GA L)...bc. R4 tPsJel_oDoif/sfd~ If you live in West Central Georgia, Warm Springs is probably less than 45 minutes away, but chances are you don't have to drive even that far to experience outpatient rehabilitation ... Roosevelt Style. Comprehensive treatment with a variety of diagnoses and individualized therapy with the Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute for Rehabilitation is also available in LaGrange (706-845-7002), Newnan (770-252-4799) and Griffin (770-233-9922) . In Warm Springs, call 706-655-5738. Contact any of our Outpatient Clinics for more information about our extensive outpatient services. Examples of services offered and diagnosis treated include, but are not limited to, the following: Sports Rehabilitation Wound Care Foot Care Ligamentous Deficiencies Sprains/Strains Chrondromalacia of Patella Arthritis Spinal Cord Injury Degenerative Joint Disease Patella Femoral Syndrome Sciatica Rotator Cuff Syndrome Joint Instability Dysfunctions of the Spine Child Development Conditions Hemiplegia Pain Syndromes Plantar Facitis Tendonitis Fractures Carpal Tunnel Joint Contractures Cerebral Palsy Amputation Nerve Lesions Muscle Spasm Meniscus Tears Epicondylitis Bursitis Scleraderma Radiculitis Frozen Shoulder Post Office Box 1000 Warm Springs , Georgia 31830-1000 706-655-5000 fax 706-655-5011 www.rooseveltrehab .org News and Notes ........ ........... ..... 2 Staff Guest Column ... ...... ......... 3 Cornerstones ...... ...................... 11 Georgia Hall Society ................ 14 Warm Springs Roll Call ............ 15 Tributes .................................... 16 Program Feature: ReTech & Wheeled Mobility The Nuts & Bolts of Wheelchair Technology ........................... .... .... .. ...4 Individual Success Story: Twin Sisters Stay On Independent Track just People Continues Vocational Rehab ................................ ............6 Cover Story: Roosevelt Driver Education En Route to Transportation Independence ........ ... ... ........ .. ..... ... ... ....... 8 History Story: Institute's Vocational Unit Tums 40 Georgia Rehabilitation Center Opened in 1964 ... ... ..... .. ............ ....... l l "MOST SUCCESSFUL BALL EVER" Speaking on behalf of the Roosevelt Warm Springs Development Fund and the Georgia Hall Society, RWSIR Annual Gifts Manager Dawn Freelin recently announced that the 2004 Georgia Hall Society Ball was "our most successful Ball ever" The 16th annual GHS Ball, held Feb. 28, grossed $178,201 through ticket sales to 350 invited guests, the sale of over 400 donated auction items and the generous suppon of 23 corporate sponsors. After all bills were paid, the net received to benefit programs and services at the Roosevelt Institute was approximately $99,000. Freelin would like to take this opponunity to thank everyone who took pan for making '/\ French Quaner Fanrasy" such a huge success (pictures page 14). ON THE COVER RWSIR Driver Ed Director Kathy Corpus offers encouragement to Vicki Rios. a former brain injury patient and VRU student learning to drive. World Basketball Challenge Slated For TWo Weeks, Beginning June 29 The Roosevelt Institute Recreation Department will host its third Roosevelt World Basketball Challenge, beginning with the women's tournament June 29-July 2 and the men's tournament the following week,July 7-10. The two weeks of exciting international wheelchair basketball will again serve as a prelude to the P-aralympics in Athens, Greece, later this year National teams competing in the women's tournament will include Germany, Mexico, Australia, Canada, Team USA and Japan. In the men's tournament, Germany, Canada, Team USA, Great Britain, Australia and first-tin1e participant Turkey will make up the field. Once again, there will be free admission to all the games at RWSIR's Center for Therapeutic Recreation. International wheelchair basketball returns to the Roosevelt Institute this summer. Production Proceeding On State Marker To Be Located At Foundation Gates State funds for a Georgia State Historic Marker recognizing the Georgia 'Mum Springs fuundation and its contribution to the eradication of polio have been released to the Georgia Historical Society, with production proceeding and the finished marker scheduled to arrive sometime in the next two months. To be located in front of the original fuundation Gates (restored in 2001) on Roosevelt Highway just north of the Roosevelt Institute's main entrance, the marker will be commemorated with a special dedication ceremony June 30. Roosevelt ReTech Mechanic Part Of Wheelchair Mission To Guatemala Gerald Erkhart, a mechanic in the Roosevelt lnstitute's Rel1abilitation Technology Department, was recently part of a mission sponsored by the organization Joni and Friends that delivered wheelchairs to needy individuals in Guatemala. This program of assistance to third world countries is called Wheels For The World. A total of 81 donated wheelchairs, including 15 furnished by the Roosevelt Institute, were provided on an individual, predetermined basis at two places, Santa Elena and Rio Duce. Erkhart was the only mechanic among the group of eight Americans making the trip. "Tu see me look on mose peoples' faces when mey got meir wheelchairs was a real RWSIR's Gerald Emhart was recently part of a group that delivered wheelchairs to disabled persons in Guatemala. blessing