SEEC: History & Facts
In 1991 there were no services in Lexington for the adolescent and adult with Learning Disabilities*. Hence, a new program was initiated at OWL, Inc. targeted to help adolescents and adults with learning disabilities (LD), attention deficit disorder with or without hyperactivity (ADHD), or any other emotional or neurological disorder. Through the last two decades SEEC’s focus has been to provide each consumer an individualized plan culminating in successful employment or academic training with accommodations. To better accomplish its goals SEEC moved off site to the present West Jefferson Place location in 1998. Since then it has more than doubled in space, staff and community project offerings.
SEEC has provided a variety of services to consumers who are referred by third party payers, the Workforce Development Cabinet (Office of Vocational Rehabilitation), or those consumers who pay privately. These services have included an evaluation of cognitive and performance areas, community based assessments, learning strategy classes, and employment services.
In 1998, SEEC initiated a collaborative effort with the Cabinet for Families and Children to provide assessments for individuals enrolled in the Kentucky Works Program. The assessment screens for indications of mental health, medical disabilities, substance abuse and dependence, domestic violence /violent crime and childhood sexual assault as well as learning and processing disabilities. It indicates a person’s vocational interests and aptitudes for a career taking into account the person’s ability to function. Appropriate referrals for additional community services are made including those for supportive services, training and employment. These assessments have been completed on all individuals in Lexington Kentucky receiving K-TAP since 2001; since that time nine other counties in the Southern Bluegrass and Jefferson County (Louisville) have been added to the counties served by SEEC ‘s contract with the Cabinet. As of this writing, approximately 5,013 assessments have been completed.
SEEC, over the years, has also been responsible for job readiness classes, an employment program, and a program called TIP: Transitioning to Independence Program. All of these programs, financed by the Cabinet for Families and Children for the Kentucky Works Program, are built on the foundation of the assessment in helping individuals on K-TAP work toward self-sufficiency.
Throughout the last two decades success in procuring grants has been a driving force in shaping SEEC’s focus. In 1993 a proposal for a $4,000 grant from JTPA was funded for Integrated Academic/Vocational/Social Assessments performed at Dunbar High School. This grant helped to initiate SEEC’s vocational evaluation to the Fayette County School System. In 2000-2001 SEEC was awarded two grants: (1) The Non-Custodial Initiative for $60,000 through the Community Action Council for which SEEC assessed individuals for indications of disabilities and needed support services and (2) The Construction Project for $40,000 through the Fayette County Urban League for which SEEC assessed individuals with criminal backgrounds for disabilities and needed support services. In 2005 SEEC submitted a proposal to the federal Rehabilitation Services Administration for a Project with Industry (PWI) grant and received funding of approximately one million dollars over three years. This project, entitled Effective Placement in the Community (EPIC), provided evaluations, community based assessments, learning strategy classes and job placement to over 30 individuals a year with neurological disabilities in the 17 counties of the Bluegrass Area Development District. The Department of Special Education & Rehabilitation Counseling in UK College of Education and the Department of Neurology in the UK College of Medicine were partners of SEEC in this endeavor. In 2006 SEEC was notified that its RFP for Safe Havens, a program through theKentucky Housing Corporation, was funded. This involved performing employment assessments on individuals eligible to own homes in the Bluegrass Area Development District.
Over the years SEEC has worked cooperatively with state, federal, local profit, and non-profit agencies and churches in order to deliver services to consumers. SEEC has had over twenty students from the Master’s Program of the UK Department of Special Education and Rehabilitation Counseling perform their practicums and internships in different service areas; some have gone on to become staff members of SEEC. The Epilepsy Foundation of America has held a support group at SEEC the second Tuesday of each month for nearly seven years. Abstracts and peer-reviewed publications detailing work at SEEC have been written by staff members: Abby Anderson, MRC, CRC and Lisbet Pfaffenberger, MRC, CRC, in 2006 and Barbie Slevin, MRC, CRC EdS and Stacie Deck, PhD, MSSW in 2010.
SEEC was selected by the National Rehabilitation Association as the recipient of the 2001 NRA Organization Award. This was in recognition of “..an outstanding record of services and major contributions to the employment of persons with disabilities.” In the coming years SEEC will continue to provide quality services to each consumer who endeavors to reach their potential.
*Slevin BN, Local services available to young adults & adolescents with learning disabilities: a plan for their integration, thesis dissertation, University of Kentucky,1991
