Services, opportunities for valley's disabled population abound

By Brittany Strickland

December 10, 2007 | CACHE COUNTY -- His speech is slow and altered. His left leg is numb and he has to drag it behind him in order to walk. Once a week, he attends a physical therapy session at Mountain West in hopes to improve his mobility. Luckily, Cache County offers many services that make life a little easier for the disabled members of the community. Jake is especially impressed with the transit system in the county. When asked about the availability of transportation, he says, "Oh that part's great! Cache County offers a lot!"

Jake is currently residing with a foster family whom he says is, "Fantastic! They make me feel just like part of the family." Through Rise, employees supervise Jake in his daily activities as well as taking him out to have free time. He enjoys this opportunity and uses the time to scrapbook, go to movies or get errands done. Through the encouragement of volunteer work and employment in Cache County, Jake said he feels very "comfortable."

Statistics from City-Data.com show that there are approximately 8,300 mentally and physically disabled people in Cache County. According to the USU Center for Persons with Disabilities, there are over 50 different corporations willing to help these people. Among corporations offering recovery programs, transportation services, medical attention, education, volunteer opportunities, and financial aid, there are also employment opportunities in Cache County.

Jake said, "the opportunities are everywhere."

Through services such as Options for Independence or through programs such as Deseret Industries or the Cache Employment and Training Center, members with special needs have many opportunities to be employed.

"We have hired a women with disabilities on an hourly basis and have her do miscellaneous tasks such as recycling, document binding, and shredding of documents, " executive committee member and vice president at Utah State University, Shauna Crane, said.

Though improvements are always welcome, many consider Cache County to be well-equipped for their diverse population.

Chrysalis employee Troy Friden said, "I think there are ample opportunities for people with disabilities in this community. I have worked with a few employers who were hesitant to hire or work with people with disabilities, but that has been the exception and not the rule. For the most part, I have been impressed with employers, educators, and health professionals in accommodating people with disabilities."

For those looking for help or opportunities for disabled members, the Center for Persons with Disabilities has many options to choose from. Call Assistant to the Director Sharon Weston at 435-797-1981 for more questions.

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