for me whole team," he said. "I am really glad Iwas able to go." D[ Laura Payne of Knoxville, Tenn. , a former Roosevelt Institute intern, headed the group mat ilew from Houston to Guatemala City, Feb. 18-25. Joni and Friends will also be hosting a family retreat at the lnstitute's Camp Dream in August. Institute To Host History Channel For Three-Hour Documentary In June The History Channel has announced plans to visit the Roosevelt Institute in June as part of its filming of a iliree-hour documentary on me presidency of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Producers from Team Productions in VVcishington, D.C., were in 'Mum Springs two months ago to map out strategy for what will be the second of a presidential series the cable network is planning. A iliree-hour piece on John F Kennedy has already been completed for me series. Their work at me Institute will focus on FDR's ability to unwind and relax during his 41 visits to 'Mum Springs, many of which were made during his four tem15 in office. Based on Institute recommendations, mey have already interviewed several polio survivors with remembrances of FDR during their childhood years in 'Mum Springs. Sharon Croom Replaces Jan Tolbert As Roosevelt Institute Chaplain Following an extensive search, Rev. Sharon Croom, was recently named chaplain at the Roosevelt Institute, replacing Rev. Jan Stewart Tolbert, who resigned in December to accept the pastor's role at First Presbyterian Church of Carrollton. Croom, who most recently served as senior pastor at both the M. L. Harris United Methodist Church in Columbus and Stephens Chapel in Lumpkin , is a graduate of the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C. She later earned a master's degree at the Duke University School of Divinity in Durham, N.C. , and a doctorate at the Drew University School of Theology in Madison, N.]. Prior to moving to mis area in 2000, she was pastor at the Gastonia (N.C.) United Methodist Church for seven years, in addition to shorter terms as director of the General Board of Discipleship in Nashville, Tenn., a part-time teacher at Bessemer City High School (Ala.), and supervisor of Durham County ( .C.) Mental Health. Staff Guest Coluntn Unique Perspective: Former Student, Now Institute Leader By Danney Yates I'll never forget the day. June 9, 1975 the first time I ever came to this wonderful place, now known as the Roosevelt Institute. I was 18 years old and had just graduated from high school ten days earlie[ With decreasing vision and a failing spirit, I had said goodbye to my classmates, as they went o!J to college, entered military service or rook jobs in our community. As my parents and I drove up the long driveway of what was then the Georgia Rehabilitation Center, l was filled with excitement and curiosity. What was this place? I'd studied the postcards, that were included in my admission packet. There were photos of people in wheelchairs, on crutches, blind persons using canes and, most heartening, smiles on all the faces. My dad and I walked into an impressive building (Georgia Hall) and were greeted waffilly by a receptionist. From that first encounter, it was made apparent that we were welcome. I mer with several people on that first day and recall feeling optimistic and at home. As my parents drove away later that afternoon, I didn't have much time to miss them. Suddenly, I, along with other students, was in a safe place where we all had equal footing. The relief that many of us felt at being able to be ourselves is hard to describe. Suddenly, we were not "different." The staff treated us as normal adults and slowly began to sell us on the notion that we really could accomplish great things. One year later, I left Warm Springs a changed person. I was absolutely amazed at the dedication, patience and empathy of the staff - watching them excitedly lead the students toward their goals, convincing them that they really could enjoy a full life, despite the difficulty of a disability. Nearly 30 years latet; the tradition continues. Now a new generation of Roosevelt Institute Vocational Rehabilitation Unit staff is preparing persons with disabilities to step confidently out into the world and rake their place alongside their fellow citizens. Why do they do it? There are professions that would offer more income, glory or adventure. ln my almost 20 years of work here, I have learned tl1at the rewards are all around us. Many say they were called to tl1is work They laugh, cry and celebrate along with the students whom they serve. They are teachers, coaches, cheerleaders, and, in some cases, a substitute mom or dad. They revel in successful completion of a GED test or the covered drivers license obtained by the student who didn't think he or she could do it. There's the angry young man who wanted to go into military service, bur couldn't get in and is now completing one of the certificate programs with an upcoming job interview. And, there's a huge smile where a scowl had been. Or, what about the grateful father, attempting to tell staff members how he feels while wiping away the tears? There are hundreds of mese snapshots that are made possible by me dedicated men and women who do this noble work In June, the vocational unit will mark its 40th year since opening its doors on June 2, 1964. While the world has changed greatly, our tradition