The Charles Lea Center is proud to announce some of its most recent awards and accomplishments!

American Association of Mental Retardation (AAMR)
Direct Care Professional of the Year: Ron Powell
October 2006

For the last three years, Ron, a maintenance technician at The Charles Lea Center, worked to change the lives of four of the state's most difficult to support individuals. His hard work in shaping the lives of these men earned him the AAMR Direct Care Professional of the Year Award, an award bestowed to one person statewide annually.

Ron's story begins three years ago when he decided to turn some of the individuals at a home he routinely performed maintenance on into model gentlemen. Ron asked these men to work with him to complete many of the same maintenance tasks he did.

Because of Ron, these men developed work skills and a sense of self-respect. These men are now responsible for much of the Center's furniture moving and grounds keeping.

Arc of the Carolinas
Citizen of the Year: Tammy Smith
August 2006

Tammy Smith is a pioneer in the field of disabilities and special needs. She knew she was ready for a change in her living situation and was not afraid to pave the way in a new and innovative apartment living setting.

Tammy was one of the first individuals to participate in the "Supported Living Program" a joint venture between several organizations in the state. Tammy set out to live in an apartment on her own. To help her achieve her goals, Tammy created a circle of support, consisting of some of her best friends and advocates.

Within a year, Tammy was living on her own. She hired staff to assist her with her needs and even learned how to let individuals go when the job was not working out as she wanted. Tammy now works as a speaker, letting other individuals and their care providers know about the Supportive Living Project and what it can offer people.

Arc of the Carolinas
Spirit of the Arc Award: Armilla Moore
August 2006

Armilla Moore helped to organize a coalition of nine organizations across the state of South Carolina to begin the Supported Living Project. Together, these organizations worked to change the face of residential supports in the state

The Supported Living Project helped individuals who had the willpower and the drive to live on their own but were never considered qualified for the Supported Living Program, realize their dream of living on their own.

Together, the nine organizations worked to develop a model that allowed individuals interested in living on their own a way to achieve their goal. Individuals first formed a circle of support, a group of people they could count on to help them through the process. Together the circle of support worked on a realistic timeline that would allow everyone involved enough time to prepare for the move into independent living.

The program continues to be a success, allowing more and more individuals the opportunity to live on their own.

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