ABOUT US
CCBDSN coordinates and develops services and supports for people with intellectual disability, autism, head and spinal cord injuries, and related disabilities in Colleton County. It is the agency’s intent that the individual be the focal point of services that are person-centered, a philosophy that encourages consumers and/or family members to choose the supports and services they want and desire.
Under the auspices of the State of South Carolina’s Department of Disabilities and Special Needs, strategic planning sets the overall direction for the development of programs through a multi-year period. Planning is guided by individual needs and preferences. Individuals may routinely need services provided by others such as education, public health, mental health, housing, and social services.
History of CCBDSN
Up until the mid-to-late ‘70’s, the SC Department of Mental Retardation was the state agency with the primary responsibility to provide services to people with intellectual disabilities in South Carolina. In the late 70’s, it became clear that having a state agency located in the state capitol was not efficient. The decision was made to develop local boards that would contract with and be funded by the state agency to provide services to people with mental retardation within their respective counties.
In October of 1983, the Colleton County Council passed an ordinance creating the Colleton County Mental Retardation Board with its members appointed by County Council and with the responsibility for providing and having administrative oversight of all programs.
In 1993, the Governor reorganized several state agencies and as a result the SC Department of Mental Retardation’s name was changed and became the South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs to expand services offered by the Board…..with two new populations added to its responsibility for the first time:
- People with Autism whom had up until 1993 been served by the SC Dept. of Mental Health.
- Survivors of Head and Spinal Cord injuries for whom no state agency had direct responsibility up until that time.
- December 1993, Colleton County Council revised its ordinance changing the name of the Colleton County Mental Retardation Board to the Colleton County Board of Disabilities and Special Needs.
- Prior to 1993, people with Autism were served by the South Carolina Department of Mental Health and people who were survivors of traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries had no one agency with the responsibility to provide services.
- From a very modest beginning in 1983 the Board has grown to an Agency with a $4 million dollar budget and over 110 employees providing services to 300 individuals with lifelong disabilities.
- Legislation was passed to remove and/or change the term “Mental Retardation” to “Intellectual Disability”.
CCBDSN
Statistics: Privately held company in Walterboro, SC
Categorized: Under Administration of Social and Human Resources.
Year Established: State of South Carolina – 1983
Employees: 110 serving 300 individuals with severe, lifelong, disabilities
Budget: Approximately $4.2 million dollars
SIC Code: 9441, Administration of Social, Human Resource and Income Maintenance Programs
NAICS Code: 92313002, Other Human Resource Programs Administration
Business Category: Administration of Social and Human Resources in Walterboro, SC
Privately Held: Quasi-county agency functioning as a governmental not-for-profit entity.
Facility/ADA Access: The business office and service sites are accessible.
Public Transportation: Transportation may be provided or purchased in order that persons receive needed services.
Function of the CCBDSN Board Members
The local board consists of those appointed by Colleton County Council who have accepted the challenge of bridging the gap between state funding at the level of basic need and what is needed for those supported to share what we all want – the best quality of life for all Colletonians with intellectual disabilities.
Principle Features of Services and Supports
- Person-Centered
- Responsive, efficient and accountable
- Practical, positive and appropriate
- Strengths-based, results-oriented
- Opportunities to be productive and maximize potential at-home and in the community
- Teaching, empowering, mentoring
- Primary responsibilities include planning, development and provision of a full range of services, ensuring that all services and supports provided meet or exceed acceptable standards, and improve the quality of services and efficiency of operations.
- CCBDSN advocates for people with severe lifelong disabilities both as a group and as individuals, coordinates services with other agencies and promotes and implements prevention activities to reduce the occurrence of both primary and secondary disabilities.