Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 4 December 2003 — Page 30
Page 30 • The Muncie Times • December 4, 2003
Future Alternatives/Future Choices
Beth Quarles is the owner of Future Alternatives, a for-profit business and the founder and CEO of Future Choices, a non-profit organization. Her enterprises are housed in a 23 office complex at 309 N. High St. in downtown Muncie. Future Alternatives is a consulting firm that does interpreting for the deaf as well as diversity training and education for people in management. “We do oh-site as well as off-site training. Offsite training can be wherever the company suggests we do it,” said Quarles. The organization also has six subcontractors who help provide additional consultancy services as needed. The firm was established in 1989 in
move,said Quarles, was under was inspired by a conversation the encouragement of Mary Quarles had with Richard Dollison of MOM’s after the Bailey, a person living with firm started doing consultation disabilities, who could not get work for the organization. any accessible accommodation “I had saved some anywhere in the state of money and decided to start my Indiana. Future Choices own business and I noticed applied for and secured a $3.2 there was a lack of interpreters million grant to ouild an in this area,” said Quarles, apartment complex that is whose work with the deaf accessible to the disabled. The dates back to 1969 when she result was the Dailey worked for a mainstream Apartment building at 1312 program for individuals with Bunch Blvd with 37 units two disabilities at the Indiana which opened up in October School for the Deaf. Quarles 1999. “We are operating at full also worked for the Muncie capacity.We achieved all the Community Schools district objectives we wrote in the for four years. She also worked grant, a scenic view, a for the National Association of neighborhood atmosphere and the Deaf for three years, a people with and without Comprehensive Mental Health disabilities living together,” for four years and the Maxon said Quarles. Corporation for four years. She The organization has holds a Bachelors of Arts a six-member board of
Beth Quarles
Living in Delaware County. The center helps people living with disabilities with advocacy, skills training, peer counseling, information and referral. “Our clients come from within the community and want to maintain independent living within the community. There are about 20,000 living with disabilities in Delaware County,” said Quarles. The center was set up through a $250,000 grant from the Division of Developmental, Aging and rehabilitation
Services.
The next level for
Quarles is for her organization to play a role in looking after
Indianapolis and operated from degree from Ball State directors. the growing population of downtown at 445 Pennsylvania University in general studies. Another project that seniors as people keep living Ave. It moved its offices to its Future Choices came Future Choices embarked on is longer and the baby boomers present location in 1994. The into existence in Dec. 1994. It the Center for Independent
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swell the ranks of the aging. “Families are moving away because of jobs and communities are going to have to take care of the older population and those living with disabilities,” she said. Quarles advised those seeking to start new businesses to be aware that it takes about five years just to get started and another five years for people to begin to know them. “The longer you are in business the more people think you’ll be there for a while. Go into the community and let the community know you’re there. Be constantly looking for creative ways to bring in income,” she said.
Congraulations To All Business Owners From The Muncie Times