of serving students and building the mind, body and spirit has nor. I will always be proud to be a part of mis tradition. Our Guest Columnist A special member of the Roosevelt Institute Vocational Rehabilitation Unit, Danney Yates first came to RWSIR as a sight impaired vocational student in 1975. He returned as a Braille instructor in 1984. In 1988, he shifted to me counseling department, where he served as a rehabilitation counselor until 2001. Since then, he has served as an employment manager and a valued member of the VRU's leadership ream. He also sirs on the lnstitute's Leadership Council and currently holds the position of head coach of me 2004 Leadership Redwood Class. A graduate of Georgia College in Milledgeville and the University of Georgia, where he obtained his master's degree, Yates can be seen mroughout campus daily with his Seeing Eye Dog, Vrnce, a seven-year-old Labrador retrieve[ He is married to Kathy Yates, also a certified rehab counselor, and they have rwo children, Can1eron and Erica. Bv Martin Harmon Together, Pima McConnell and Charles Carter evaluate, measure and prescribe fo r wheelchair recipients at RWSfR's Seating and Wheeled Mobility Clinic. Mike Shadix pointed out. The old cane and straight-back wooden wheelchairs that went up and down those ramps now serve as cumbersome relics of a bygone era when compared to their lightweight, manual counterparts in 2004. ln fact, museum quality antiques might be a more apt description when they are viewed alongside the technological marvels we now call "power chairs." As current supervisor for ReTech 's Wheeled Mobility Department at the Roosevelt lnstitute, Charles Carter has witnessed the extraordinary development of power wheelchairs since 1970. "[can remember the early six-volt and 12-volt chairs that ran off car batteries, and the upgrade to transistor powered chairs about 1972 and '73," Carter stared recently. "We had to make our own cushion inserts for those chairs, because in those days everything was done by hand ... very little was available commercially." Nowadays, Caner and the rest of RWSIR's ReTech crew have many wheelchair companies to choose from when they consider individual needs and the technology necessary to fulfill those needs. Such things as sip 'n puff systems, proximity switches and printed circuits are daily parts of their wheelchair lexicon and preliminary issues to be addressed include such things as a patient's range of motion, sensation and trunk stability. ln addressing critical measurements such as seat width, seat depth , back and seat to fioor height, back angle and power access, first-time wheelchair patients visit rhe lnstitute's Seating and Wheeled Mobility Clinic. Working closely with Caner, Pima McConnell, (PI, ATP) heads up the clinic and is generally a patient 's first contact in the wheelchair evaluation process. ln addition to measurements, examples of questions she deals with include what the patient wants and can safely use; what funding source will be used; what kind of leg rests, color or other optional features the patient desires ; and whether a manual or power chair is appropriate. lt's the logo that wasn't used - the one that might have sparked controversy. Three years ago when logos were being considered as potential symbols for the Roosevelt Wann Springs lnstitute for Rehabilitation's 75th Anniversary Celebration, the first one off the drawing board was a stylized person in a wheelchair with the look of the number 75 (see graphic). While offering a certain unique appeal, it was eventually discarded in favor of the more classic front portico of Georgia Hall. No argument there. The front of Georgia Hall is a very recognizable landmark. But while the first major building on campus seems a natural symbol, there's no disputing that wheelchairs and people in wheelchairs were a part of the Warm Springs landscape even before Georgia Hall was conceived. "We have accounts of wheelchair ramps being constructed for the old Meriwether Inn when Roosevelt (FD,R) first purchased the property in 1926," Roosevelt Institute Librarian Vlh eelchairs have come a long way as illustra ted by this modem power chair alongside a 1940s manual model. Ju 1 I ST11 PEO, PLE Inc Fon11erly exemplmy RWSIR vocational stude11ts, Kristen and Kieran Brown are now.firtl1ering their independence as participants in just People, Inc. By Martin Harmon Kieran and Kristen Brown are living the dream of independence they first experienced at the Roosevelt Winn Springs lnstitute for Rehabilitation. Idemical twins from Roswell who graduated from the lnstitute's Vocational Rehabilitation Unit during the summer of 2001, they are now part of a gro~ving program known as Just People on the north side of Metropolitan Atlanta. Established to offer managed residential and job opportunities to persons with disabilities,Just People has been perfect for the 22-year-old sisters, providing them with controlled accommodations, regularly scheduled rransponation, job possibilities and a constant calendar of activities. Started in November 1995, the program now serves 130. Currently housed along with otherJust People clients at Hawthorne Gates Apartments in Dunwoody, the Brown sisters will soon be moving to a brand new, Just People-only, apartment complex near downtown Roswell. "If it wasn't for Just People, l don't know what l