About Eggleston: It's history and present-day services

IN 1955, A GROUP OF PARENTS who wanted to find a way to help their disabled children formed the Tidewater Vocational Center, a nonprofit organization on Botetourt Street in Norfolk.

They had five clients when they started. They planned to provide subcontracting work for local industries in a sheltered workshop. Workers wrapped hangers and sealed envelopes for 10 cents an hour.

Over the years the number of clients grew as the agency changed locations several times.

In 1978, local philanthropist Louise W. Egglesto n donated land and a building on 20th Stre et in Norfolk to the center, just shortly before she died.

By 1 983, the agency, renamed for Eggleston, ha d 160 disabled clients, many placed in community-based training programs, including grounds-keeping, custodial work and food-distribution cent ers.

The organization now operates approximately 25 programs in more than 12 loca tions.

Eggleston's occupational programs account for more than half of its revenue but the agency also receives state and federal funds and financial help from local agencies such as United Way and community services boards as well as private and other contributions.

For a fraction of the cost to institutionalize a disabled adult in a state facility, Eggleston can support individuals in a community setting according to CEO and president Paul Atkinson.

That matches Eggleston's program goal of looking at each person as an individual with his or her own special and unique needs.

But the agency is not only about work. Pam W right's two sons, Nick, 26, and Adam, 22, both have cerebral palsy, multiple other disabilities and use wheelchairs. But they share an apartment in Norfolk supported by Hope House and attend Eggleston's day program.

"It's mostly therapeutic, activities to keep their muscles at the same level and to work on social goals like learning to feed themselves," Wright said. "They have friends there and I think the socialization is good."

Eggleston is about play as well. During the summer, the day program at Civitan Acres in the Deep Creek area of Chesapeake expands to include an overnight vacation camp, week-long sessions of arts and crafts, bingo, swimming and field trips to museums and theme parks all in the rustic ambiance of camp cabins on the wooded 14-acre site.

Karen Mo rgan-Hill, camp director, said associates, from age 18 to 60 and older, may enjoy a vacation in a sheltered environment while giving their families a respite.

The camp also serves as a training experience for counselors, many of whom come from Great Britain through the Camp America exchange program.

This year a trio of counselors came from a similar facility in Tanzania.

The camp has specially equippe d Snoezelen (controlled multi-sensory stimulation) rooms, filled with swings, ball pits, lava lights, cushy foam chairs and music are geared to associates with intellectual disabilities or autism, but can be therapeutic for anyone, Morgan-Hill said. Snoezelen rooms are also at the Bonwell Hudgins Center.

Those past working age are part of Eggleston Services, too, with programs designed for seniors, many of whom worked for the agency.