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A publ ication of the Roosevelt Institute and the Roosevelt Warm Springs Development Fund Inc. for friends of the Roosevelt Institute Vo lume 15, Number 4 SPRING 200 l

Third Roosevelt Cup

For the second time in less than

two months, Georgia Governor Roy

Barnes is coming to Warm Springs.

The occasion is the third Roosevelt

International Cup at the Roosevelt

Warm Springs Institute for

Rehabilitation for which Barnes will

serve as honorary chairman.

Govemor Roy Bnrnes

"It's an honor for us to have Governor Barnes involved," RWSIR

Development Director Tripp Penn said recently. "As a state fac ility,

we are proud of our Georgia roots and the opportunity to show-

case our state and community by hosting a truly international

event. Governor Barnes was here in April as featured speaker at

the Little White House and his return just reinforces his committ-

ment to West Central Georgia and people with disabilities."

The four-day competition, which occurs every other year, will

bring together 150 of the world's top disabled athletes from six

countries, including USA, Canada, Great Britain, Mexico, Sweden

and The Netherlands.

Featuring cumulative competition in wheelchair basketball,

tennis and track, the first two Roosevelt Cups were won by

Canada and the USA. Competition will again take place at

RWSIR's Center for Therapeutic Recreation gym and track, and

adjacent Rotary International Tennis Center courts. Admission is

free. For more information, call 706/655-5720.

Pict11red with the Roosevelt C11p i11 the Col11111b11s (Gn.) boardroom of preswti11g sponsor Synov11s Financial Corporatio11 are Roosevelt Warm Springs Develop111e11t F1111d Board Chnir111a11 Bl'llce Williams, RWSIR Exerntive Director Fm11k R11zycki and SteveMelton, president and CEO of Col11111b11s Bank and Tl'llst, aSy11ov11s s11bsidinry.

by Martin Harmon
Track will again beoneof threewheelc/1nir sportsfent11redal the Roosevelt lnlen1nlio11al C11p.
ROOSEVELT 2001 Roq_~~velt~
C!P Cup Sch![. -~ ~ .
JUNE 6 (WEDNESDAY) 8 a.m.7 p.m............ .. ................ .. ......Basketball Games 1-5 (CTR-Gym) 7:15 p.m.......... .. ................ ....... .l OK Raad Race (Worm Springs Village) 8:00 p.m... .. .......................... .. ..Welcome Dinner (Warm Springs Village)
JUNE 7 (THURSDAY) 8 a.m. -4:45 p.m ..... .... .... .......... ..... .... .Basketball Games 6-9 (CTR Gym) 5 p.m.-9:30 p.m ..... ...... .... ...... .... ... .... .......................Tennis (Rotary ITC) 5 p.m.-9 p.m......... .. ... .. .. ..... .. ......Basketball Games 10 & 11 (CTR Gym) 6:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m...................... .. ................Track Prelims (CTR Track)
JUNE 8 (FRIDAY) 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m...... ......... ......................................Tennis (Rotary ITC) 8:30 a.m.-7 p.m.......... ....... .. ........ .. Basketball Games 12-16 (CTR Gym) 8:30 a.m.-11 :30 a.m..... .... ............. .... .... ....... .Track Prelims (CTR Track) 3:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m.............. ...... ...... .. ...Tennis Bonus Event (Rotary ITC) 4:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m..... .. .. ............. .... .Track Prelims & Finals (CTR Track) 7:30 p.m......................... .. ......lnternotional Dinner (Historic Quadrangle)
JUNE 9 (SATURDAY) 8:30 a.m.-11 a.m..... .. ..... .... ...... .. .........Track Finals & Relay (CTR Track) 9 a.m.-2 p.m.................................. .. ........ .. ....Tennis Finals (Rotary ITC) 9 a.m...... ....... ...... ... .... ..... ......... Basketball 3-Point Challenge (CTR Gym) 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m....Basketball Finals &Championship Game (CTR Gym) 6:45 p.m........ .. ........ .. ............Closing Ceremonies &Awards (CTR Gym) 8 p.m............ .. ........ ............Roosevelt Cup Party (Camp Dream Pavilion)
Sched11le is s11bject to cl!a11ge.

