Ally People Solutions brings solutions to the disabled while solving business needs too

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Dec2013_Feature_Ally The Ally Business Solutions ribbon cutting and open house ceremony with the Midway Chamber of Commerce on Oct. 28 at their new location at 1885 University Ave. W. in Iris Park Place. The name of the organization changed from Midway Training Services to Ally People Solutions during the last year.[/caption]

By JAN WILLMS

When Cynthia Gayles was diagnosed with traumatic brain disorder five years ago, she lost her self-esteem as well as her short-term memory.

“With my memory gone, I felt embarrassed and fell into a deep depression,” she recalls. “But I had a great case manager, and she encouraged me to try Ally People Solutions (APS).”

That organization first began in 1965. It was founded by families who had adult children with developmental disabilities and wanted to care for their loved ones at home. APS has evolved through the years from a safe place for people with mental health issues to gather for day activities to offering them job skills training and employment.

Gayles currently works on document preparation at the agency’s new branch at 1885 University Ave., which opened Sept. 16.

Dec2013Ally2 Cynthia Gayles works on documents at Ally's new Ally Business Solutions location at 1885 University Ave. W. Gayles is only one of the approximately 270 individuals and their families who are currently being served at four branch locations of APS. (Photo by Jan Willms)[/caption]

“This is our premier site, because it houses many of our emerging programs,” said Erika Hiller, director of development and communications. As well as providing space for arts and cultural and health and wellness programs, the location is dedicated to being a Business Solutions branch.

Timothy Danielson is another participant at the new branch. He was severely injured in a car accident seven years ago, which resulted in a traumatic brain injury.

“I spent time in a coma and then went through rehabilitation,” Danielson explained. “I tried to pick up my life where I left off.” A veteran, he had used his GI benefits to study culinary arts.

“I had a lot of trouble with what I had chosen to study,” Danielson remembers. “Cooking involves a lot of multi-tasking. It’s not so hard to do it at home, but it’s a different thing when you are cooking at a restaurant.”

“It was like death by a thousand cuts,” Danielson said. “There was no one thing that made it impossible, but so many little things that kept adding up until I couldn’t do it anymore.”

He said he gave up. He resides in a group home, and his independent skills worker told him about APS. Although he has only been a part of the program for two weeks, he said he has already seen progress.

“Music was a very deep passion of mine, and here there are musical instruments I can play with. That outlet is worth a lot to me, and it lets me stay confident. I feel like I am a person and able to express myself.”

Gayles and Danielson are only two of the approximately 270 individuals and their families who are currently being served at four branch locations of APS. Other sites are in Vadnais Heights, the Hillcrest area along White Bear Ave. and a location at 1246 University Ave., which houses the corporate offices.

Sen. John Hoffman, the marketing director at Ally Business Solutions (ABS), said the organization started at a time when de-institutionalization was taking place in Minnesota.

“Based on the overpopulation of institutions, local governments pushed to get people back into the community,” Hoffman said.

Dec2013Ally4 Current program activities at Ally People Solutions include employment services, life skills services and Business Solutions, utilizing Ally consumers’ skills in printing and documenting services, office support, document conversion, light maintenance and packaging.[/caption]

Innovations and services have been steadily growing. In 1985 the organization incorporated as Midway Training Services (MTS) and located along University Ave. Multiple neighborhood branches were established in 2007. With the awareness that MTS participants and their parents needed an ally to navigate the complicated world of services, the name change from MTS to Ally People Solutions took place this year.

“We want to move individuals back into the community, and make everyone realize that disability is as natural as everything else in life,” Hoffman said.

Current program activities include employment services, life skills services and Business Solutions, utilizing Ally consumers’ skills in printing and documenting services, office support, document conversion, light maintenance and packaging.

Keith Johnson, community-based employment marketing manager, said ABS uses a program for supportive employment, Discovering Personal Genius, which is very person-centered and focuses on a consumer’s skills and interest.

“We network with people we already know and try to find a supportive environment, where it’s easier for an employee to feel at home,” he said.

Donovan Grajewski, ABS operations manager, said employment in digital imaging is provided primarily at the new site for consumers.

“Some are in the community independently working, some work crews go out and work with a job coach doing cleaning and landscaping,” he said.

He said digital imaging is the bulk of work in-house at three of the four branches.

For in-house employment, APS pays the wage. Consumers working in the community receive direct pay by the employer. APS also can function as a payroll agent for those working independently.

Hoffman emphasized that the wages paid are minimum wage or higher. About 72 per cent of consumers have developmental disabilities and 28 per cent have mental disabilities. Of these, 18 per cent experience medical conditions and 13 per cent have ambulatory difficulties.

Dec2013Ally3 Timothy Danielson plays the piano at Ally People Solutions, 1885 University Ave. W. location. As well as providing space for arts and cultural and health and wellness programs, the location is dedicated to being a Business Solutions branch. (Photo by Jan Willms)[/caption]

“Ally is committed to hiring veterans,” said Hiller. “There is a great need right now with so many returning vets.”

She said the organization is also focusing on providing musical instruments for consumer use. “When our consumers have down times, they can express themselves through the arts,” she said. Art supplies are provided.

“Cedar Cultural Center has new visiting artists come over and perform, sometimes with our consumers. We also work with McPhail Center for Music on neural motor training, to unlock some of the real abilities our consumers have,” she added.

Hiller said Creative Enterprise Zone and Springboard for the Arts offer structural art classes at the sites. She added that Ally has partnered with the YMCA to provide its consumers opportunities for exercising, learning about healthy eating and community gardening.

“Ally is not only a place to derive a paycheck, but to have a sense of belonging and community,” Johnson added.

Gayles agreed. “I was on the pity pot before, but not anymore,” she reflected.

For Danielson, Ally is a place he looks forward to coming to. “That is something I have not felt in a long time,” he said. “I couldn’t tell you the last time I felt like I wanted to do something useful.”

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