The Life Enrichment Center

Creating Meaningful Inclusive Opportunities

for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities

We envision….
a day when the community
embraces individuals with
intellectual disAbilities for their
commonalities, not their differences.
 Life Enrichment Center (LEC)

• Serves more than 70 individuals with

developmental disabilities.
• Located in Milledgeville, GA, a rural town with a
population of about 19,000 with 25% living below the
poverty level.
• Milledgeville is working to overcome the stigma as home
of one of the nation’s former largest institutions (over
11,000 patients in the 1960s).
 LEC’s Approach to Developing Life
Opportunities

• Twofold Approach
− Group Targeted Opportunities: LEC develops a range of
diverse inclusive opportunities to allow individuals a
choice of pursuits. Given that the majority of persons
served at LEC have had limited opportunities for service,
leisure, and recreation, the initial focus is on providing
varied experiences so that preferences are cultivated.
− Individually Designed Opportunities: As clients develop
skills and express interests, positions and opportunities
tailored to the individual are pursued.
 Partners =Opportunities
• Diverse opportunities are possible through the support of partners in the
community and state.
• Partners provide their services without expectation of financial
reimbursement. However, they do receive benefit from their
collaboration. Cultivating and maintaining partnerships requires effort,
but the benefits far surpass the cost!
Check out this video from 41NBC
 What Do Partners Provide?

• Partners enable LEC to accomplish programsthat would be impossible

without their commitment.
• Partners provide resources, the greatest of which are manpower andtime.
• Partners diversify programs. They provide expertise in areas that would
not financially be feasible otherwise.
• Partners give LEC a different perspective and insight. In the whirlwind of
day to day activities, we may miss possibilities just trying to stay afloat.
Partners are not in the whirlwind and often see opportunities we may
miss.
 Growing Partners

• Partners help you network. Partners often connect you to new

contacts that foster further growth for the program.
• Partnerships are like vines. Several strong branches or partners
provide consistent support and serve as a foundation for programs.
These branches or partners continually grow little shoots,
connecting you to new opportunities. Year to year you may grow or,
at times, lose those shoots. The key is that you nurture and not
neglect the main branches.
 LEC’s Primary Partners
 Georgia College & State University (GCSU)
• Music Therapy
• Art Therapy
• GIVECenter
• Best Buddies
 JMA Anchor Club
 Lockerly Arboretum
 Georgia State Parks
Partnerships Provide Opportunities
Through LEC’s partnerships, individuals are able to
experience opportunities in

• Artistic Expression
• Social Networking & Recreation
• Community Services
• Self Determination
CREATIVE EXPRESSIONS

Creative Expressions is an integrated arts program that is part of the non profit
organization, The Life Enrichment Center, that promotes creativity and self-
expression for artists with developmental disAbilities through the use ofmusic
therapy, nature explorers, visual arts and the performing arts.
The program was implemented with the partnership of the Life EnrichmentCenter
and the Music Therapy Department at Georgia College & State University and has
grown each year to include more partners andopportunities.

We strive to advocate, celebrate and educate the broadercommunity

about our friends with disabilities!
CREATIVE EXPRESSIONS
 CREATIVE EXPRESSIONS IS GUIDED BY THE
FOLLOWING PRINCIPLES:

• Persons with disabilities want to give back to their community.

• Cognitive ability does not dictate creativepotential.
• The arts provide avenues for self-determination andself-
expression.
• College students and persons with disabilities can learnfrom
each other.
• There is a need for public awareness of the talents of persons
with developmental disabilities.
• Artists with disabilities and non-disabilitiescan share
creativity & learn fromeach other.
 Artistic ExpressionPartners
• GCSU Music Therapy Department
• GCSU Art Therapy Department
• GCSU Art Department
• LockerlyArboretum
• Mason Murer Fine Art (Atlanta)
• Civic Woman’s Club of Milledgeville
 How our music therapy groupswork
GCSU Music Therapy Department
Weekly sessions are led by GCSU Music Therapy majors under
supervision of the GCSU Music Therapy faculty and LECstaff. Each
groups creates original numbers to be performed at our annual spring
and fall musicals hosted at Georgia Military College.
We have musical groups that have performed throughout Georgia
for civic groups, conferences, community events, and churches.
GCSU students benefit from the hands-on experiences and
memories that last a life time.
RECIPROCAL RELATIONSHIPS & BENEFITS

The Life
PERFORMERSWITH Enrichment
DISABILITIES: Center

A chance to form
friendships and show off
their talents!

Friends,
Family, BROADER MUSIC THERAPY Georgia
Supporters COMMUNITY: STUDENTS: College
An opportunity to Gain clinical
learn about the talents experience in a
of people with supervised
disAbilities! environment!
 Artistic ExpressionPartners
Performing Groups
• Uses handbells and a special lighting system to produce beautiful church andpopular
music. Group established in 2000.

• Combines flowing hand motions of modified American Sign Language with a wide
selection of pop and sacred music. Began in 2000.

• Uses drums and other percussion instruments in drum circle style to produce a
music experience that is choreographed to blend music and dance. This group has
been performing since 2004.

• The Harmonettes Chorus sing a wide variety of music from traditional to pop. This
group evolved from the Handbell Choir in 2004 when many of themembers
expressed their interest in singing.

