DUNCAN - By winning contracts to deliver goods and services to state and local organizations, Think Ability Inc. provides more than special needs support.
Tracing its roots back almost 40 years, the Duncan office began in 1980 with a commercial screen-printing operation called Power Print.
In 1982, Duncan Group Home was formed to provide support and in-home care for those with special needs. The two companies merged in 2014 to become Think Ability.
PROGRAM HAS EVOLVED,
BUT BUDGET CUTS HURT
Over the years, Think Ability’s programs have evolved. They now offer support services to residents in Duncan, Ardmore and Norman. But they have gone through some tough times. One of the most recent setbacks would be the budget cuts of 2016.
“A large majority of the individuals we support are working,” said Executive Director Robin Arter. “They love earning a living and having a sense of purpose. Those cuts really affected us, but we just regrouped and found other ways for the individuals to find their purpose. Fortunately, we were able to secure contracts through the State Use program.”
With Think Ability’s Power Print still in operations, it has won contracts with several government organizations while still offering custom screen-printing services to regular customers.
Think Ability has teamed up with ODOT to help with the littering in Stephens and Comanche counties. They have secured contracts with Haliburton and Cameron Measurements, and have been providing janitorial services for several businesses and organizations including Duncan municipal court and area churches.
They have also obtained contracts for the State Capital and 18 of its surrounding government buildings.
PROVIDING SUPPORT SERVICES
With the goal to be more self-reliant and provide purpose to the individuals with special needs, Think Ability began restoring and reupholstering furniture.
They also have a community garden and market where job coaches assist the workers in selling fresh produce, a few grocery items, furniture Think Ability workers refurbished and more.
While providing support services to more than 100 individuals with special needs and overseeing operations seems like a daunting task, Arter says she doesn’t do it alone. She relies on a compassionate and dedicated administrative staff to take care of many of the day-today challenges that arise.
“One of our biggest issues has been direct support staffing,” said Arter. “With the help of the staff, we keep our overhead expenses as low as possible and offer competitive wages, but still spend a lot of our time on recruitment, interviews, matching applicants with the right individuals, following up and, sometimes, retraining.
“That, coupled with program awareness can mean a lot of indirect administrative hours, but the team does what it can to help things run smoothly.”
APPRECIATES COMMUNITY SUPPORT
Arter says she also appreciates members of the communities for all the support. She added that Think Ability owes a lot of thanks to State Senators Paul Scott and Chris Kidd, as well as Representative Marcus McEntire, for all the support they have shown for Oklahomans with intellectual and developmental disabilities.