LOCAL WOMAN'S SUCCESS TO BE RECOGNIZED SUNDAY BY LT. GOVERNOR AT MUSATATUCK CEREMONY.

June 3, 2005 - Tell City, IN. – On Sunday, Lt. Governor Becky Skillman will be speaking at the closing ceremony of the Muscatatuck State Development Center and she will feature the success story of Wanda Carpenter, a resident of the Tell City area.

Back in January 2000, Governor O’Bannon began a new initiative to target careful and planned transitioning of the clients of Muscatatuck who had received long-term treatment into the community. O’Bannon was convinced that the state’s efforts could make community-based services available to people with disabilities whenever possible, and the state could improve the overall quality of services offered to those served.

After careful discussion with family, a decision was made three years ago to transition Wanda Carpenter, a woman who had been a resident of Muscatatuck for over thirty years, into an apartment in Tell City. With the assistance of Southern Indiana Resource Solutions, Inc (SIRS), Wanda was assigned a home manager and twenty-four hour/seven day a week care in her own apartment began. Wanda’s home manager, Carolyn Braun had this to say, “It was a bumpy road in the beginning but Wanda had lots of input into the selection of her care providers and she began to settle into her new surroundings.” It was due to the dedication of her home manager and the SIRS’s staff that Wanda’s transition became such a success according to Kelly Mitchell, CEO of SIRS. Carolyn was very dedicated and worked extremely hard to ensure that all Wanda’s needs were met. This proved the Governor’s theory that persons with disabilities could live in their own communities.

With the approaching closing of the Muscatatuck facility, Lt. Governor Becky Skillman’s office contacted Carolyn to receive permission to speak about Wanda and her success at the closing ceremony. She will be the only individual that will be featured during the ceremony. This was such a great surprise and honor for Wanda. Carolyn will be escorting Wanda to the ceremony on Sunday. The closing of the facility completes one of the missions of the State’s new administration.

SIRS has been in existence since 1968 serving children and adults with disabilities. SIRS mission statement speaks for itself, “We partner in our communities to enrich the quality of life of persons with disabilities. We advocate, plan, support, and model full inclusion and self-determination.” SIRS has a vision for the future that “every person we serve will have the opportunity for community employment, recreation, and living.” SIRS main office is located in Boonville, and any additional information can be requested from Kelly Mitchell, CEO at (812) 897-4840.