• This band began in 2010 as the “Smashing Cucumbers” but later changed their name to
“The Jungle Royales”. With the assistance of “the roadies” made up of 5 GCSU Music
Therapy students. This 10 member band work together playing guitar, bass, drums,
piano, bells and singing to various songs and styles. Since the groups formation they
have performed songs by the Beatles, Chuck Berry and more. “The Jungle Royales” are
currently working on writing their own original songs.
 WHAT OUR PERFORMERS HAVE TO SAY
ABOUT PLAYING MUSIC!
Music sounds good! I love to play my bass! I love to jam! I
love to sing!
− Walter Norman, Jr., bass player

It is fun & I enjoy it! I like listening to different kinds of music!

− Dee Weimer, piano player

Music makes mehappy!

− Jeffrey Carter, guitar player

I love it! It makes me feel relaxed. I LOVE playing the drums!

− Chris Duncan, drummer
 Visual Arts
All artwork is created by our artists in our
one-of-a-kind art studio and gallery. We
work collaboratively with community
members to provide opportunities to
showcase the talents or our artists. Artists
make money while doing something that
they love. Art sales support both the artists
and the program.

Original artworks by our artists include

• photography
• paintings
• drawings
• collages
• Jewelry
• ceramics
• Knitting and crocheting
Check out our booth at DeepRoots!
 Social Networking and Recreation
• Partnerships are sought that provide opportunities for social
interaction and engagement in recreational activities.
Emphasis is placed on integrated activities in community
settings.
• These programs and partnerships often create additional
opportunities for communityservice.
• Some partnerships result in evening andweekend activities.
 Social Networking and Recreation Partners

Lockerly Arboretum & Worley Center

Instruction and activities are led by Lockerly staff and GCSU Academic
Outreach faculty. Activities are provided on Lockerly grounds.
Clients with an interest in nature may participate in activities such as

• Planting and maintaining a vegetable garden.

• Learning plant names and uses.
• Clean up projects and trail maintenance.
• Creating Christmas ornaments from natural materials for display tree
at Lockerly mansion.
 Social Networking and Recreation Partners
GCSU GIVE Center

• Organizes student volunteer organizations.

• Provides opportunities for clients to participate in campus /
community volunteerism.
• No Boundaries Week: disability awareness week on campus.
• Best Buddies: student organization providing one-to-one
friendship matches between students and adults with
developmental disabilities.
• Plans for partnering with other student groups to conduct the
“Spread the Word to end the Word” campaign.
 Social Networking and Recreation Partners
Special Olympics (SOGA)

GCSU Kinesiology Department

Students and faculty support our LEC "Crushers" team by providing the
following support
• Use of GCSU sports facilities
• Host to SOGA Coaches training for students
• Co-sponsor SOGA Bobcat Unified Bocce Invitational
• Student Volunteers for events and unified Bocce Partners

JMA Anchors
• Students volunteer for events and as unified Bocce partners.
• John Milledge Academy provides space for practice games.
 Community Service
• Certain partnerships provide opportunities for clients to
contribute back to the community.
• This service provides extensive occasions for clients
to develop educational, social, and self-advocacy
skills.
 Community Service Partners
Hands On Milledgeville

• Links various agencies together to accomplish community

service.
• Worked with LEC to expand Hands On’s community wide
certified volunteer training (i.e., background check, HIPAA
training) to be inclusive of adults with disabilities.
• Connects LEC to various community needs such as the MLK
Day on Project, "Stuff the Truck" and "Potato Drop".
 Partners Providing Service to LEC

GCSU Mass Communications Department

• Students complete service learning projects that benefit the center.

• Products include a business plan, a marketing plan for arts and crafts
products, press releases, newsletter, brochure, and marketing video.
• Students gain experience applying course content in a real world
setting.
 Partnership Outcomes for Clients
• Development of talents and interests that lead to more
fulfilling pursuits and opportunities.
• Development of self-determination and social skills that
impact other life areas.
• The chance to participate and be viewed as a
contributing member of a community.
• Increased acceptance and integration of
individuals with disabilities across the
community.
 Keys to Success
• Community Connections
− Keep key members of your organization active inthe
community to be aware ofopportunities.
− Place yourself in the position to join discussions and
projects and build a role as a vested partner.
• Partners with Expertise
− Seek those who have unique expertise to address
areas of need.
− Do not disregard skills and expertise that do not match
what you were seeking. Often theunexpected can open
new doors of opportunity.
 Keys to Success

• Partners who Commit

− Be open to all partners, but focus on building
relationships with partners who are willing to commit
for a period of time.This ensures consistency of
services and maintenance of programs.
− Outline responsibilities and time commitments for your
agency and the partner.
− Be open to adjusting for commitments and overtime as
program and partner needs change.
 Keys to Success
• Flexibility
− Working with partners requires flexibility. Program
components supported through partners may be fluid,
changing with resources and needs.
− Taking full advantage of partnership opportunities
requires staff flexibility.
− Compensation for evening and weekend work.
− Training for varied program responsibilities.
− Family of staff joining community events when
appropriate (e.g. Relay for Life); often serves as an
icebreaker and encourages integration.
 Keys to Success
• Volunteer Orientation Program
─ Orientation program reduces volunteer time lost to
paperwork and confidentiality training.
─ Establish with partners who have large numbers of
volunteers.
─ GCSU GIVE Center: Volunteer Orientation Program
 Establishes consistency in volunteer expectations
 Background checks run through public safety
 Weblink provides volunteers with required paperwork
and HIPAA video
 Volunteers enter programs ready for active service