2

Georgia's Department of Labor

New Home of the Roosevelt Institute
By Martin Harmon
It all started with federal legislation, "The Workforce Involvement Act," and the rumors became fact last May. That's when the Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute for Rehabilitation officially learned that it would have a new home in Georgia state government as of July 1, 2001.
After 29 years of being under Georgia's Department of Human Resources (before that Dept. of Education), the Division of Rehabilitation Services is moving into the Department of Labor. For almost a year, the transition teams of both DRS and DOL have been preparing for the move.
Larry Beck, one of DRS's career center managers, has chaired the transition team. When asked about the process, he said, "It's been a good process and a learning process. The Georgia Assembly and the Governor's Office have been very supportive in terms of funding for the merger and the move, and the merger should make both DRS and DOL stronger from every possible angle."
One of those areas that directly coincides with the role of the Roosevelt Institute is vocational rehabilitation. The Department of Labor has always been about employment and returning people to the workforce, a goal ultimately shared by RWSIR's VRU (Vocational Rehabilitation Unit).
"It blends nicely," confirmed RWSIR Executive Director Frank Ruzycki. "We're exhilarated by the new opportunities it presents and we're looking forward to the same kind of productive relationship we've always enjoyed with DHR."
House Bill No.172, which initiated the change, officially places all policy-making decisions and ftmctions at the Roosevelt Institute under the Commissioner of Labor, Michael Thurmond, who's working to change perceptions of the DOL and increase its focus on customer service. Recently he said, "We want to eliminate the perception of an insensitive, uncaring government bureaucracy. We are changing for the better and the addition of the Division of Rehabilitation Services under the DOL umbrella is another example of that trend."
DOL Commissioner Mic/me/ Tl11m11011d(center) was recently joinedat aspeaki11g e11gage111e11t i11 MeriwetherCou11 ty by several members of the Roosevelt 111stitutestaff i11cludi11g special projects manager Cherie Tripp, tra11sportatio11 manager Susie Farley, development director Tripp l'e1111 a11d vocatio11al rehabilitation staffers Carol Rushing, MarthaMcMa11us a11d Myriam Turbyfield.

RWSIR Timeline
1927
Georgia Warm Springs Foundation established by FDR.
1928-54
Many buildings constructed and hundreds treated far polio.
1945
President Roosevelt dies al the Little While House (Apr. 12).
1954
Salk vaccine begins to erase threat of polio in USA. RWSIR emphasis shifts to
persons with other disabilities.
1964
Georgia Rehabilitation Center opens adjacent to Foundation under the Department
of Education . Today ii is known as RWSIR's Vocational Rehabilitation Unit.
197 2
Georgia Rehabilitation Center moves from Department of Education to Department of Human Resources.
1974
Stole of Georgia assumes operation of Foundation hospital, placing it under Division of Rehabilitation Services as part
of Department of Human Resources.
1980
Separate operations of hospital and VRU merged and facility renamed Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute for Rehabilitation.
1980-2001
Many original Foundation buildings renovated.
1985
RWSIR formally designated "Living Memorial" to FDR.
1986
Roosevelt Warm Springs Development Fund founded .
1990
Camp Dream developed.
1996
Center for Therapeutic Recreation opened.
2001
RWSIR and all DRS move from Department of Human Resources to
Department of Labor.

