(Updated 10/18/12)

MEDIA CONTACT:  Jamie Opat, director of communications, (316) 833-3670 (cell phone), (316) 512-4101 (office phone) or jopat@starkey.org.

Starkey Inc. was founded in 1930. It currently serves 456 individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Starkey's main facility is at 4500 W. Maple. Its administrative offices are at 144 S. Young. Starkey Inc. is an affiliate of the Sedgwick County Developmental Disability Organization.  It has 340 employees.

Following is a description of its main programs:

The Work Activity program provides training and contract work for individuals with disabilities. Staff trainers help these individuals develop or improve their work skills, which helps increase each individual’s earning potential. Local businesses contract with Starkey to complete a variety of jobs, including small parts assembly, metal recycling and bulk mailings. In addition, mobile crews can perform such tasks on site at local companies.

The Supported Employment program provides placement, training and ongoing support services to individuals with disabilities in regular and integrated employment settings within the community. This program assists individuals in choosing, obtaining and retaining the employment which meets their individual needs.

The Life Enrichment Services program four areas: Life Skills, the Leisure League, the Golden Years League and the Passport to Opportunity Program. Emphasis is placed on providing the opportunities for choices in both center-based and community-based activities which promote the development of interpersonal, pre-vocational and self-care skills, leisure and recreation pursuits, and communication and social interaction. The Leisure and Golden Years Leagues are retirement programs offered to individuals 55 years of age and older. In the Life Skills, Leisure League and Passport programs, individuals can participate full- or part-time. The Golden Years League is a part-time program.

The Gateway Program offers center-based and community-based opportunities for personal growth and skill development. it is designed for individuals who have a dual diagnosis of an intellectual disability and a mental illness. Support specialists in this program receive enhanced training in working with individuals who have unique needs. Individuals in the Gateway Program are active in the community and volunteer for local organizations. Depending on personal progress, they may graduate from the program and choose to participate in another program or seek employment.

The Community Living-Supervised Living program provides varying levels of staff support and training to individuals living in homes or apartments owned or leased by Starkey. The supervised living settings range in size from one to eight people with a variety of staffing ratios based on the needs of the individuals living there. Areas of support typically include assistance with daily living skills, medication administration, behavior intervention and access to community activities.

The Community Living-Supported Independent Living program provides staff support to individuals who live alone or with a roommate. These individuals reside in homes or apartments they own or lease. The amount of staff support provided is based on individual needs and does not include overnight support. Staff typically train individuals and support them in such tasks as cooking, shopping, banking, paying bills and accessing community activities.

The Community Living-Semi Independent Living program is offered at Starkey's Kouri Place Apartments, a 15-unit apartment complex. At Kouri Place, individuals lease one-bedroom apartments of their own. Staff support is provided by supported independent living trainers who visit periodically to assist with such tasks as cooking, shopping, paying bills and accessing community resources.

There are 43 Starkey homes in the Wichita community.