Richardson Center provides support, continuum of care

■ Mission: To enhance the lives of individuals with disabilities and special needs.

■ Services provided: The Elizabeth Richardson Center (ERC) is the most comprehensive provider of disability services in Northwest Arkansas. We provide habilitation, speech therapy, physical therapy and occupational therapy in a preschool setting with a state-approved curriculum for children 6 weeks to 5 years of age with developmental delays or disabilities. We serve adults ages 18 and older with programs including vocational training, supported employment and job placement, life skills training, community involvement, residential options, recreational activities and waiver services.

■ Service area: We operate throughout Northwest Arkansas with centers across the area in Fayetteville, Springdale, Siloam Springs and Huntsville. We offer waiver services across the entire area.

■ Average number of people served annually: 500 to 550.

How is your organization’s mission unique? We are unique because of the people we serve. We are one of the few organizations that provide a continuum of care from birth to end of life. A lot of the time, the disabled community can be forgotten. We are here to not just raise awareness of the disabled community, but to show communities these individuals have some amazing talents and are capable of living full and productive lives as residents of Northwest Arkansas.

Why do you work or volunteer for a nonprofit organization? Do you have a personal connection to the mission? If so, what is it? My personal story, which left me with a disability, refocused my career and changed my perspective on life. Everyone, no matter their circumstances, deserves to be the best they can be. I have worked to help the disabled find the supports they need to live hopeful lives and live as independently as possible.

What part of your job fills the most of your time? Advocacy for my clients, making sure we mobilize the community and other organizations to develop partnerships to provide the supports our clients need to achieve the best quality of life. The other part is consumed with navigating the regulatory environment and making sure our business model is able to carry out our mission and provide a good working environment for our staff.

What have you learned on the job that you didn’t expect? How dedicated our direct care employees are to their jobs, despite the fact that they are underpaid. It’s not about the money. Every one of my employees has a great heart.

What challenges face your organization? Competing for funding in the nonprofit environment is very challenging. The Arkansas regulatory environment and the Department of Human Services are very difficult to work with, often contradicting solid business practices and limiting access to services for our clients.

Are there volunteer opportunities in your organization? What are they? We need administrative support, volunteer coordination, grant writers, help rocking babies, teachers in our life-skill program and help with projects that improve our facilities.

What upcoming fundraisers and other events does your organization have planned? We have our major fundraiser June 16 at the Hilton Garden Inn of Fayetteville. The Beach Bingo Bash is our only annual fundraiser. The event is a fun, casual evening that includes hors d’oeuvres and drinks and 10 exciting games of Bingo for prizes worth more than $100. We also have a great silent auction that has items including signed sports memorabilia, gift baskets and other great items from generous businesses across Northwest Arkansas. Tickets can be purchased online at ercinc.org.

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