OKEECHOBEE -- David Joyner is on a quest to bring ARC back to Okeechobee so people like his daughter will have some place to go to learn the skills they need to survive in this world. After his daughter, who has some developmental disabilities, graduated from high school, Joyner and his wife Sally began to wonder what would happen now. He and his wife both work all day. Their daughter cannot drive and has nowhere to go and nothing to while they are working.
Although there are resources in Okeechobee to help people with disabilities train for and find jobs, they still need transportation to get to these jobs and/or training.
The ARC is an organization for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. According to their website, their mission is "promoting and protecting the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and actively supporting their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes."
For many years, there was an ARC chapter in Okeechobee, but they closed about 10 years ago. The organization helps in almost all aspects of life for its members. In order to take advantage of these services, the individual must have been diagnosed with the disability prior to age 18.
In order to be eligible for services, an individual must have a developmental disability (as defined in section 393.063(12), Florida Statutes), which occurs prior to age 18 and constitutes a substantial handicap that can reasonably be expected to continue indefinitely. Disabilities which qualify include:
Joyner works for the United States Post Office as a delivery person and uses his spare time to pursue his painting hobby. Researching the ARC and how to bring services to Okeechobee is out of his comfort zone, but his love for his daughter compels him to do it anyway. "I just started by googling "How to start an ARC in my county," he said.
His goal now is to reach as many people in Okeechobee who need the service as possible. "If we can get about 35 people, they say we can probably get a meeting going," said Joyner. He is running into some problems with this, because though many say there is a need, he is not getting the contacts he expected.
Joyner's goal is to have job training, transportation, a rec center and maybe even assisted living some day.
Anyone who has a need in their family or knows someone who does, is urged to call him at 863-532-0702 or look for his posts on Facebook in the Scoup or on his personal page.
"I feel like I'm between a rock and a hard place, because I know the need is here, but the people aren't contacting me so we can meet. I have to have the names to give to the ARC so we can set up a meeting."
