Ability Beyond Barriers

Day Programs, Residential & Disability Services — Conway, SC

Ability Beyond Barriers (formerly known as Horry County Disabilities & Special Needs Board) is a nonprofit organization founded in Horry County in 1984. Its mission is to provide access to high-quality services and proactively advocate for the rights of those with disabilities and special needs and their families. Per Executive Director Allan Cronell: "These folks are just like you and me. They wanna live in the community, they wanna work in the community. And our mission is to find a way to support them enough so that they can do that on their own."

The organization reaches approximately a thousand people on a regular basis across Horry, Georgetown, and Dillon counties, serving individuals with intellectual and related disabilities, autism, and head and spinal cord injuries. ABB has been a member of the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce since 1987.

Full Continuum of Services

Ability Beyond Barriers operates programs directly and provides services both directly and indirectly. Direct supports include:

• Residential programs
• Vocational programs
• Adult activity centers (day services)
• Early intervention
• Respite care
• Case management
• Job coaching

Day Program and Administrative offices are located in Conway and Loris, with residential sites spread throughout Horry County.

Day Services — New Ideas Industries

The day services component operates under the name New Ideas Industries, with Work Activity Centers in both Conway and Loris. Services are available at varying levels based on individual need:

• Support Center Services — supervised daytime care and respite for caregivers
• Day Activities — social skills and self-help skill development
• Community Services — integration into the broader community
• Employment Services — job coaching and vocational training and job placement support

Residential Support Programs

Ability Beyond Barriers operates a variety of residential programs throughout Horry County, currently including two 8-bed houses, eleven 4-bed houses, one 10-unit apartment complex, and an independent living program:

• Community Residential Care Facilities (CRCF) — two 8-bed homes providing 24-hour support, skills training, and community activity for individuals requiring a more intensive level of support
• Community Training Homes II (CTH-II) — eleven 4-bedroom, single-family homes located throughout the county, each providing 24-hour support, skills training, and community activity
• 10-Unit Apartment Complex — one apartment complex offering a more independent residential setting
• Supervised Living Program I (SLP-I) — for individuals who possess independent living skills but require a small degree of support; staff provide skills training and assist with transportation but do not provide 24-hour on-site supervision
• Supervised Living Program II (SLP-II) — provides 24-hour staff support, skills training, and transportation to and from work and other community activities; serves individuals who possess many independent living skills but still require moderate support

Note on availability: The need for residential services far outweighs current capacity, resulting in a waiting list for these services.

Head & Spinal Cord Injury Services

Ability Beyond Barriers offers specialized services for persons who have sustained a brain or spinal cord injury, or similar disabilities. These services are separate from, but coordinated with, the organization's programs for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Case Management

Case management is described as the foundation for all services delivered or coordinated by Ability Beyond Barriers. The organization has been providing case management services since its founding in 1984, assisting families and individuals in navigating care options and service eligibility throughout Horry, Georgetown, and Dillon counties.

Eligibility & How to Enroll

Services are available and provided after an individual is determined eligible under guidelines managed by the SC Office of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. For more information about the eligibility process, contact Kristy Wagner at (843) 349-7239.

Governance

Ability Beyond Barriers is governed by a Board of Directors that holds regular monthly meetings, conducted at the Conway Adult Development Center and Administrative Offices at 250 Victory Lane. Meetings are open to the public and available for both in-person and virtual attendance.

Contact Information

References

1. Ability Beyond Barriers – Day Services
2. Ability Beyond Barriers – Residential Support
3. GetCareSC – Horry County Disabilities & Special Needs
4. Myrtle Beach Regional EDC – Ability Beyond Barriers
5. WPDE – 'Just like you and me:' Ability Beyond Barriers serves most vulnerable
6. Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce – Ability Beyond Barriers