Organization celebrates golden anniversary

“Suddenly we had this child and we were told he might walk and he might not,” Holly Gilstrap said. “We had no idea what his potential was.”

Nor did they know how to deal with it.

When Canaan was three months old, Developmental Center of the Ozarks came to help. “When they walked in the front door of our house, it was like light broke on the horizon,” she said. “Finally, someone who understands. They completely normalized the whole thing. Things were unique to us, but to DCO, they see this stuff every day. It was an incredible comfort to us as parents.”

Canaan is now three years old, and with DCO’s help, his mom reports that he’s “doing really fabulously.” She credits the organization’s First Steps and therapy programs. A therapist from DCO visits the Gilstrap’s home and uses toys, mattresses and equipment already in the home for therapy. “We used to have occupational, speech and physical therapy for Canaan and now we’re just doing play therapy,” Gilstrap said. “I am his physical therapist. Their therapists teach me in my home an hour a week and I do three hours a day with my son. Every toy in my home is a physical therapy prop. They have absolutely empowered us to help our child.”

Sherry Hailey is DCO’s programming director. Hailey, who has a master of science degree in guidance and counseling, said that DCO sees 170 to 200 families like the Gilstraps in any given month.

“We serve families in a 15 to 20 mile range around the center, in Greene, Christian and Webster counties,” she said. “We offer physical, occupational, speech and developmental therapy with licensed teachers or degreed staff. There is also a registered nurse on staff and a psychologist to offer family counseling and support.”

Hailey said the program is designed around the family. The Therapy & Rehabilitation Program at DCO is nationally accredited and approved by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Anyone who has a need and is recommended through a physician or a multidisciplinary team referral qualifies for DCO’s services.

‘Something better’

Developmental Center of the Ozarks was founded in 1954 by a group of four parents who wanted something better for their children, said Hailey.

The original location was in old army barracks provided by Burge Hospital, which is now Cox North. In 1986, the name was changed from United Cerebral Palsy of Southwest Missouri to Developmental Center of the Ozarks to reflect their expanded services.

The center helps everyone from children getting ready for public schools to adults learning to be independent.

“Not long ago, individuals with a developmental disability were segregated from public mainstream opportunities both in education and employment,” said DCO Executive Director Allan McKelvy. “In the early ‘90s DCO began to integrate its programs to include anyone seeking a quality educational experience.”

Financial support

DCO is a private 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit corporation that contracts with various state agencies that purchase their services, McKelvy said.

Some of those agencies include the Department of Mental Health, Division of Social Services and Division of Vocational Services.

“We have a $3.2 million budget. Of that, $2.4 million comes through those contracts,” McKelvy said. Another $800,000 comes through grants and community contributions. Grants provide $329,000, while United Way chips in $124,000 and the community provides $312,000 of the budget. Interest in $18,000 from endowment completes the budget, McKelvy added.

“Revenues have increased due to the participation of the federal government,” he added. “The federal government, through the Medicaid waiver program, pays 60 cents on the dollar and the state pays the other 40 percent.”

As the programs expanded to include all disabilities, DCO added new programs along the way, including early child care and education, therapy and rehabilitation services, adult technology and learning services, adult employment services and an adult day center.

“I’m totally thrilled with the way the community has embraced us and has stepped up to support us,” Hailey said.

Gilstrap agreed. “The people who most appreciate DCO often can’t help because of the expense of having a disabled child,”she said. “So we are most appreciative of the community’s support. It takes people with a heart for children like this to support and finance the programs for people who need DCO but can’t afford it due to all the money that goes to their child’s medical bills.”

Bridging the gap

DCO serves children who need specialized programs and children who do not

“It’s a good thing for the children who do not need the therapies. It helps them understand the whole issue of inclusion and it helps us practice our own philosophy of inclusion,” Hailey said.

Following a survey, DCO expanded its programs to include infants and toddlers.

In 2001, infant child care was added to the early child care and education program, a collaborative agreement with Early Head Start. The program serves disabled children ages 6 weeks to 6 years.

Adult services became a part of DCO’s menu in 1978.

Since that time, the technology and learning center, with a variety of labs and choice of classes has been added, providing specific activities based on the individual, focusing on health and safety, pre-vocational education, functional academics, domestic skills and fine arts.

Community Employment Services assists them in obtaining and maintaining employment with job coaches training and supervising onsite.

DCO’s employment program, which pays participants according to productivity, offers one-to-one job coaching.

There are three Adult Day Centers in Christian, Taney and Greene counties. The centers provide a safe learning environment for those ages 18 and older with a disability or those 55 and older without a disability who are unable to participate in other more active programs.

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