would be doing, " Kieran acknowledged. "We have a lot of friends here and activities. They take us to work and the grocery We're real happy and we're independent,just like at Roosevelt lnstitute." This natural progression for tl1ese ve1y personable, though learning-disabled, young women came after six months in 'Ml.rm Springs. Their mother, Renay Dixon, an as.sistant principal at State Bridge Elementary School in Alpharetta, Twins Kristen and Kieran Brown are joined byfellow VRU alum Elizabeth Starr in the kitchen of their Atlanta apartment. They arejust three ofseveralJanner RWSIR sl"tdents now in just People. checked into Just People in January 2003, just as she previously checked into the Institute, and in both cases, the results have been gratifying. "It has been an1azing - we have been blessed." Dixon stated recently. "[ was very pleased with 'Mlrn1 Springs and the experience they gained down there, learning how to be away from home and take care of themselves. Then I heard about this program through bits and pieces and checked into it through the friend of a friend, and it's worked out great for them. As a single parent, it's frightening to think of what's going to happen to them if something happens to you, but born the Roosevelt Institute and Just People have helped them become more independent and helped me sleep a lot bette[" Becky Dowling is the director ofjust People. In addition to the Browns, a recent survey of her program revealed mat several others have come through the Institute's Vocational Rehabilitation Unit, including Sugar Hill's Elizabeth Starr. "Our concept is to provide this population with the most independent setting possible," Dowling said. "We help them with socialization, independent living and job development in a safer environment than might otherwise be possible. Most of our residents come from the Atlanta area, but we have had some from other states, including Florida, North Carolina, Alabama and even Iowa." "!have been real happy here," Starr added during a brief stop at the Brown's apartment. "! would like to encourage other Roosevelt graduates to tryJust People." like Stan; the twilli have notl1ing but fond memories of the peopL they worked with at the Roosevelt Institute, including vocational coordinator George Zachry and rehabilitation counselor Daniel Thomas. Kieran, who considers herself more of the spokesperson of the two, commented that they "just loved Mr. George to death" and her mother added, "the rappon they developed with Daniel Thomas alleviated any of the reluctance I had about them going to Wirrn Springs. " Thomas was just as complimentary in his assessment of the Brown sisters, saying, "They were very cooperative and just as sweet as they could be. Ms. (Geraldine) Howard, who they worked with in our Housekeeping Depanment, never had anything but good things to say about their work ethic and they always rated a five (tl1e highest) in the way they kept their room. They were ideal students. " Zachry echoed those sentiments when he said, 'They both had motivation and overcame any shoncomings ilirough sheer effon and will power. They took our program very seriously while they were here and it showed." In addition to Housekeeping, the twins spent time working at the Institute's medical unit and the Center for Therapeutic Recreation as pan of their participation in the Worksite Pannership Program. They also spent much of their free time at the CTR, where they took advantage of the many athletic and entenainment opponunities available to students at the $11. 2 million recreational facility. That's another reason they have enjoyed Just People so much, where their opponunities for continued activities have included such things as bowling trips every two weeks, a ski trip to Boone, N.C., and an annual Caribbean cruise. Both have jobs at I]. Maxx department stores, witl1 Kristen, the older of the two by just four minutes, working in Marietta and Kieran near Perimeter Mall. Kristen's work schedule includes Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 11-2, while Kieran also works three days a week, but with a schedule that changes week to week Both also enjoy cooking and listed such things as hamburger helper, pizza, lasagna, spaghetti, baked chicken, and pancakes as examples of meals they have learned to prepare on a regular basis. While Kieran lists music, reading and "talking on the phone" as things she enjoys most, Kristen loves to bowl, swin1 and read, as well as . . . "talking on the phone." "They really are my miracle babies," Dixon emphasized rather emotionally while relating their premature binhs had left them in the neo-nadel unit for five months in 1982. "Where one is weak, the other is strong and together they are building independence in a way that gives me a lot of hope for their future. They still need monitoring andJust People does that, but they are doing okay and enjoying each and every day " Roosevelt Institute Staffers Making A Difference -Daniel Thomas & George Zachry A U.S. Army veteran (1970-78) and graduate of rroy State University (Troy; Ala.), where he received both a bachelor of science (1983) and master's degree in counseling and human development (1993), Daniel Thomas is in his third year at the Roosevelt Instirute. Prior to becoming a very respected rehabilitation counselor in RWSIR's Vocational Rehabilitation