COVENTRY RESERVE

Causes: Developmentally Disabled Centers, Disabilities, Human Services

Mission: to respect, challenge and support adults with special needs through creative therapeutic programs in a Christ-centered environment.

Results: An excerpt from a speech given by our program director: When I meet people for the first time the typical question often comes up, “So, what do you do?” Well, the general answer - “I am the program director at The Coventry Reserve, a day program for adults with special needs.” Boring! I really need to work on my answer don’t I? There is so much more to say. When I think of who we serve here at Coventry, adults with special needs, that’s not the whole story either. Yes, our participants are adults. Some come straight from high school and some with more years and experience, but all of them are adults – mature, deserving of respect, well behaved (mostly all the time), and talented with various capabilities of all different levels. Our participants are special. I looked up the definition of special, “surpassing what is common or usual; distinct among others; regarded with particular affection and admiration.” I really like these definitions – they fit our participants so well. So what about the needs – don’t all of us have needs and require support? Just like all of us, our guys and gals need patience, kindness, respect, and love. Some need us to take the time to listen while they speak (trust me, it is almost most always worth the wait!) Some need help with zippers on lunch boxes, some “need a smile or a pat on the back”, but all of our participants, just like all of us, need love and respect. So what is it that we do here at Coventry every day? Most of you are familiar with the beautiful pottery our adults create in the Creative Skills area and the brain connections we are making in our Brain Building Center but there is so much more that happens here. The Board of Directors and our staff have put in many hours trying to write a Mission Statement that summarizes and says what it is we do. It is hard! How do you, in a short sentence, explain Coventry? We value each and every participant, staff and volunteer; we expect more…more than most in our culture expect from our guys and gals with special needs; we support them – physically with a hand on theirs to guide them; emotionally with words, or hugs; intellectually stretching them with new processes or more steps in a sequence; socially with gentle corrections and suggestions of ways that are more friendly or appropriate; spiritually with prayers. I believe that following Christ’s example of valuing all people and accepting with them with love is what makes The Coventry Reserve different and is what enriches their lives AND OURS so deeply.

Target demographics: adults with special needs

Direct beneficiaries per year: 30 adults with special needs and recently completed a building project that will allow Coventry to serve up to 48 adults with special needs.

Geographic areas served: St. Paul, Texas (Just North of Wylie)

Programs: a day program that respects, supports a challenges adults with special needs through creative therapeutic programs in a Christ-centered environment.