Overview
The Birdie Thornton Center has transitioned to community based services, with support from many individuals and agencies.
Opening Up the Online World to People with Disabilities
Digital technology is revolutionizing our day-to-day lives in new ways every day—but with rapid change comes barriers to understanding and access, including for people with I/DD. As part of The Arc’s partnership with Comcast NBCUniversal, select chapters of The Arc are hosting Tech Coaching Centers to expand technology access, understanding, and confidence.
Volunteer Opportunities
Birdie Thornton Center has participated in many volunteer opportunities.
- Meals on Wheels – Birdie Thornton has an ongoing partnership with the Council of Aging in Athens, Alabama. Everyday our individuals deliver meals to the elderly.
- Downtown Rescue Mission – Our individuals volunteer to help sort and fold donated clothing with the Downtown Rescue Mission in Athens, Alabama.
- Athens Salvation Army – Birdie Thornton partners with the Salvation Army in Athens, Alabama. Individuals stock items, organize shelves, greet store patrons, and tag prices on items.
Integrated Community Events
- Lindsay Lane Baptist Church – Twice a week, Lindsey Lane Baptist Church opens their doors to our individuals, who use their space to engage in leisure activities of their choosing. Individuals also volunteer by taking out the trash from the rooms once a week.
- Athens First Baptist Church – Every Thursday, Athens First Baptist Church holds various classes for the individuals to participate in.
- Camp Helen – During Camp Helen’s off-season, Birdie Thornton is invited to use their facilities to engage in various activities. Our individuals love fishing in their pond, fellowshipping with each other, and grilling.
- Tanner First Baptist Church
Special Events / Activities
- Trash Pandas Exhibition – Individuals attended the Trash Panda Exhibition game at Toyota Field in Huntsville, Alabama.
- Beach Volleyball – Individuals attended the beach volleyball game at John Hunt Park in Huntsville, Alabama.
- Fitness Park Kickball Game – Students from the Limestone County Student Advisory Board held a kickball game at the fitness park.
- Make a Way Foundation – The Make a Way Foundation held a dance party at the activity center in Athens, Alabama. Volunteers from the foundation and a local dance studio participated in this event with our individuals and seniors. The Make a Way Foundation also held a July 4th party at the activity center.
- Lindsey Lane – Lindsey Lane hosted a Color Run in the summer of 2022. Faculty and students from Lindsay Lane Academy made this event memorable for the individuals we serve.
- Madison Academy – Madison Academy hosted a carnival and had their faculty and students volunteer for the event.
Learning
- Athens Library – Twice a month, a group from Birdie Thornton attends Storytime at the Athens Library.
- University of Alabama in Huntsville – UAH hosted a “Pretend Hospital” for Birdie Thornton. Individuals learned the process of being admitted into a hospital through role-play.
- Cook Museum – Birdie Thornton has a membership with the Cook Museum of Natural Science. The individuals we serve regularly request to go to the museum to look at different exhibits.
- Railroad Museum – Individuals learned about the history of trains at the North Alabama Railroad Museum in Huntsville, Alabama.
Achieving Cultural and Financial ROI
As with all business decisions, the success and sustainability of a disability hiring project can be measured in part by its return on investment. The Arc@Work supports our corporate clients in creating strategies to achieve and measure financial ROI as well as creating branding and external messaging strategies to promote our clients’ disability inclusive work culture.
How You Can Help
Interested in getting more involved in our technology work? Learn how.
The Arc promotes and protects the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and actively supports their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes.