F.A.Q.
(Frequently Asked Questions)
How many people are serviced by the
Olean Center?
The Olean Center serves 114 adults, 22 children,
and many local school students in the School
To Work program. Consumers are served through other programs
such as Respite or Recreation.
How many staff are
employed by the Olean Center?
Currently, we employ 85 staff, including
both full-time and part-time workers.
How do I get on the
mailing list?
Call the main office at 401-596-2091 between the hours of
8:30 am and 4 pm.
What are your Hours of Operation?
Hours vary depending on the program and service.
The day sites are open from 8 am - 4 pm, Monday - Friday.
All other individualized services operate evenings, weekends,
and, in some cases, 24 hours.
What are the eligibility
criteria?
Please visit each department section on the
website for that information: Day Services,
Children’s Services (HBTS), and
Napatree.
How do I apply for
services?
Contact the State Social Worker at the Olean
Center; contact Napatree if you
are in school; and contact Children's
Services (HBTS) if you are between the ages of 3 and 21
and in need of home-based clinical services. Contact our information
page by clicking here.
What geographical area do you serve?
For Rhode Island, our programs generally serve the towns
of Greater Westerly, Charlestown, and Richmond. For Connecticut
Services, see Community Vocational Services.
Is transportation provided?
Yes—with a few exceptions, door-to-door
transportation is offered through a contract with a program
called RIDE.
What type of organization
is the Olean Center?
The Olean Center is the name for all RI services.
The Center is part of the Arc, RIArc and the National Arc.
The local Arc is the Westerly Chariho Arc. The Westerly Chariho
Arc is a not-for-profit, 501(c)3 charitable organization.
Do people reside at the site at
Airport Road or in Hopkinton?
No—these are Day
Service sites. The organization does have a residential
program, however. See Olean Residential
Services.
Can I design my
own service plan?
Yes—consumer and family input into
the individual design and implementation of your plan is essential.
A team of professionals at the Olean Center is here to assist
with this process.
Will I have a Social
Worker?
If you are approved for state DDD
funding, you will be assigned a State Social Worker in this
area; most likely, it will be the person assigned to the Olean
Center.
Do I pay for services?
Currently, there are no charges or fees if
you are funded by DDD (Division
Of Developmental Disabilities).
Do you offer services
such as Recreation or Respite?
Yes. Recreation
is open to all persons with developmental disabilities from
the area. Respite is authorized
through the State Social Worker, then coordinated by the Olean
Center. See Day Services.
Do you have a General
Membership similar to other Arcs?
Yes—for an application see the Membership
Application section on the website.
Is the Olean Center involved in
Special Olympics?
Yes—in fact we have a team called "Raiders of
the Arc" and participate in Regional and Summer Games.
What if I just want to speak with
another parent?
Simply call us at 401-596-2091, and we will
connect you to parents and other families who could be helpful.
Do you have a Human
Rights Committee?
Yes! See the Human
Rights Committee section on the website.
Is there a Self Advocacy mechanism
through the Olean Center?
Yes. Ocean State Advocates meet
regularly to discuss issues pertinent to people with disabilities.
Do you provide 24-hour residential
options?
Yes. See the Olean Residential
section on the website.
What if I want to work in the community?
Work is available for those who qualify through
Napatree Vocational Services. Many
people with disabilities have secured employment in the community.
See the section on Napatree.
What is your total budget?
The budget for the Rhode Island programs totals $3.3 million.
I’d like to make a donation; what
do I do?
You can make a tax-deductible, charitable
donation by making a check payable to "The Olean Foundation,
Inc." You will receive a letter of receipt. Send your
donation to: Westerly Chariho Arc, 93 Airport Road, Westerly,
RI 02891.
How can I become
active in the organization?
Contact Tony Vellucci, Executive Director,
by calling 401-315-0143 x108 or by sending email to tvellucci@oleancenter.org.
After that, a meeting can be scheduled with the appropriate
people.
What if I or my
family member has a problem? Is the Director available?
All our staff and board members are available to assist you
in anyway they can. Feel free to contact them. See Contact
Us for a list of key staff members.
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