About Us
On January 2nd, 2008, Meridian Developmental Services opened its doors with staff having over 15 years of experience. Although relatively small, MDS stives to offer the most up to date services endorsed by Medicaid. Centrally located right outside downtown Meridian, MDS participants have easy access to a growing number of community resources and activities. Company owned vehicles provide transportation for Developmental Therapy and Adult Day Health activities such as cooking, bowling, movies, tours and special events. ADH also includes the availability of exercise equipment and computers, as well as weekly music classes, sci-fi groups, and craft projects. An outside patio affords summer relaxing, gardening, and BBQ’s. Please see Meet Our Staff tab further information and staff biographies.
History
Meridian Developmental Center began in 1985, by Jerry Fowler, after he left his position as Idaho Health and Welfare Developmental Disabilities Bureau Chief. He oversaw the beginning of the efforts to introduce a new type of community service: developmental therapy. This service assists individuals with developmental disabilities to become more independent and play a more integrated role in their communities. In 2008, when Jerry retired, Kristie Mowry took over the facility and the name was changed to Meridian Developmental Services. With Kristie’s retirement in 2017, Wendy Eckert took over MDS. Wendy has provided services to participants with developmental disabilities since 1988. The center prides itself on putting participant needs first, increasing independence, and integrating participants into their community.
Developmental Services
Day Treatment Services
Developmental Therapy is a developmental disability service that includes individually designed instruction, training or functional developmental intervention activities based on the assessment of, and unique strengths and needs of the individual adult. It focuses on 7 domains that include self-care, Receptive and expressive language, Learning, Mobility, Self-Direction, Capacity for Independent Living and Economic Self-Sufficiency. In addition to active treatment, there is also another service called Adult Day Health which focuses on more leisure and relaxation activities. These can include but are not limited to, crafts, coloring, watching movies, playing games, attending social events in the community, and socializing with peers. All of these services can take place at the day treatment enter, out in the community, or in home-based settings.
Prevocational and Career Planning Services
COMING SOON! Provides opportunities for individuals with limited work-related skills to learn job skills and other related social skills to enhance their ability to obtain employment in the future.
Community Habilitation and Integration
COMING SOON! Community Habilitation and Integration are habilitation services that are provided to individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities individually and with small groups. These services can be delivered at any location, including the individual’s home. The Community Habilitation services are primarily habilitative services provided in the community (i.e. non-certified settings) to facilitate community inclusion, integration, and relationship building for adults.
- Example of Support Services:
- Training and support for independence in travel
- Transportation
- Educational supports for adults
- Development of social skills, leisure skills, and self advocacy
- Social development to help the individual connect with meaningful activities and groups
- Pre-employment skill development such as problem solving, travel training, interpersonal relationships, and volunteer experiences
- Life skills development to increase independence such as meal preparation, shopping, cleaning, laundry, and medication management
- Improve health with exercise, diet, life choices; connect with clubs and groups for support