BH Services begins new contractOn May 11, BH Services began providing services to the Base Information and Transfer Center at Ellsworth Air Force Base near Rapid City, South Dakota. The center handles the business mail for the base. Five people, including three people served and two staff, are now responsible for picking up, sorting and delivering mail from the Box Elder Post Office, as well as preparing outgoing mail and taking it to the post office. Director of Federal Contracts Larry Meendering says things are going great so far. "We have had the opportunity to work with the military for several months during the transition. Our employees love it. They're always moving." Larry says BH Services was especially fortunate in the employees they were able to hire. Contract Manager Joe Sabrowski, recently retired from the military where he actually ran the Base Information and Transfer Center so he has been a great help in getting our contract up and running. Supervisor Bob Birnie was hired from within the agency so has experience supporting people with disabilities.
The new contract had stringent requirements, not only for staff, but for the people supported who were hired on. They all had to have government driver's licenses and security clearances. They needed reading skills and the ability to lift and carry 70 pounds.
For the first time, BH Services is subcontracting with the ARC of Virginia Peninsula which has nine similar sites around the country. Like our other contracts at Ellsworth Air Force Base and Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha, these contracts are provided under the AbilityOne Program which make it possible for people with severe disabilities to be employed on federal contracts across the country.
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Recent NewsCongratulations Richard Booth, Matthew Blauvelt, Benjamin Roth, and David Tanner who have been selected to receive Outstanding Achievement Awards at our annual Recognition Gala on Saturday, November 6 at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center. The Gala is our chance to recognize those who have made outstanding progress at Black Hills Workshop as well as organizations and individuals who help to make their success possible. Andrea Schaefer, Director of Barefoot Dance Studios and Outright Dance Theatre, will receive our Community Connection Award for creating opportunities for people from Black Hills Workshop to participate in mixed-ability dance. Forest Recreation Management and the Forest Service will receive our Volunteer Award for coordinating the annual Experience the Outdoors Day which many people from Black Hills Workshop participate in each year. For more information about the Gala, contact JoAnne Schriver at 605-718-6205 or Brian Munsell at 605-718-6207. VITA Thursday, July 29-Saturday, July 31 at 7:30 and Saturday, July 31 at 2:00 Milo Winter Auditorium at Stevens High School General Admission, $10 all tickets Tickets at the Dahl or BHW VITA is a mixed-ability movement piece featuring modern dance and acting by performers with and without disabilities. Tickets can be purchased at the Dahl Arts Center, (605) 394-4101. or at www. Americans with Disabilities Act celebrates 20 years The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed July 26, 1990 but did not became effective until January 26, 1992. The ADA opened up services and employment opportunities to the 43 million Americans with disabilities. The law was written to strike a balance between the reasonable accommodation of citizens’ needs and the capacity of private and public entities to respond. The ADA means that we can all benefit from the skills and talents of individuals with disabilities and gain from their increased purchasing power and ability to use it. It also means fuller, more productive lives for all Americans, not just those with disabilities. |
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