Continuing Developmental Services, Inc.

Corporate Structure- Founded: 1977. CEO (COS, Inc.): Sankar Sewnauth. General Manager (Uniste!): MG Robert W. Mixon Jr., U.S. Army retired. Headquarters: 860 Hard Road, Webster, NY 14580. CDS telephone: 585-341-4600. CDS web site: www.cdsunistel.org. Unistel telephone: 1-800-UNISTEL Unistel web site: www.unistelservices.com.

Continuing Developmental Services, Inc. (CDS) is a $44-million not-for-profit agency headquartered in Webster, N. Y. Founded in 1977, CDS provides life- and job-transition skills training to 1,500 developmental^ disabled people. Unistel, the CDS manufacturing and production division, has been in operation since 1979. The company proviaes quality products and services to customers while offering fulfilling employment opportunities to people with disabilities.

Unistel works to help people achieve their dreams and ultimately enjoy an independent lifestyle.

When adding spices to rations or using a military radio, think CDS Unistel. Unistel is an AbilityOne company certified by the National Institute for the Severely Handicapped and the New York State Industries for the Disabled. It currently employs more than 240 people with disabilities throughout 80,000 square feet of factory space in two Rochester-area facilities. Certified by the American Institute of Baking and the U.S. Army Veterinary Command for the highest standards of food safety, the company meets all federa/ standards of cleanliness, safety and force protection for manufacturing and packaging.

Unistel has been doing business with the military for more than 10 years, packaging spices for the rations provided to soldiers in the field and assembling accessory components for military radios.

The company has a diverse business model with a wide range of products and capabilities. Currently, it assembles six different types of products and continually explores new product opportunities. Unistel products are known throughout the United States for quality, low cost and on-time delivery. The business has developed a broad array of products and services to give its workforce numerous options to obtain or regain job skills. The company's leadership continuously seeks out new job opportunities, primarily in packaging and "kitting" products. Unisteis workforce is highly skilled in these tasks, led by a management team of professionals who understand and teach excellence in every product they produce. Quality standards in areas such as spice packaging, assembling and kitting are among the highest in each industry, as demonstrated by continuing customer satisfaction. The CDS company philosophy encourages and supports people to grow to their maximum potential and keep promises to customers.

In December, CDS signed a three-year spice-packaging contract with LiDestri Foods of Rochester, N.Y., a leading manufacturer and maker of pasta sauces such as Francesco Rinaldi and Newman's Own. This agreement will create several new jobs. According to Giovanni (John) LiDestri, president and CEO of LiDestri Foods, "To be able to expand our offerings to our customers is one thing, but to be able to do it by sourcing additional goods from CDS, and thus help employ our fellow citizens with developmental disabilities, brings tears of joy to my eyes."

In 2008, CDS built a state-of-the-art life transitions center. The Wolf Life Transitions Center has comprehensive traumatic brain injury (TBI) life- and job-transition capability training in one place. The center features an industrial work center and restaurant to help people receive vocational training while earning a paycheck. The facility offers a variety of clinical supports including physical rehabilitative and aquatic therapy and independent living assessments and skills.

In addition, the center offers TBI service coordination to help people access the necessary supports and services to live successfully in the community. TBI service coordinators assist with funding for housing and utilities along with bringing various clinical-support services into the home. TBI service coordinators also assist people with obtaining community-based services to help with recovery.

Recognizing the importance of giving back to the community and the country, CDS created an initiative called Warrior SALUTE., which meets the needs of young men and women - and their families - who are returning home from war.

Warrior S.A.L.U.T.E. was designed to help servicemembers - both those still active in the military and those who have made the transition into the Department of Veterans Affairs network as discharged veterans - with traumatic brain injury and other disabling injuries.

The CDS Warrior S.A.L.U.T.E. initiative operates on the following principles:

* Support- to foster individual growth and development.

* Assessment - to determine the needs and support requirements for each soldier.

* Listen - to ensure that soldiers and their families have the opportunity to fully express their feelings and dreams for the future.

* Understand - to identify specific psychological, social, and vocational needs and goals.

* Transition - to develop a transition plan that meets the needs of soldiers and their families.

* Empower - to help soldiers live independently and productively in their community.

CDS is a unique service organization with a superb business model aimed to help as many people as possible successfully navigate through life and achieve their personal goals and dreams.

[Sidebar]

A worker, supported by CDS, assembles radios for the U.S. military.