3

Over 400 Attend 2001 Georgia Hall Society Ball

Money Raised By 13 GHS Galas Reaches $544, 113

By Sybil Dennis

"The best ever" is how many guests described the 13th annual Georgia Hall Society Ball held at RWSIR's historic Georgia Hall this past January 27. Over 400 were in attendance.
A multitude of decorations were carefully chosen for the evening, all reflecting a "Southern Safari" theme of the 2001 event. They drew numerous accolades. In addition, rave reviews were received for the talents of Kid Brothers of Atlanta, the band that provided music for the event, and guests really seemed to appreciate the delicacies provided during the cocktail reception and dilli1er by Creme Fraiche catering of LaFayette, Ala.
As usual, the silent and live auctions produced lively interest and bidding for a wide array if items. More than 200 were sold, including a coveted trip to any European destination that was claimed by the high bid of Dolli1a McNeilly from Knoxville, Tenn.
"Everyone seemed to have an exceptional time," remarked Cherie Tripp, RWSIR special projects manager and coordinator for the annual gala. "We are again indebted to Dan and Susan Lee of LaGrange, our co-chairs the last two years. The Ball serves a dual purpose in that it is a way of thanking our Georgia Hall Society members and other donors for all they do, and also as a means of raising additional funds for our programs and services here at the Roosevelt Institute."
This yea1~ as in other recent years, a portion of the proceeds from the GHS Ball were earmarked for the upcoming Roosevelt International Cup (see front page).
An impressive $544,113 has now been raised in the 13 years since the custom of an aimual fundraising ball was revived, ala the aimual Birthday Balls held in honor of RWSIR founder and then president Franklin Delano Roosevelt in the 1930s. For information about next year's GHS Ball, which is slated for Jan. 26, contact Cherie Tripp at 706/655-5670.

RWS Development F1111d Board Cfwimwn Bruce
Williams assisted thelive a11ctio11eer withm1
All-StarGa111e baseball au tographed by Boston shortstop
Nor111ar Garciapnrrn.

Mary and Dm111y Brinks of Thomastonjoined Ly1111 and Peter Banks of Atlanta as they embarked 011 a "Southern Safari" the 11iglit of fm1 . 27 at historicGeorgia Hall.
Gay's LnnnMiles, a 111e111berof theGHS Ball Advisory Co111111ittee, nnd Bill Bowling of Pine Mo1111tnil1 weren111011g 111n11y whoenjoyed the silent auction.

4

c!l'L.;$~~~~~~~

Remembering the 2001

Anna Roosevelt, FDR's granddaughter, was thekickoff speakerand focus of media attention at theopening receptionat historic011tdoor pools.
RWSIR 's Martha Ward presentedco1111nemorative bag toCharles Dickens of Barnesville, Ga. during check-in tl1efirst day at Georgia Hall.

By Martin Harmon
With 164 attendees representing 23 states from as fa r away as Seattle, Wash., the 2001 WarmSprings Reunion was a big success.
Along with fa mily members, polio survivors, who were Warm Springs patients as children in the 1930s, '40s and '50s, returned to the Roosevelt Institute Apr. 11-14 fo r a unique reunion that offered educational opportunities, commemorati ve gifts, entertainers and ex hibitors, featured speakers in historic settings, and pl enty of trips down memory lane.
"Many of them have already as ked when we are going to do this aga in," Carolyn Moreland, RWSIR head of conference services and continuing education stated moments after the 2001 reunion officially ended. "I think they all had a good ti.me on their return to Warm Springs."
Anna Eleanor Roosevelt, Franklin Delano Roosevelt's granddaughter, kicked off the reunion during a reception at the Historic Pools, where many of the attendees first experienced aquatic therapy. She emphasized, "Warm Springs is living testimony to FDR's commitment that each person should live life to the fullest of their abi lity."
The next day at the annual ceremony remembering FDR's dea th at the Little White House (Apr. 12, 1945), Georgia Governor Roy Barnes welcomed the reunion attendees and said, "FDR learned about hope and courage in Warm Springs, and taught us we could overcome any obstacle."
Tales of direct contact with FDR himself were many. Some of the survivors from the '30s actually swam with the president, others could remember taking dri ves with him, and still others told of attending Thanksgiving Day Dinners at Georgia Hall with the president himself carving the turkey. One of the younger polio survivors, Betty Wright of Buford, Ga., also told of pictures with tluee different presid ents during their visits to Warm Springs, Ke1rnedy, Ca rter and Clinton. And Christina Cash of Panama City, Fla., co uld brag of a photo with both Jonas Salk, creator of the polio vaccine, and Basil O'Co1rnor, first president of the March of Dimes. Those were just a few of the special memories to be found at the 2001 Warm Springs Rewi.ion.

Dr. Peter Marshall of theAtlanta Sympl1011y wasfeatured i11 twoorgm1recitalsat Roosevelt Chapel, oneof several options Ifietl1ird day.

