Sources For Community Independent Living Srvcs

Life Styles is an organization that supports individuals with disabilities to achieve their potential as contributing members of the community. Its services include a transitional apartment living program, community support and employment services, case management, college for living and transition school-to-work program. Its apartment living program provides a structured and supportive living environment for individuals with disabilities while they learn those important daily living skills they need to live successfully and independently. The program offers intensive training in various areas, such as meal planning and preparation, budgeting, apartment maintenance, personal hygiene, health and safety, decision making and getting along with others. Its community support services include ongoing support to individuals with developmental disabilities and the services are provided in their own homes and customized to meet each individual s needs.

Elizabeth Richardson Center, also known as ERC, administers early intervention and infant center-based programs for children up to the age of 5. The center offers speech, physical and occupational therapies. It serves individuals with mental retardation, cerebral palsy, autism and developmental delays. Elizabeth Richardson Center works in collaboration with several local high schools. It provides life training, job placement, contract work and residential services. The center also conducts adult development programs, as well as offers transportation services. Elizabeth Richardson Center organizes various recreational and entertainment activities, such as dance, softball, bowling, basketball and swimming. It operates the Fayetteville Child Development Center, which serves more than 75 children.

Northwest Arkansas SCORE, Chapter 511 provides free and confidential small business counseling and mentoring services on a broad spectrum of business topics for existing or start-up businesses and entrepreneurs. SCORE Counselors are volunteers coming from various areas of the business community. SCORE Counselors provide free and confidential assistance to entrepreneurs and business owners in Northwest Arkansas cities of Bella Vista, Bentonville, Fayetteville, Ft Smith, Harrison, Rogers, Springdale and cities in the counties of Baxter, Benton, Boone, Carroll, Madison, Marion, Newton, Searcy and Washington, Arkansas. Each volunteer strives not only to assist small business development but also to serve as mentors to their clients as the businesses progress. In addition to our services to local small business, we endeavor to cultivate future entrepreneurs and offer our services as contest judges, speaker and consultants. We are active in our area's Chambers of Commerce and assist the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville when possible. The latter includes mentoring and coaching graduate students for Business Plan Competition and providing leadership and direction to the SAKE program (Students Acquiring Knowledge through Enterprise). We have been nationally honored as SCORE District Chapter of the year on many occasions for our work in Northwest Arkansas with business owners, entrepreneurs and business and civic leaders in the area. We are one of 24 District Chapters recognized out of 400 Chapters of the National SCORE Organization ! We are a resource partner of Small Business Administration and the Arkansas Small Business Development Center at the University of Arkansas. About SCORE SOCRE, Counselors to America's Small Business is a 501 (C) organization. Less than half of our expenses are funded through Small Business Administration of the US Government. The balance are funded locally through workshops and donations.