Collaborator, Spring 2000
The Wayfinding Project, part 1
Planning begins in Spring 2000!

Family Resource Center was formed almost ten years ago to
foster partnerships and above all, increase access to services.  

But what does “increase access” mean? 

In 1990, “increasing access” at FRC meant creating a one-stop shopping hub for human services. Ten years ago, Eastsiders had  to travel from, say, Bothell to, perhaps, Renton, or Crossroads, or Eastgate to find services. While difficult for anyone seeking help, those using public transportation were particularly disadvantaged.

With the development of Family Resource Center, receiving a referral from one agency to another finally meant (often) a simple walk next door. In a recent campus-wide survey, most agencies reported that they either often or not uncommonly referred clients to other on-campus agencies.

Thus the brain injured customer finds psychiatric care next door, the disabled may use the food bank, counseling clients receive medical or dental care and so on.  One respondent noted: “We wish all of our service centers could be in a setting similar to Family Resource Center.”

So, is the Center’s work done? Are services fully accessible?

You guessed it. There is lots of work to be done. 

Ten years after its launch, increasing access at FRC continues to mean providing a “one-stop shopping” center for human services.  It  means a great deal more as well.

This year (2001) FRC will make major improvements to increase access thanks to gifts and involvement by community partners.

A volunteer team from Leadership Institute took on the task of reviewing customer service needs for the campus and concluded that major external and internal signage systems were most needed to increase awareness of the campus (and thus access to services) and to help customers maneuver the campus.  Major signage additions will be made this year utilizing their recommendations.

Disability Resource Network and Brain Injury Association of Washington (two FRCA agencies) worked with staff to identify additional upgrades to ease on-campus safety and access by disabled staff, volunteers and customers. This year FRC will add 7 power assisted doors, Braille signage and a new accessibility parking space, repair damaged aggregate sidewalks and make other improvements to improve use by all.

Support for these improvements and other upgrades has come from Microsoft, Nintendo, Nordstrom, Archibald Charitable Foundation, Paul Allen Charitable Foundation, King County, and the cities of Kirkland & Bellevue.

“Consider learning disabilities when you design your signs”

In exploring campus accessibility issues, FRC received help from Ron Hume, Executive Director, Learning Disabilities Association of Washington. Some statistics underscore the need for very clear signage at health and human service organizations. Hume notes:

• 44% of the TANF (welfare) population were found to have a learning disability. (WA State DSHS Learning Disabilities Project, 1998)
• 50% of females with learning disabilities will be mothers within three to five years of high school graduation. (Wagner, 1991)
• 50% of “juvenile delinquents” tested were found to have undetected learning disabilities. (Na. Ctr. State Courts & Edu. Testing Services, 1987)
• 60% of adolescents in treatment for substance abuse have learning disabilities. (Hazelden Foundation, Minn. 1992)
  
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Contact us!
Family Resource Center
16225 NE 87th Street
Suite A-5
Redmond, WA 98052
425.869.6699 phone
425.869.6666 fax

©Family Resource Center 2006.  All rights reserved.

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familyresourcecenter.
org