About Pathfinder, Inc.

Underlying these concepts are the beliefs that:

1. To help the developmentally disabled of the central Arkansas area become or remain self-sufficient by seeking to develop personal, social, academic and problem solving skills necessary to function independently in society.

2. To protect children and adults who cannot protect themselves from abuse, neglect and exploitation and to help families stay together by providing a Special Day Care Program for the developmentally disabled at no cost to the parents.

3. To prevent and reduce inappropriate institutional care as much as possible by making home and community services available.

4. To arrange for appropriate placement and services which provides the least restrictive environment and which is in the individual's best interest.

Pathfinder, Inc. is a non-profit corporation, incorporated in August of 1971, with an initial enrollment for the year of 6 students in a preschool program. The licensing agent was Mental Retardation Development Disabilities Services (MR-DDS). As awareness of the services available in the Jacksonville area increased, Pathfinder was approached by a group of concerned parents to make services available to their adult disabled dependents.

The professed goal of Pathfinder is to provide parents and individuals with the option of remaining at home or in the community, rather than seeking institutionalization. Pathfinder, Inc. is governed by a Board of Directors selected from a broad community base. We are committed to the Non-Discriminatory Delivery of Services and are an Affirmative Action Equal Opportunity Employer. The Board of Directors realized the need for a comprehensive array of services and developed the long-term goal of providing services from infant throughout life within the community setting.

Pathfinder, Inc. developed a pilot project for MR-DDS and the Division of Employment Development in 1979. This project demonstrated the feasibility of relocating institutionalized individuals within the community by providing skills training in the world of work as well as self-help living skills training. The project was very successful. We have placed many individuals with I.Q. scores ranging from 35 and above, in competitive employment in local industry. All these individuals were either illiterate or functionally illiterate. Their primary disabilities were developmental and all had secondary disabilities. What we are able to do is teach these people specific job skills, help them develop an adequate work attitude, and help them to believe in themselves.

An active treatment plan which will provide on-going skills training will be designed by an interdisciplinary team of professionals. The plan will provide a balance of self-help, social and vocational skills training to enable each person to live as independently as possible, and perhaps move into even more independent living arrangements.

In July of 1989 Pathfinder, Inc. opened an ICF/MR in Cabot and has since opened nine more around the state. The homes have 10 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms, a living-activity room, kitchen and service area. The facilities are home to ten individuals who have chosen to live in the community.

Currently (1998) Pathfinder, Inc. has 10 ICF/MRs housing 100 individuals, 4 supervised apartment complexes serving 80 individuals, 2 group homes serving 20 individuals, 2 apartment units serving 12 individuals and 4 workshops which serve approximately 600 individuals daily.