This morning (March 3), Jason Tavenner made good on a promise he made last year at this time, when he said the agency he directs - the Laurens County Disabilities & Special Needs Board - would reflect its growth in 2026 by adopting a new name.
That happened at a gala breakfast held at Laurens County's new Agriculture Center, on the site of the former fairgrounds in Laurens. The agency is a public, non-profit which serves people with intellectual and development disabilities, head injuries, or spinal cord injuries. "Our goal is to offer opportunities to people with disabilities to reach their full potential," an agency statement says. The agency is certified by the State of South Carolina.
At the main hall's front door, attendees saw signs that had "Path" slogans on them and, when the program ended, those signs had been reversed to show agency clients reflective of their individual pathways forward.
Pathwise presented its highest honor - the Von Sinclair Award for Advocacy and Service - to Dr. Moni Keen, director the Occupational Therapy doctoral program at Presbyterian College. She, and her academic program, were honored for their work in giving the agency "opportunities to serve," the audience was told.
In his remarks, Tavenner outlined the agency's work with 100 people in its residential program, 38 people employed within the community (they started with 2 people employed), 76 people in the day activity program, 400 people receiving support in neighboring counties, 43 people in the Building Dreams program, and the development of a new, devices- assistance program, Breakthrough Innovations. They employ 240 people running 2 training sites and 19 homes.
That, Tavenner said, is the agency "on face value." He then led the audience through 3 success stories - Reggie, the Path to Technology program, and Emily, describing how each had found their Path to Success.
"It's the journey that matters," Tavenner said. "That is self worth, and isn't that what we all want, to be better tomorrow than we are today."
Tavenner reminder the audience about what he said last year, when this event was held in a downtown Laurens venue, and proclaimed, "Today is the Day."
And, with that, an agency that has become well-known throughout Laurens County for its 50 years of commitment to the community, became Pathwise - navigating growth, empowering journeys. The name is relfective of the fact that "we're growing and emerging into more," Tavenner said. This annual gala is timed for March, which is Development Disabilities Awareness Month; and the Clinton City Council adopted a proclamation to that effect at its Monday night meeting, with a brief presentation from Tavenner and assistant director Tara Glenn.