Unit, he spent 15 years with the Georgia Department of]uvenilejustice, serving as a mental health counselor, detention center counselor, court service worker and RYDC director. He is also a certified American Red Cross instructor George Zachry began work at the Roosevelt Instirute's Vocational Rehabilitation Unit as Top: Daniel Thomas Left: George Zachry a dormitory advisor in 1995. A graduate of LaGrange College (B.A. in an), he obtained a master's degree in community counseling from Columbus State University in 1997 after many years of retail business experience, beginning with his grandfather's grocery store and farm supply business. Now a very valued vocational coordinator, he has also worked as a job coach with MH/MR/SA and as an activity aide for the elderly \vith a day rrearrnent program. I ..~ . f ~ .., ;..: " By Martin Harmon Other than basic living skills, probably nothing ensures independence among persons with disabilities more than the ability to rranspon themselves independently of others. lmagine the lifeenhancing difference being able to drive makes for someone confined to a wheelchair or just the opportunity of learning how to drive to someone with a learning disability. Getting around, going from place to place, however you describe it ... it's something most adults take for granted in our auto-dominated society. As a result, the inability to transpon oneself has ramifications that can last a lifetime and seriously limit an individual's potential for development. This is the dilemma being addressed by the Roosevelt Winn Springs lnstitute for Rehabilitation's certified Driver Education Program. ln keeping with the lnstitute's stated mission of "empowering individuals with disabilities to achieve personal independence," inpatients, outpatients and vocational rehab students are being evaluated, instructed and enabled to drive at a point in their lives when doing so might have been considered impossible just a few years before. Kathy Corpus, an occupational therapist by trade and one of only 305 certified driving rehabilitation specialists in the United States and Canada, heads up the Roosevelt lnstitute Driver Education Program, which also includes two cenified driving instructors. controls, electronic controls, and floor insens allowing specific floor depths for wheelchair drivers, as well as variable effon steering and a removable transfer seat. "We decided the mini-van would accommodate everyone and be less intimidating than a larger van. lt should be a great evaluation and teaching vehicle for people with more involved injuries and those dependent on mobility devices," Corpus said. As for the program itself, it srans with a physician's referral. Outpatients (or even inpatients) who have already had a driver's license are evaluated and instructed in the use of adaptive equipment. Vocational students who have not had a license must undergo 30 hours of classroom and six hours of actual road instruction towards a Georgia Driver Education Certificate, followed by funher instruction as needed. "Once a person has been screened and evaluated, 1 actually issue a prescription and the instructors teach based on that information," Corpus said. 'The insm1ctors can teach it, but they can't prescribe it." In fiscal year 2001-02, 29 outpatients and six inpatients participated in the program along with 122 vocational students. In 2002-03, 21 outpatients and one inpatient were involved along with 118 vocational students. Those numbers could change, howevei; as more focus is put on increasing outpatient (or inpatient) Unit and the positive impact driver education can have in our students' lives." One of those students was Samantha Hickey of Carrollton (Ga.), who attended tl1e VRU due to a learning disability from June 2003 to January 2004. Since leaving the lnstituce three months ago, she has been working at the Golden Corral restaurant in ewnan and readily admitted, "The only reason 1got this job is because l could drive myse[ " When contacted about her Driver Education experience at the Roosevelt lnstinne, Hickey stressed, "It really helped me. It helped me become more independent. I can keep ajob and get to doctor appointments (new baby on the way), and it's all because of my driver education." The outpatient driver education experience of Roben Cook of Columbus has been no less successful. A quadriplegic as the result of a gunshot caused spinal cord injury, Cook was an inpatient at the lnstitute from ovember 1999 until March 2000. In June of that same year, using the independent living skills he had learned during his occupational therapy at the lnstitute, Cook moved into his own apartment and in early 2002, he returned to 'Mmn Springs as an outpatient to reclaim his transponation independence. He now drives a Volvo, adapted to suit his individual driving needs, and often returns to the lnstitute to "give back" by encouraging other patients facing similar, life-altering issues. While making one of those visits recently, he A three-year grant of almost $300,000 from The Goizueta Foundation of Atlanta greatly expanded the program beginning in January 2003. Because of the grant, a 2003 Crown Victoria insm1ction sedan was purchased last year to go 1vith the existing 2000 Ford Taurus, and this year a brand new, state-of-the-an Chevrolet Venture Amerivan with a 12-inch lowered floor was