ESTABLISHING AN ENTERPRISE TO MARKET THE PRODUCTS OF WORK ACTIVITY CENTERS DIRECTLY TO CONSUMERS

THE NUMBER OF WORK ACTIVITY CENTERS PROVIDING TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT TO DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED PERSONS HAS MORE THANQUADRUPLED IN THE LAST DECADE. THERE ARE NOW WEL OVER 2,000 SUCH CENTERS IN THE UNITED STATES. THESE PROGRAMS AREFUNDED PRIMARILY BY STATE OFFICES OF MENTAL RETARDATION AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, AND ARE DESIGNED TO SERVE THOSE PERSONS WITH MORE SEVERE DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES WHO ARE UNABLE TO PRODUCE AT MORE THAN 50 PERCENT OF THE RATE OF A NONHANDICAPPED WORKER. THESE PROGRAMS ARE CRITICAL COMPONENTS OF THE REHABILITATION PROGRAMS FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS. THE DEMAND FOR WORK ACTIVITY CENTER SLOTS CONTINUES TO GROW. YET, MANY OF THESE CENTERS ARE UNABLE TOFIND SUFFICIENT WORK FOR EXISTING CLIENTS, LET ALONE FOR MANY CLIENS IN WAITING. WHILE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND SOME STATE GOVERNMENTS HAVE TAKEN SIGNIFICANT STEPS IN HELPLING PERSONS WITH LESS SEVERE HANDICAPS FIND WORK IN SHELTERED WORKSHOPS AND IN INDUSTRY, LITTLE HAS BEEN DONE TO HELP THE WORK ACTIVITY CENTERS IN THIS REGARD. THIS PROJECT WOULD STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING A PRIVATE ENTERPRISE TO MARKET THE PRODUCTS OF WORK ACTIVITY CENTERS, AND IF FEASIBLE, TO PLAN FOR THE PILOTING OF SUCH AN ENTERPRISE. THE ENTERPRISE TERMED THE WORK CENTER MARKETING SERVICES PROJECT, WOULD MARKET PRODUCTS THROUGH DIRECT RESPONSE ADVERTISEMENTS IN ESTABLISHED JOURNALS AND CATALOGUES, AND WOULD ARRANGE FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF THESE PRODUCTS DIRECTLY TO THE CONSUMERS.