The 80’s
1980—SIRS began a Work Study program, serving the students from the Warrick County Special Education Cooperative.
Infant services moved to the preschool setting rather than on a homebound basis.
Plans begun to renovate and expand the Dubois County facility.
1981—Open House ceremonies were held for the Perry/Spencer Adult Training Center. Due to reduction in Federal and State funding, the year was fraught with financial difficulties. Service programs were maintained, but no expansions occurred.
1982—Grant assistance from the State Office of Indiana Rehabilitation Services was obtained and utilized in Dubois County . A task force, composed of local businessmen and the SIRS Director of Development, gathered to explore ways of increasing operations efficiency and reducing dependency on Federal and State funding, and presented findings to the corporation’s Board of Directors.
Dubois County began a Work Study program at their Ferdinand location.
1983—The first Adult Day Activity program began in Huntingburg , Indiana . The Adult Day Activity program soon followed in Warrick County .
Group Home providers arrived in our communities. Although SIRS chose not to offer group home services, it did become an active partner in preparing community leaders for group home development.
SIRS was awarded an establishment grant from the State Office of Indiana Rehabilitation Services for the expansion and renovation of the Dubois County Training Center .
1984—Marked the official 15 th Anniversary of SIRS, Inc.
1987—SIRS purchased additional property in Jasper, Indiana . This facility housed the children’s services and the Adult Day Activity program for Dubois County . SIRS leased a portion of the building to Head Start as a means of integrating children’s services and cross programming. This year SIRS began integrating preschool services as a means of mainstreaming children with and without disabilities. Both community integration and reverse mainstreaming models were used. In January 1987, SIRS initiated a Supported Employment program Called Vocational Integration Placement or VIP in Dubois and Warrick Counties . During this year plans were made for design and funding additional space and renovation of the Warrick County Training Center .
1988—Warrick County Expansion (26,000 square feet industrial building) and expansion of the existing facility in process resulting in 1.2 million investment in the future. Daycare was added and administration remodeled.