Dr. David Foy, amemberof the RWS Development Fund Board and former poliopatient, introduced Ms. Roosevelt at theopening reception thefirst night.

c!J'L~~~~~~~s
Warm Springs Reunion

Bebe and Pat Brooks of Hollendale, Miss., 111arried after 111eeting as Wann Springs polio patie11ts in the 1940s. Here they are pictured at the Little White House thesecond day.

RWSJR's Connie Bo1111ette111et Washington, D.C:s Susan Daniels during War111 Springs Reunion Health Fair. Blood pressure checks were just one of theoptions.

Florida's Bonnie Po111eroy and Jndimw's Janet Byerly shared remembrances of the Warm Springs Foundatiou between sessions at Georgia Hall.

Comedim1 jerry Farber of Atlanta provided after-di1111er eutertaiument i11 the Georgia Hall Dining Roomat theco11c/usio11 ofavery full second day.

Together again after 67 years, john Steinhauer, George Moore a11d Jim Stubbs re-staged afa111ous photo that attractedlots of 111edia attention.

Frank Cheathm11 of Savm111al1, Ga., and Jim Carswell of Clwrlottesville, Va. - 60 years later after they were teenage roommates i11 Warm Springs.

6

Two Added To RWS Development Fund Board
The nearby city of LaGrange is well represented on the Roosevelt Warm Springs Development Fund Board of Directors with the March additions ofGeorgia State Senator Dan Lee and LaGrange College President Stuart Gulley.
Recently re-elected fro m the 29th District, Lee earned his law degree from Cwnberland School of Law in Birmingham, Ala., in 1985 and currently serves on six different legislative committees.
Gulley, an ordained Methodist minister and grad uate of Vanderbilt Uni versity in Nashville, Tenn., is the 24th LaGrange College president, having assumed that role in 1996.
Ellison Employee Of Year; "Leadership" To Kendrick
Jo Ann Ellison was named the Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute for Rehabilitation Employee of the Year at the 22nd annual Employee Recognition Luncheon March 21. Afamiliar and friendly
Julie Keudrick, an RWSIR staffer since 1971, accepted tlie 2001 Leadership Award from executive director Frank Ruzycki 011 Employee Recognition Day.
The Spirit of Warm Springs
Editor Martin Harmon
Staff Writer Sybil Dennis
Art Direction Image By Design
The Spirit of Wa rmSprings is published three times a yea r by the Public Relations Department of the Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute for Rehabilitation, Post Office Box 1000,
Warm Springs, Georgia 31830-0268. If you would like this publication in an alternative format, or if you receive a duplicate copy, please contact the Public Relations
Department at the above address or call 706-655-5668.

face as she makes her daily row1ds as mail clerk, Ellison is in her 15th yea r at RWSIR.
Also honored with the 2001 Leadership Award was Julie Kendrick, a patient account officer in the Roosevelt Institute's financial services department. She began work at RWSIR in 1971.
Thirty-eight other RWSIR employees were recognized with extended service awa rds, including Housekeeping's Ida Bell Walton and Central Supply's Doris Rose - 35 years apiece.
RWSIR's Margaret Strand Ms . Wheelchair Georgia
Margaret Strand, an activity therapist in the Recreation Department at the Roosevelt Institute, was recentl y selected Ms. Wheelchair Georgia during pagea nt acti vities in nearby Columbus, Ga.
Anati ve of Ohio and a graduate of the University of Illinois, Strand has lived and worked at RWSIR for over a year and now lists Warm Springs as her "adopted home." For many years, the Ms. Wheelchair Georgia Pagean t was held in Warm Springs before being moved to Columbus in the mid-1990s.
42 College Students Visit During Spring Break
For the sixth straight year, students from different colleges spent their spring brea k at the Roosevelt Institute during the month of March.
Representing New Hampshire Tech in Concord, N.H., Illinois State in Normal, Ill., Florida State in Tallahassee, Fla., and New Hampshire Comimmity College of Nashau, N.H., they assisted the Gr0tmds, Maintenance, Housekeeping and Physical Therapy Departments with various jobs as part of a national program known as Alternati ve Spring Break.
Volunteer of Year To Shirley McDaniel
The Roosevelt Institute held its 12th annual Volunteer Recognition Luncheon on Feb. 7 with 44 volunteers in attendance and 28 recognized for extended service.
Volunteer of the Year honors went to Shiloh's Shirley McDaniel. Also honored as the Roosevelt Institute's volw1teer with the most

