Region 8 Council seeking board members

The Poplar Bluff Regional Council on Developmental Disabilities, also referred to as 'The Region 8 Council' is a not-for-profit corporation that strives to improve the quality of life for persons with developmental disabilities and their families through a variety of activities.

The Region 8 Council consists of a 20-member volunteer group. Half of its members are either parents or guardians of individuals with developmental disabilities. The remainder of the members are made up of representatives of state and local agencies which provide programs and services and/or, administers funds on behalf of those individuals with disabilities and their families.

Mamie Benson, a Region 8 Council member, likes to refer to the handicap as a disAbility. "The capital A is what I do to draw attention to the Abilities that people have," Benson said. "Sometimes people are too busy looking at what someone can't do, that they miss out on seeing what they can do."

The council is part of the official group to the Missouri Department of Mental Health, Division of Mental retardation and Developmental disabilities and its local unit, the Poplar Bluff Regional Office.

The Council is responsible for providing input into the Department's policies, budgets, and priorities and it monitors their implementation to ensure that the rights of the individuals with developmental disabilities and their families, are observed and that their support is identified and needs are met.

"As a council, we serve in an advisory role to the Poplar Bluff Regional Office, The Missouri Planning Council, the Department of Mental Health, and other agencies and service providers," Benson said. "We need people who are interested in this type of service and who qualify to serve as a representative or board member."

The Council is also responsible for assisting in the coordination of programs and services by bringing consumers, families, and agencies together in cooperative networks. "We provide information and public education on issues relating to developmental disabilities, as well as promote leadership development among consumers, their family members, and the regional council members."

"At the present time we are seeking people in several counties including Dunklin County," Benson said. "There are presently six very active members, although some have had to go off for a year."

The current policy states that a council member may serve two three-year terms, or until a suitable replacement is found to take that position, and then that person must set out for a year before serving another term.

"There are several different committees that a person may choose to serve on," Benson said. "Members can also attend various functions such as the Legislator's Day Rally that is held in Jefferson City, Mo. each year," she added, explaining that, the Council helps with support for the family to go as well. For instance, a recent four-day Autism Conference was held in Columbia for families who have a loved one with Autism

The council also helps board members attend meetings of The Southeast Missouri Autism Project, Parent Advisory Committee which is held in Sikeston, Mo. once a month. "There are various ways the council helps parents of disabled children or their family members, keeping them informed of legislative issues that are coming up and how to keep in touch with their representatives and senator, by learning to voice their opinion and listening for information of upcoming seminars or conferences that might be of interest to them or their loved one with a disability.

The Region 8 Council serves people with disabilities of all ages. It serves the counties of Butler, Carter, Dunklin, Howell, Oregon, Reynolds, Ripley, Shannon, Stoddard and Wayne.

"The requirements are mainly to be at least 18 years of age, be developmentally disabled (self-advocate), willing to attend at least six meetings a year, held in Poplar Bluff, or to be a parent or family member of a person with developmental disabilities," Benson said.

For more information, contact Mamie Benson at mamielbenson@yahoo.com.