Greenville County Disabilities and Social Needs Board
Throughout the year, Plus Inc. will feature one of our non-profit customers in our newsletter. We are continuously amazed and excited at the involvement of these organizations in their communities. This month, we are proud to spotlight Greenville County Disabilities and Special Needs Board (GCDSNB) in Greenville County.
Greenville County Disabilities and Special Needs Board is a nonprofit that coordinates services and raises funds for individuals and families living with disabilities and special needs in Greenville County area. They currently serve individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, head/spinal cord injuries, and autism. GCDSNB has been a support and advocacy agency for individuals with disabilities since 1971 and currently serves over 2000 people.
We caught up with GCDSNB IT Manager Curtis Arrowood (former Plus Inc. employee!) to learn more. Curtis worked for Plus. Inc for 9 years after leaving the Navy and before transitioning into the Human Services field. He is currently hard at work as the "IT Wizard".
What drew you to the field of Human Services?
I wanted to make a difference in people's lives and the idea of truly helping to improve someone's quality of life was exciting. The company I first started with had NO computers, so we grew together and I was able to take them to a State Leader in technology and it was an awesome adventure.
What do you do for Greenville County Disabilities and Special Needs Board?
Starting another new IT Department! I want to make staff's job easier but also to improve the lives of the individuals that we serve.
What does that look like, IT improving individual's lives?
IT can create environments that are controllable by voice, and that opens up a whole world of accessibility for people with physical limitations. People can adjust their beds, thermostats, open and close doors, and change the TV channels independently when they never could before, due to a disability. The sense of control and empowerment of that independence is invaluable.
We can also use monitors and sensors to ensure safety while providing for maximum independence - nobody wants another person hovering over their shoulder 24/7. Technology provides people with greater accessibility and increased freedoms.
Can you give us an example?
One thing we're excited about is upfitting a local family's home to be more accessible for a young man in his 20s who uses a wheelchair. Through technology, he can control his home via his voice. No more struggling with doors or waiting on assistants! The young man will be more able to gain employment, finish his education, and become a fully integrated member of society through technology.
What are you working on now?
We have 40 worksites that have XP or older computers that are in dire need of upgrading - especially with impending XP end of life by Microsoft. We need donations, financial but especially physical computers. We've been fortunate to get several broken machines that I've rebuilt (if we have the technology-we can rebuild!). If you have machines you're no longer using that can run Vista or better - please consider sharing them with GCDSNB. It's a win-win: technology gets upcycled to improve lives, you get a great tax write-off, and nothing goes to the landfill.
For more information on services offered by Greenville County Disabilities and Special Needs Board, visit them at www.gcdsnb.com. You can also friend them on www.facebook.com/GCDSNB and follow them on www.twitter.com/gcdsnb