time invested fo r the past year was Waverly Hall's Brenda Chapman.
Dallas Wins NBA Wheelchair Tournament
Sponsored by the Na tional Basketball Association, the first NBA Wheelchair Basketball Tournament was held at RWSIR's Center for Therapeutic Recreation, Jan. 13-14.
Representing NBAteams in their respective ci ties and na med accord ingly, four wheelchair teams took part, including the Dallas Mavericks, Charlotte Hornets, San Antonio Spurs and Philadelphia 76ers. The Dallas squad (3-0) was the eventual cham pion with an 85-72 victory over Charlotte in the finals.
Joe Harrell Instrumental In Gates Renovation
Recent passersby on Warm Springs' Roosevelt Highway have noticed the original Georgia Warm Spru1gs Found ati on Gates have been restored. This historic renovation came about through the leadershi p ofJoseph Harrell of Griffin, a stmmch supporter of the Roosevelt Warm Spru1gs Development Fund . It was finished in tin1e for re-dedication ceremonies during April's Warm Springs Reunion.
Griffin's foe Harrell is presented fra med print oforiginal gates by board chair111n11 Bruce Willin111s i11 recog11itio11 of his restorntio11 efforts.
Fishing Rodeo/Support Conference Both Held
Two annual events on the Roosevelt Institute ca lender were recently held the last week of April, as RWSIR's yea rly Fishing Rodeo for kids (ages 3-15) was held at Lake Dream on Saturday, April 28, just two days after the arnrnal Support Staff Conference hosted secretaries, program assistants, administrati ve assistants, accow1ting clerks and technicians from th roughout the area. Almost 300 competitors/participants took part u1 the two events.

7

RWSIR Driver Education Receives Certification By Martin Harmon

Acomprehensive Driver Educa tion Program designed to meet the needs of persons with disabilities ha s been certified and will be offered by the Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute for Rehabilitation. That's the word from Ladeen Howard, director of academic educa tion services at RWSIR's Vocational Rehabilitation Urut.
According to Howard, any student or patient at the Roosevelt Institute who desires to become "more mobile" by operating a vehicle on their own is eligible. The program seeks to ad dress the transportation needs of this segment of the population, a major factor in improving unemployment.
"As of April 17 we are a certified driving cente1/' Howard emphasized. "We have been working towards this for some time and we finally cleared the last hurdle. We have a four-yea r charter with quarterly reviews and with Carol Hammond (formerly with Georgia Highway Patrol) on staff, we will be able to screen, evaluate and instruct, both in the classroom and on the road. It's an example of focusing on programs with potential for future growth."
Georgia's Department of Public Safety has established criteria pertaining to drivers with disabilities and each individual completing the driving phase of the program will be expected to attain the same level of proficiency in driving skills as the general public.
"Our drivers will meet the same requirements as everyone else," Hammond said. "Most of our teaching and testing will be done orally rather than written and they must score at least 75 of a possible 100 points on the Georgia Driving Test. That's the rrtinimum anyone can make."
Hammond, a driving exarrtiner with the GHP for five years, resides in nearby Thomaston. Along with occupational therapist Kathy Corpus, she will manage the program on a day-to-day basis. "Kathy will oversee the program from a medical standpoint and I will do the same from a driving standpoint," Hammond said. "Kathy will handle clirtical evaluations

and I will conduct the classroom instruction, the behind-the-wheel instruction and actually go with them for their driving tests."
In addition, recommendations will be made when appropriate adapti ve equipment is needed or required, and instruction may include the use of adaptive devices. "We can even provide the use of a vehicle when they take their test," Hammond added.
Referrals for the program will be accepted from voca tional rehabilitation counselors, insurance ca rriers and worker's compensa tion firms, public and private service agencies and physicians, as well as self-referra ls.
For additional information, Hammond can be reached at
706 I 655-5073.
Kathy Corpus, nu occupntio11nl therapist, n11d driving exn111il1er Carol Hn111111011d 111n11nge the newly certified RWSIR Driver Educntio11 Program. Meadows Motors of Manchesterwns i11strn111e11tnl in acquiring thenew student driver vehicle.

