BRADENTON (WSNN) – COVID-19 has caused shutdowns, furloughs, and historical unemployment. In the midst of this, a local agency committed to helping the developmentally disabled is expanding its reach and services.
After 58 years of serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Sarasota County, the non-profit, Loveland Center, with campuses in Venice and North Port is now open in Bradenton.
“We were looking towards Manatee and seeing a critical gap in services,” Chief Philanthropy Officer, Jennifer Bushinger-Ortiz said.
Chief Philanthropy Officer, Jennifer Bushinger-Ortiz, explains as the pandemic took hold, Loveland closed for six-weeks, taking time to sanitize and acquire PPE. Before reopening, they surveyed the 450 clients they serve. And, Bushinger-Ortiz says the results were startling.
“We saw results of a 67-percent skills regression in communication and social skills, resulting in some people becoming non-verbal,” Bushinger-Ortiz said. “We’re seeing a critical gross motor skills regression with 32-percent or our individuals have experienced significant regression in the ability to stand or walk independently.
Two clients have regressed to using wheelchairs.
“It’s going to take months if not longer to… put things in place to be able to bring them back to where they need to be to live their best life.”
Loveland is launching a partnership with Lampert’s Therapy Group and with it, speech, occupational, and physical therapy.
“A lot of them tell us what they’re own goals are and a lot of them are very aware over wants to happen the last couple of months with COVID and where they want to be,” therapist, Megan Kinney said.
After just one month, they’ve seen improvements.
“Participants that never really participated or spoke or engaged with others after even just a little bit of one-on-one therapy, they’re now starting to show their personalities their true colors, and they’re wanting to engage with their peers,” therapist, Lisa Gallea said.
18-year-old participant, Dylan Mayes, signed on to Loveland Center in Bradenton about a month ago.
“I think differently than other people, and I really appreciate this program, and I only live 20 minutes away from here,” Mayes said.
Mayes enjoys music therapy, arts and crafts, and learning new skills.
As Loveland is a hands-on program, they have COVID protocols in place: masks, checking temperatures, and sanitizing everything.
Loveland’s planned to hold Bradenton’s grand opening on March 15, but the pandemic forced them to push it back.
Bushinger-Ortizsays says the Charles and Margorie Barancick Foundation helped make the expansion possible.