The Powerful Impact of Compassionate People

Written By Katie Chappell Photos By Samie T Worthington

Bill Braswell is a man whose impact has changed the very fiber of our community and what it means to care for its members. Loved by so many, Bill’s personality is most often described by his infectious charisma and positive attitude. He never meets a stranger and, if he does, they won’t be one for long, as he memorizes names, always makes a point to say hello, and asks about their well being.

It doesn’t take long after spending time around Bill to notice his compassion for others, particularly those he supports through his position as a member of the Board of Directors for the Newberry County Disabilities and Special Needs Board. Bill’s compassion is what makes him so selfless and giving, always seeing others as people first. At NCDSNB, it doesn’t matter if it is a person supported, a staff member, or parent, he is always concerned for their best interests. Driven by his faith and love for others, Bill has been an integral part of Newberry County Disabilities and Special Needs’ success in serving and supporting our community.

NCDSNB was founded in 1978, originally the “Newberry Adult Activity Center Board,” in the basement of the old hospital on Hunt Street to offer services for adults with intellectual disabilities in Newberry. At its founding, there were six people at the center, but like the mission of the group, it soon grew. As funding possibilities became more diverse with the incorporation of a non-profit status and the possibility of tax-deductible contributions, services did so too. The agency opened its first residential programs in 1988, two Intermediate Care Facilities for the Intellectually Disabled. In 1993, the agency developed its first Community Training Home II in the area. Today, the local residential program has grown to 11 community training homes, one intermediate care facility for the intellectually disabled, and another dozen individuals enrolled in the Supervised Living Program, a service that provides support to folks living in apartments.

As day services continued to grow, a new workshop on Nance Street was built and licensed to serve more than 100 consumers on a daily basis. Approximately 75 people work through Newberry Industries’ PRIDE Business Center on Nance Street, learning skills and earning money through in-house contracts with other industrial concerns or through the mobile work crews that operate out of the Workshop, hiring out for landscaping, cleaning and janitorial services around the community. An additional 25 individuals receive daytime services at the agency’s PRIDE Center, which is geared more toward leisure-type activities and includes a seniors room. The agency now serves nearly 300 individuals in the county with intellectual and related disabilities.

Pride is mentioned often at Newberry County Disabilities and Special Needs, as they have made it their mission through the acronym P.R.I.D.E. (People Realizing Individual Dreams and Expectations). Over his many years of service, Bill Braswell has embodied the Board’s mission by helping countless individuals reach their full potential through community opportunities and engagement.

Bill’s involvement in the Ruth S. Pugh foundation, serving people supported by NCDSNB, their families, and the staff, is an extension of his dedication to the cause. The Foundation serves as a vital link for people supported to be involved in the community by providing opportunities for inclusion. It also provides financial support for activities such as special olympics, special events such as galas, and opportunities for people to share their talents through art expression and more. In various ways, the Foundation supports staff, which are the backbone of the agency. Funds for the Foundation are primarily raised through donations from the community, contributions from staff and the annual golf tournament.

Fellow board member, Cindy Farr, said, “The most valuable lesson Bill has taught me is to be a friend. Having a friendship with Bill was very unexpected. As a staff member, our connection was through the agency. However, over time, we became friends. I learned about his love of family and his faith. I witnessed the extreme close friendships he had with others and how important those people were to him. Bill has been a mentor, and I greatly respect his judgment. He has taught me that being a friend and helping those around you is one of the greatest gifts you can give or receive.”

If you see Bill in the community, thank him for his involvement and ask him about the Newberry County Disabilities and Special Needs Board. He is sure to greet you with a smile and warm conversation. To learn more about NCDSNB and how you can become involved, please visit ncdsnb.org.