Power Wheelchair Study Currently Underway By Nathan Henderson,
Student Assistant

Power wheelchairs are one vital tool used by the Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute for Rehabilitation to fulfill its mission of "empowering individuals with disabilities to achieve personal independence."
As a result, the RWSIR Research Department is conducting a study through the end of June entitled "Objectively Defined Individual Characteristics Associated with Successful Power Wheelchair Use." The study is designed to reveal how individual characteristics such as personality, visual acuity, cognition and perception relate to successful power wheelchair use.
Participants in the study are RWSIR students and patients, as well as other individuals from throughout the state of Georgia that operate power wheelchairs with a hand-actuated joystick. Approximately 60 people are being tested in one day and multiple day sessions.
The need for this study comes from the la ck of literature about power wheelchair use. Former RWSIR physical therapist Ross McKiimon began the study five years ago. More recently, a research team composed of occupational therapist Samantha Govender, physical therapists Pima McC01mell and Laurie Stratton, psychologist Victoria Whitehead, behavior specialist Molly Hood, research specialist Evelyn Prather and librarian Mike Shadix assLuned management of the project.

Govender, who hea ds tl1e group, recently stated, "The challenge of working as a team has been a growing experience. It's also afforded opportunities to meet many different and interesting people who use power wheelchairs."
Different characteristics of power wheelci1air users are revealed through five separate tests in the study. There are two cognitive tests, the Non-Verbal Intelligence Test and the Weschler Adult Intelligence Scale; two personality tests, the New Five-Factor Inventory Test and the Motor Free Visual Perception Test; a vision test, the Tilmus 29 Vision Screener; and a driving performance test, the Power Mobility Road Test.
Admiiustered by a psychologist, tl1e cogrutive tests show how participants perceive things. The personality tests, wluch are given by an occupational therapist, iI1dicate the affects of different character traits. The vision test, also admirtistered by occupational therapists, tests the affects of visual perception on power wheelchair users. And the driving performance test, which is under the joint supervision of two physical thera pists and a timer, reveals how obstacles affect power wheelchair use.
According to Govender, power wheelchairs are as diverse as the iI1dividuals that use them and the study should reveal how "individual characteristics" relate to "successful power wheelchair use."

ROOSEVELT

The mission of theRoosevelt Warm Springs Institute for Rehabilitation is to empower individuals with disabilities to achieve personal independence.

WARM SPRINGS

INSTITUTE FOR

REHABILITATION

Roosevelt Warm Spri11gs Developme11t Fuud, luc. Board of Directors

/. Bruce Williams, Jr. Clwirmm1

Stephe11 A. Melto11 Vice Clwirmau

l..eo11ard R. Meadows Chairmau Emeritus

Edgar E. Chapmau, fr. Treas urer

Do111tn R. McNeilly Secretary

Dauiel W. Bri11ks

Rep. Carl Vo11 Epps

The Georgia Division of Rehabi litation Services administers and conducts all programs and activities in accordance with the U.S. Civil Rights Act, which provides that no person shall, on grounds of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability, be excluded from the benefits or be subject to discrimination tmder any program or activity.

David L. Foy, D.D.S. /. Harper Gastou, M.D. F. Stuart Gulley, Ph.D.
Jimmy Hill Charles H. Hood William B. /011es

Accredited by: Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations The Commission on Accredita ti on of Rehabilitation Facilities

D. Gaines Ln11ier /. Smith Ln11ier, II Se11ator Da11iel W. Lee A11drew foe Morrow, D. VM.

fudge fames W. Oxeudi11e

Zebe Y.C. Schmitt

Rep. Jimmy Skipper

8 DHR
Post Office Box 1000 Warm Springs, Georgia 31830-0268
www.rooseve ltre hab.org

Erik Vo11k
Frn11k C. Ruzycki Executive Director
Tripp Pe11u Director of Developme11t

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