What is P.E.P ???
A Southern Beaufort County organization that serves intellectually and developmentally disabled adults worries that it may be fighting a losing battle over the long term because the area produces more clients that it can serve – and its funding is shrinking.
Hal Wieland, business manager of Programs for Exceptional People, told Bluffton Rotarians that the organization currently works with 45-50 disabled adults between the ages of 18 and 84. And each year, local high school special education programs add about 30 “new” disabled adults to the populations of Hilton Head Island and Bluffton.
“The schools do a terrific job with their special education programs,” Wieland said. “But after disabled people leave high school, where do they go? If it wasn’t for PEP, these folks would be propped up at home watching TV.
“We’re the only adult day program for our clients in southern Beaufort County. We not only give them constructive and interesting things to do, we also help family members who often are the primary care-givers. Without PEP, they might have to quit their jobs to provide care.”
PEP, is funded largely by social service agencies in Beaufort and Jasper counties and is also supported by donations and volunteers, who work with clients that have a broad range of disabilities. Those include conditions like autism, cerebral palsy and Downs Syndrome.
PEP-coordinated activities for clients include arts classes and recreation, as well as trips to area sporting events and museums. In addition, there are sometimes opportunities for clients to do paying jobs coordinated by PEP.
Wieland said that PEP has nine paid staff members, about 30 volunteers and a long waiting list of potential clients. About 60 of its costs involve transporting clients to its current facility on Matthews Road on Hilton Head.
“We could double in size tomorrow,” he said, “but we’re limited by the size of our existing facility and by our shrinking budgets. We’re out there all the time, hustling for donations.”
PEP’s long-term plans envision an additional facility in Bluffton, where most of its clients live and where populations continue to grow.
For more information, visit www.pephhi.org.