the various programs. You also can sign up to be a part of our email distribution list or contact the Waves office to learn more about volunteer opportunities.
Service Categories |
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| Primary Category: | Human Services - Developmentally Disabled Services/Centers |
| Secondary Category: | Human Services - Residential Care & Adult Day Programs |
| Tertiary Category: | Employment - Vocational Rehabilitation |
Areas Served
Williamson County is the primary service area. We provide some home based services to very young children in the surrounding counties.
| TN - Williamson |
