SOS Healthcare preparing people with autism, intellectual disabilities for life on their own

MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WBTW) – SOS Healthcare works to provide assistance and care for people with autism or disabilities, so WBTW checked in to see how they’ve been able to expand and get more help to those in need. 

SOS recently expanded their services to be able to provide job coaching every day, as opposed to only a few times a week, which helps prepare people for the workforce. Executive Director at SOS Healthcare, Sarah Pope, said they are working to help people learn social and life skills so they can live on their own. 

Thanks to grant money, SOS added on an annex to the Myrtle Beach office, which allows them to create more space for teaching skills many people don’t think about, like washing clothes, doing the dishes, or cooking. “A lot of times our young adults don’t have the opportunity to try some of those skills,” said Pope. “If they’re going to live at Oak Tree Farm, for example, or go live on their own someday, we want to make sure they know how to make basic food, grocery shop, they know how to clean up after.” 

Oak Tree Farm will be an affordable housing community for people with autism and intellectual disabilities. The idea for this came from some of the people getting assistance at SOS. We spoke to someone who’s been working with the program about what this community will mean to them. “The assistance and the new Oak Tree Farm neighborhood that’s going to be built, for us people with disabilities, it’s going to make a change in my life,” said Liem Pope. 

Right now, SOS is waiting for the final building permits to begin construction. The first phase will consists of a transitional home and duplex apartments for permanent living. When all four phases are complete, the community will be able to house about 95 adults. SOS is hoping to break ground on the first phase in October.

SOS Healthcare is holding a golf tournament fundraiser on Saturday to continue raising money for Oak Tree Farm. For more information on the tournament, click here. SOS also opened a new office in Georgetown on Thursday, and Pope said they will be looking forward to working with people on the south strand in the near future.