FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT ATC,Inc.

1.

What is the ATC, Inc.’s purpose?

The mission of ATC, Inc. is to provide quality service and support to people with developmental disabilities, enabling them to maximize their personal growth, development, and community involvement.

2.

How many people do we support?

For the past few years, our enrollment has been holding right around 160 people.

3.

Where do the people we support come from?

The agency intends to serve first people with developmental disabilities over the age of 14 residing in Brown County, and the surrounding counties of:  Day, Marshall, Edmunds, Walworth, Potter, Campbell, McPherson, and Spink, as space and facilities allow, people from other catchment areas and from state institutions, if it has been determined that such placement would be more appropriate.

4.

What types of disabilities do we support?

Primarily developmental disabilities, which are defined as disabilities attributed to mental retardation, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, or other neurological impairment designated by the Secretary of Human Services, which originates during the developmental period or originates as a result of injury occurring anytime during the life of an individual, which can be expected to continue indefinitely, which constitutes a substantial handicap, and which requires services similar to those provided to mentally retarded persons.

5.

Where do the people we support live?

Some live in their own apartments or homes, some live in foster homes, some live with their parents, and some live in one of the agency’s residences.  ATC, Inc. currently has 5 certified residences, which support about 50 people.

6.

Do the people we support get paid?

Yes.  People get paid for any work they perform.  Some get paid a piece rate and some people are paid by the hour.  It depends upon the type of job as to how someone is paid.  ATC, Inc. has certificates from the Department of Labor, which allows us to pay people according to their productivity. In all cases, a person’s wages are always based upon at least minimum wage.

7.

How long has ATC, Inc. been open?

Since December of 1960.  On February 26, 1992, ATC, Inc. moved to the present location.

8.

What are the people we support taught?

A person may need to learn how to brush their teeth, care for their clothing, cook, identify coins, balance a checkbook, increase their quality of work, improve their safety habits, get along with people, express their feelings, increase their community mobility skills, increase their participation in the community by joining service organizations, learn to vote, know their rights as a citizen, make purchases or pay bills, etc. - there really is no end as to what a person may need to learn and, thus, there is no end as to what we have to teach the people we support.

9.

How many staff does ATC, Inc. have and what qualifications are required?

Currently we have about 180 full and part-time staff.  Some positions require a specific degree.

10.

How large is our budget?

The current budget (12 months) is approximately $5,000,000.  Production income is approximately $600,000 of that figure.  The rest is primarily income from room and board; training dollars we receive from the state, school lunch program, vocational rehabilitation services, school districts and some donations.  Many of the counties from our catchment area also contribute. 

11.

Does the people we support or their parents pay the agency anything?

Occasionally a person may pay for services, if they are ineligible for any outside funding.  Room and board costs are the responsibility of the people served, their protective payee, or their legal guardian.  Depending on individual circumstances, costs are sometimes subsidized by State/Federal entitlements programs (i.e. Food Stamps, South Dakota Housing Authority).

12.

Who gives us the work?

No one gives the work to us.  We competitively bid the work with the company.  Some of the companies we presently do work for are:  3M, Hub City, Lakewood Mall, Herbergers, Cendant, The City of Aberdeen and the Federal Government.

13.

Do all of the people we support work at the agency:

No.  Many people are provided assistance in finding and keeping a job in the community.  On-site training can be provided by an agency staff person to help ensure the person’s success.

14.

What are the ages of the people we support?

We do not accept anyone below the age of 14.  We do not have an upper age limit.

15.

Do you ever have medical emergencies?

Occasionally, if one does occur, staff are prepared as they are instructed in first aid and are re-certified yearly in CPR.  If the emergency is more serious, our Registered Nurse may be called, or the hospital emergency room would be utilized.

16. 

Who owns the ATC?

Actually you and I as taxpayers own the ATC, Inc.  We are a private, not-for-profit agency with a nine-member volunteer Board of Directors.  We are not a state entity; but because we receive training dollars from the state, we must be in compliance with state regulations.

17. 

Do we accept donations?

Yes, we do.  We receive donations from organizations/service clubs and private individuals.  In fact, for long-range financial security, a foundation was established to enable people to bequeath in their wills money and/or capital assets to the agency.  This was established to assure the agency’s future success.

18. 

ATC, Inc. has a certificate on the wall saying it’s accredited.  What does that mean?

Approximately every two years the Division of Developmental Disabilities or The Council on Quality and Leadership evaluates the Center’s services.  The bottom line, it means the agency provides high quality services.

19.

How are people referred to the ATC, Inc.

Referrals are made by parents, advocates, Vocational Rehabilitation, school districts, other agencies and institutions, church officials, relatives, or just simply by someone who knows a person with developmental disabilities who could benefit from services. To complete an application for admission click on the link below and for more information on admissions contact Arlette Keller  at  607 N. 4th Street, Aberdeen, SD 57401 (605)229-0263 or email her at  arlette@abatc.org.

Application for Admissions

20. 

Do any of the people we support vote?

People with developmental disabilities have the same human and civil rights enjoyed by other citizens.  This not only includes the right to vote, but also the right to marry, have children, own property, manage their financial affairs, etc.