At age 15, Ervin was brought to the Orangeburg County’s Disabilities and Special Needs Board headquarters on Magnolia Street, examined and designated “moderately retarded” with severe problems.

His aggressive behavior made him hard to get along with; he could not wash himself or handle his personal needs. DSN staffers decided to place him in one of the county’s 26 homes, each of which offers a regular life routine with three to six other “clients.”

Slowly but surely, over many months, he improved. Staff members (usually one to three) in these homes are trained to counsel their clients, helping them learn skills toward becoming independent. Eventually, Ervin was moved to another home and, in time, learned to take care of himself completely.

Today he is employed by a local supermarket, has his own apartment and can live life in local society.

Clipping, sweeping and scrubbing

About 300 of the DSNB’s clients report for work every day at its headquarters buildings on Magnolia Street or in Santee. Many are picked up by vans; families bring others. Without visiting a headquarters, it would be hard to imagine all the things going on: jobs, training for jobs, health care ... even learning person-to-person relationships with others.

Teams of the women and men are driven to parks, libraries, churches, stores and manufacturing plants where they mow, clip and clean the outside grounds, or vacuum, wipe, sweep and scrub the inside floors, baths and furnishings. All get regular paychecks based on their efficiency in a base law that demands the minimum wage of $8 an hour. Paychecks are sent to DSNB, which deducts federal and state charges, then given to the workers. Depending on check size, they pay up to $500 a month for their care.

Back at the two headquarters, dozens are trained in assembly line routines, then they:

1. Sort bolts, nuts, etc. from large boxes into smaller plastic packages for sale in retail stores. Many customers want just a few.

2. Cut and package small scented squares of air refresher to improve aromas in cars, chests of drawers, handbags, etc.

3. Clean and repair one-foot plastic reels which have held long lengths of wire, been unraveled, then picked up by the manufacturer and sent to the headquarters.

4. Place money-savings coupons in thousands of plastic bags, which will be filled with dog food and sent out to stores by the manufacturer.

These are just some of the activities the clients work at, while at the same time, benefiting from all the personal services the board offers.

A senior group, 65 and over, no longer able to work also spend their days at the headquarters. In June, a PIP grant of $809,628 was awarded to remodel a portion of the Orangeburg County Council on Aging for a senior citizens center where these seniors can spend more pleasant and beneficial days.

Executive director of DSNB for Orangeburg County, Ron Lofts, works with 370 staff members who supervise the activities. Many of them have left their “routine” jobs in offices or plants because they like working directly with people, particularly those who are learning more skills every day.

“There are still many people across the county who are on a waiting list to receive our services,” Ron says. “All of them want the same thing a job and a chance.”

Retired editor and public relations executive Thomas Langford’s column is titled “Some Edisto stories.” Let him know if you have stories to share: 803-534-2097.

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