NB NK Rotary hears about Capabilities

 Karen Blumhorst, owner of Capabilities Country Club visited the NB NK Rotary Club to speak about her business which opened in July 2009.  The Club is a “day-habilitation center” that serves people with developmental disabilities who don’t require full-time care, but could benefit from daily help with socialization and basic life skills.  Capabilities in St. Marys has been in operation since 1997.  Country Club drivers pick up the members daily between 8:00 and 9:00 am and bring them to the center.  The Club staff then provides various activities, teaching members important life skills such as game playing, cooking, cleaning, how to behave in social situations, how to develop friendships, and how to enjoy community activities.  Club drivers then drive Club members home after 3:00 pm .  The Club is funded by Medicaid so Club members must be participants in Medicaid in order to qualify for membership.  Payment for services is made with a waiver from the County Board of Developmental Disabilities.  Most Club members reside in Auglaize County however, a few reside in Shelby and Mercer Counties .  “We’d like to open a location in Shelby County in the future,” said Blumhorst.  Capabilities Country Club is located on old SR 66 between SR 219 and Southland Rd. between New Bremen and St. Marys.

 Donnie Cox, a Capabilities Country Club employee, described some of the activities.  “We’ve taken Club members on day trips to shop, to the Air Force Museum, La Comedia Dinner Theater, Science Central and the Troy Exotic Zoo,” said Cox.  “Clients practice their social skills at the facility then we take them out to put their new skills to use in public,” said Blumhorst.  ”The games and activities teach our clients social skills, responsibility, various ways of counting, and ways to interact with people,” said Blumhorst.  The Capabilities Country Club serves members with various disabilities including Down’s Syndrome, Autism and Cerebral Palsy.  The Club has the capacity to serve up to 14 Club members per day.

Hosting Rotarian: Sandy Thieman