purchased through and equipped by Handicapped Driver Services of Marietta (Ga.). The new mini-van is equipped with a full compliment of manual hand participation in the program, helping to ensure broader based funding. "We need to shift the focus somewhat," Corpus admicted. "As the program continues to develop, we need to serve the needs of a larger population of outpatients, which in tum would help make grants like the one from Goizueta an ongoing possibility because of our expanding outreach. That's where we are headed, but at the same time we must never lose the connection we have established with the Vocational Rehabilitation recalled, "It had been about two and a half years since I had driven, but I wanted to be able to drive myself, so I went for it. My disability had created a lot of limitations, but I knew the ability to drive would make things easier, especially after being used to being independent. I'm still progressing and getting stronger, but at least I can now drive anywhere 1need to go." Yet another driver education success story is that of Carol Pierzcl1ajlo, of Tifton (Ga.). Pierzchajlo was born with spina bifida, and accordiing to her Top Left: At the VRU, Kathy Cmpus, director of Roosevelt Institute Driver Education, works with vocational stt1dents during the evaluation process. Bottom Left: Robert Cook uses what.he leamed in RWSIR priver Education as well as hand controls in his Volvo to get around Colwnbt's despite the limitations of a spinal cord injwy Bottom Middle: The high-tech nature and advantages of Roosevelt lnstitute's new evaluation and teaching mini-van are obvious. Bottom Right: Samatha Hicl1)1 of Newnan, afo n11ervocational student at the Roosevelt lnstilllle, got her cum;nt job as a direct result ofdriver edt1cation and the ability to transport herself fathe~ Dr. Richard Pierzchajlo, very dependent before learning to drive. "She had always been very angry and showed her anger in lots of ways, including putting o!I things constantly," he said. 'After taking Driver Education at che Institute, her whole attitude got better Her self-esteem really improved and she started to accept more responsibility for doing things on her own." Pierzchajlo, 22, has since gone to technical school (Moultrie Tech) and earned a secretarial position in che local juvenile Court Office. She also is much more active socially and does extensive volunteer work for her church. These individual success stories and many others like chem are on che increase in the RWSIRDriver Education Program. "It makes you feel good to know we are making a difference in peoples' lives," Corpus said. "Independence is a precious thing and something that should never be taken for granted, and in our world, che ability to drive is often essential to being independent. We are making it possible for people with disabilities to achieve or regain this key component of their independence." Jared White is oneoftwo driving instnictors at the Roosevelt Institute. We're proud to be the food and nutritional services partner for Roosevelt Warm Springs. 800.541 .3805 I valleyservicesi.com Development Fund Welcomes Seven New Trustees By Martin Harmon The Roosevelt Winn Springs Development Fund, the long-range planning, fundraising and advocacy arm of the Roosevelt 'Mltm Springs Institute for Rehabilitation, recently added seven new members to its Board of Trustees. Joining the Trustees at the end of 2003 were Edwinjohnston of Newnan, Dr James McGowan of LaGrange and Gwendolyn Dykes of Duluth, and this past March they were joined by judge Dixon Belk of Dalton, judge Frankjordan ofTalbotton,Judge Douglas Pullen of Columbus and Paula Dougherty of Peachtree City. Their additions bring the total number ofRWSDF board members to 25. Johnston is president and owner of E. L. Johnston Auto Parts in College F'ark, the oldest family-owned parts business in Georgia (1926). A native of Coweta County, he is also the founding trustee of the Heritage School in Newnan and served as a director of the Bank of Coweta for 15 years and as chainnan of the Board of Trustees for Humana Hospital in Newnan for four years. He and his wife of 52 years, Bettyjean, have three children and seven grandchildren. McGowan, a Buffalo native and graduate of the State University of ew York and the Loyola University Saitch School of Medicine in Maywood, ill., has specialized in Internal Medicine at the LaGrange Clark-Holder Clinic since 1989. Prior to that he did his internship and residency at Emory University Hospitals in Atlanta, as well as working for the Southeast Petmanente Medical Group for two years. He serves as president of the Clark-Holder Clinic Board of Directors and is married to Diane McGowan, MD, FACS, a member of the American College of Surgeons. Dykes, who served as director of Gwinnett County Social Services from October 1990 until March 1997, also spent 17 years in the Georgia Department of Human Resources Division of Family and Children Services, including 12 at the upper management level. She is a graduate of Georgia Southwestern University and the University of Georgia's Certified Public Manager's Program, and is currently involved in private practice, providing alternative dispute resolution services and consultation. A native of Habersham County, she is married to Jim Dykes of Dykes Paving & Construction in Norcross. Belk, a Columbus native and graduate of Mercer University in Macon (both undergraduate and law degrees), is a fotmer city attorney for the nearby town of Manchester, where he served as president of the chamber of commerce and Manchester Planning Commission, as well as county attorney for all Meriwether County. He was appointed an adrninisrrative law judge in 1985 and has since served in that capacity in North Georgia. Appointed division director/chief adrninisrrative law judge in 1996, he and his wife Beverly now reside in Dalton. Jordan presides over the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit based in Columbus as superior coun judge. Also a graduate of Mercer (both undergraduate and law degrees) , he was born in Butler and opened his law career with his own practice in Talbotton in 1973. Since then, he also served as municipal coun judge for Talbotton (1980-1990), where he and his wife F'arnela still reside, and Buena VISta (1990-2000). Dougherty, a Georgia Hall Society member since 2000, is a graduate of RollirIS College in Winter Park, Fla., as well as a member at large of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Huguenot Society of South Carolina. Now retired, she and her husband Daniel call Peachtree City home. Like Belk and Jordan, Pullen is a Mercer graduate, where he obtained his law degree in 1970. A native of West Point, Ga., who now resides with his 1vife, Paaicia, in Columbus, he's been a superior coun judge for the Chattahoochee judicial Circuit since 1995, having risen from previous roles as assistant disaict attorney for Muscogee County (1972-78) to chief assistant disaict attorney (1978-88) and disaict attorney (1989-95). (His photo was not available). "This is a building year for our Board of Trustees and these additions give us an excellent stan," Roosevelt lnstitute Executive Director Frank Ruzycki said. "We are looking for outstanding individuals from our region who are interested in serving the rehabilitation needs of Georgia and being a part of the wonderful legacy of this place." By Mike Shadix Nathan Nolan speaks during dedication services fo r the GRC on Nov. 22, 1965. No lan served as director of the GRC until 1972 when he became director of the Georgia Division of Rehabilitation Services. After leaving state government, Nolan worked as a consultant to Max Cleland, then director of the Veteran's Administration. Forty years ago this summer, the Roosevelt Warm Springs lnstirure for Rehabilication Vocational Unir opened irs doors as rhe Georgia Rehabilication Cemer. Planning for the new cemer, however, began long before ir opened onjune 2, 1964. Ir can be said thar the hisrory of the vocational unir really began in 1955 when the National Foundation for lnfamile Paralysis announced rhar the Salk Vaccine was safe and effective in preventing the disease of polio. RWSlR sraff rejoiced with the entire nation abour this hisroric evem, bur also realized thar a difficulr time of change lay ahead [or the organization. Warm Springs would need a new vision ro survive. That new vision was ro expand the lnstiture and offer services ro people with disabilities other than polio. While the lnstiture was facing the loss o[ polio patienrs, the Georgia Division of Vocational Rehabilitation was evaluating irs facilities and realizing rhe scare did not have a multi-disability facility thar mer rhe United Stares Public Health Departmem definition o[ a "suitable" facility. Consequently, the division was sending irs most physically disabled clienrs ro facilities in other scares. Warm Springs had the expertise the scate needed, but the polio epidemic kept the lnstitute full. By the early 1960s, however, the Salk Vaccine was drastically cutting the number of polio cases in the United Scates and around the world. As the Institute began treating more and more clienrs of the Georgia Division of Vocational Rehabilication, the two organizations got ro know each other rather well. Gradually, the dream of a comprehensive medical and vocational rehabilitation center for people with all disabilities rook shape. The lnstitute's Dr. Robert L Bennett and A.P Jarrell, direcror of the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, were key per.sonalities in the planning and construction of the Georgia Rehabilitation Center. Both men were ar the apex of their careers at the time and enjoyed national reputations in their fields. Having joined the lnstirure scaff in 1941, Bennett held the positions of medical direcror and executive direeror during the year.s thar the Georgia Rehabilitation Center was planned and consmtcred. From 1959 ro 1962, Bennett was an active member of the National Advisory Council of the Federal Office o[ Vocational Rehabiliration during the renure of Direcror Mary Swirzer. Therefore, he was well aware of the issues and trends in vocational rehabilication at the time. Jarrell became direcror of the Georgia Division of Vocational Rehabilication in 1955, a position he would hold until his death in 1967 ar the age of 50. During his time as direcror, Georgia ranked high among the stares in the number of clienrs rerurning ro work. In the same year thar the Georgia Rehabilication Cemer opened.Jarrell began a year of service as president of the National Rehabilication Association. ln 1960, the lnstiture received a gram from the federal Office of Vocational Rehabiliration, bringing rogether rehabilication officials from throughout the Southeasr ro discuss whar was needed in a comprehensive rehabilication center. The officials mer in Warm Springs on several occasions ro examine rhe program here and make recommendations. Bennerr wrore the final report thar concluded there was significant interest in a comprehensive center, but that Warm Springs lacked some of the skills and expertise needed ro create such a cemer on irs own. Bennett pledged the support of the lnstirure coward the creation of such a cemer and expressed the conviction that Watm Springs could provide significam assisrance for the work adjustmem and vocational training thar the scare programs required. Although documenrs in the Roosevelt Institute Archives do nor give a complete picture of who did whar and when in the planning and construction phases of the Georgia Rehabilication Cemer, it is clear that Georgia vocational rehabilication officials agreed with the above conclusion and acted quickly ro make the comprehensive center ar Warm Springs a reality. ln 1961 , the Georgia Division o[Vocational Rehabilitation applied for and received a multiyear gram ro plan the comprehensive cemer and hired Nathan Nolan ro be rhe project coordinaror Glenda Myers of LaGrange (right) looks over a GRC brochure with her rehabilitation counselor Bill Tomlin (center) and her parents. Myers and Linda Meeks ofVidalia were thefirst two students to register at the Georgia Rehabilitation Center when it opened onJune2, 1964. and administrator of the new center. In that same year, the Georgia State Board of Education set aside $500,000 to march $755,000 in Federal Hill-Bunon funds for the constntction of the ccmer at 'Mlrm Springs. The Hill-Bunon Act, also knmm as the Hospital Survey and Construction Act of 19-16, enabled the construction of hundreds of healthcare and rehabilitation facilities across the county, mainly in rural and underserved areas. The United States Oepanment of Health, Education and Welfare approved the money for Warm Sptings in April 1962. The GRC would be built on land donated to the state by the Institute, at that time a private organization knmm as the Georgia Warm Springs Foundation. Groundbreaking ceremonies for the new center were held on Oct. 8, 1962. In his remarks that day,Jarrell thanked everyone who had helped make the center a reality and promised that the GRC would provide state of the an services for people with disabilities. "This dream, " he said , "could not have become a reality without the full support of our great governor, Governor Vandiver, members of the General Assembly, members of the Stare Board of Education, Dr. Claude Purcell, state school superintendent, those responsible for directing the Warm Springs Foundation, Or. John H. Venable, the administrators of the Federal Hill-Burton Program and personnel of the !Cgional and federal offices of vocational rehabilitation ." "We pledge to you," he continued, "that the Georgia Rehabilitation Center will be second to none in this great country of ours and shall offer professional services of the highest standards in keeping with the fine traditions of the Georgia Wann Springs Foundation." Institute Medical Administrator George Beckmann also spoke at the dedication. "Today, you will witness a unique event, ...the symbolic beginning of a cooperative cffon of two agencies, one public and one private. There are other rehabilitation centers and facilities," he said. "We believe, however, that in January 1964 (he missed it by a few months) , Georgia will offer to the handicapped a coordinated program by our two agencies of medical, social-psrchological and vocational smices without equal." "We know none of this has come easy," he continued. "Or. Jarrell and Dr. Bennett have talked of such a plan and program many times in the past ten years. Only by dedication or purpose and untiring effons could this day dawn." Fonnal dedication services for the GRC were held on Nov. 22, 1965. The program included Georgia's new governor, Carl Sanders; Congressman Howard H. "Bo" Callaway;James S. Peters, chairman of the state board of education and Claude Purcell, superinrcndent of the Georgia Department of Education. Portraits of A. P. Jarrell,James S. Peters and Nathan Nolan hang in the Administration Building conference room . A pomait of Dr. Bennett hangs in North Wing. Thousands of clients have received assistance in their vocational pursuits here since I964. While much has changed, the basic mission of the vocational unit has remained the same: the provision of vocational services to people \\ith disabilities. Bottom Photo: Georgia Gol'crnor Ernest Vandiver 11101es the first slwrd of dirt for the Georgia Rchahil11alion Ccntei: Th e new, stale of th.: art crnlcr IVitJn t;j the 'B()5e1Jdt 71/tWn 5(?~ SnJi:iiui;e jt;'P '!ZehabditaWn iJ- mempt;w&i.- individudJ- with di-sabditieJm~ef?&i.-WflAi~~- If you would like an acknowledgement card mailed, please fill out the information below This gift is 0 a memorial or 0 in honor of NAME - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - Please mail acknowledgment to: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - ADDRESS - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - -- - - - - - - - - CITY STATE --------~ - - - - - - - ZIP - - - - - - -- Thank youfor supporting the Roosevelt In stitute.