FOCUS ON abilityMY WORK. MY CHOICE.

A Newsletter by ODC, Inc. FALL 2014

Empowering People With Disabilites To Achieve

For nearly 50 years, ODC has worked to meet the needs of people with disabilities in our community. We have developed programs in response to emerging needs, and in partnership with our funding sources and donors, we have been innovative in creating work opportunities for people at all levels of ability.

ODC offers an array of programs that give individuals options and the ability to choose the program or programs that work best for them. Our programs include center-based training, community-based employment and day services.

Through an ongoing process called person-centered planning, each person identifies their desired goals and outcomes. Various options are discussed, and through an informed choice process, individuals are able to select the programs they feel will best meet their needs. Some people may participate in one program, while others may combine multiple programs.

ODC’s programs are funded in part with state funding and in part with federal Medicaid funding. Recent changes in Medicaid funding rules could have a significant impact on any programs that operate within ODC’s center-based settings. These new rules require services to be delivered in the “most integrated setting appropriate to meet the individual’s needs”, based on the person-

centered plan. The federal Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is still in process of determining whether or not center-based work or day services programs meet these changing rules. In the meantime, the State of Wisconsin is required to submit a plan for how they will meet the CMS rules; without clarity on the rules for work settings, the state plan is also unclear on the future of center-based program options.

“ODC has always believed that offering a variety of options is a very good thing, in order to meet a wide variety of needs and to give people choices,” states Pam Ross, ODC President. “We strongly support people’s choices. If a person wants to work in the community, we will support them toward that goal. We’ve increased community employment significantly over the years;

SEE MY WORK. MY CHOICE. / PAGE 3

“My son’s life blossomed with his connection to ODC."- Aden Ward, Parent of an individual with a disability

TOP: Members of the Central Wisconsin A Team and others who are advocating for a full array of service options for people with disabilities recently gathered for a rally at ODC in Wisconsin Rapids.

p2 Opportunity Development Centers, Inc.

In Our Own Words

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I have always viewed ODC as a progressive

and innovative organization. I am proud of the

programs we have developed to meet emerging

needs over the years, and proud of our progress in

creating opportunities for people with disabilities. I

am continually inspired by the people we serve, and

proud of their success.

While ODC has faced many changes and challenges as an organization over

our nearly 50 years of existence, we are currently being challenged to think

“way outside the box”, as federal funding policies could dramatically change

the way we are able to operate. These impending changes are compelling

us to ask ourselves, “What if we as an organization had to operate our

programs without the use of our facilities?” “What if all of our programs had

to be delivered only in the community?” “What would it look like?”

ODC’s mission to “empower people with disabilities to achieve their

work and life goals” can be accomplished in a number of ways, and in

a number of places. Yet we have always felt and continue to feel that

having both the center-based and community-based options has been

a key to being able to most effectively meet everyone’s unique needs

even those who have the most significant support needs.

As we face this time of uncertainty about funding policies, we are

balancing our time and effort between advocacy and transformation.

While we will continue to strongly advocate for the full array of service

options and will continue to encourage those we serve to self-advocate,

we must at the same time look ahead at how we can effectively

transform our organization and programs to meet changing funding

requirements and accomplish our mission in different ways.

In reality, we have been in this process of transformation for the past

five years, with significant effort on finding ways to increase community

employment and community-based day services opportunities. We

are making great progress in helping more individuals get jobs in

the community, having more than doubled the number of people in

supported employment over the past five years.

We have witnessed the excitement and pride that people experience

when they get a job in the community, and that motivates us to

continue to find community jobs for even more people. We will

continue to look at each individual’s strengths, and find ways to match

those strengths with opportunities… and we will continue to partner

with our communities to accomplish our important mission.

- Pam Ross, President of ODC, Inc.

This column, In Our Own Words, features the inspiring words and stories of those on the front lines of ODC’s mission: our staff, our volunteers and our supporters, as well as the parents and caregivers of people with disabilities. Together, we achieve!

Empowering People With Disabilites To Achieve p3

MY WORK. MY CHOICE.CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

at the same time, we also respect people’s choice to work in our center-based programs. We want to see a continued array of options and choices for people.”

In order to ensure that people served by ODC have the opportunity to voice their opinions and advocate for what is important to them, ODC has established an “A Team” as part of a statewide network of A Teams. These teams ensure that people with disabilities and their families are aware of issues that impact them, and that they have the ability and tools to advocate for what matters to them. ODC’s A Team has participated in several educational forums as well as meeting and communicating with policy makers and legislators. In early 2014, ODC’s A Team was one of several teams that participated in a “Day at the State Capitol”, where they met with many state legislators to voice their concerns. The motto of the state A Teams is “My Work. My Choice.”

Editor's Note: For more information on “My Work.

My Choice.”, please visit the A Team website at www.

ateamwisconsin.org.

“My son’s life blossomed with his connection to ODC. He became an employee, had a range of professional services available to him, and developed a social life with significant friendships arising through his work. He enjoyed his work, and met often with staff to discuss his employment options. Almost from the beginning, his case manager suggested that he consider working in the community, but because of his lack of confidence, he resisted. By 2012, he was able to transition to community employment, and he now divides his work between WOW Logistics and ODC. His ability to work in the community is possible because of the support system in place at ODC. Through the years, we have come to see many ODC workers transition to community employment… this outside employment is made possible because each client of ODC is engaged in a process that not only increases skill levels, but maybe more importantly, helps develop and maintain self-esteem and self-awareness.

Through the dedication and skill of ODC staff, persons with disabilities who have little self-confidence find themselves growing and maturing and achieving a job in the wider community. We are advocating that there continue to be a full array of service options for people with disabilities, and an array of employment options in both community-based and center-based programs that give ALL people the opportunity to work.”

-Aden Ward Parent of an individual with a disability

p4 Opportunity Development Centers, Inc.

CAROL’S WORK. CAROL’S CHOICE.Everyone who knows Carol describes her in the same way – she loves to work and is willing to try any new job, despite the physical challenges she faces.

“Carol does not let her disability limit her from wanting to try new things,” said Raquel Szymanski, ODC Transition Coordinator. “She really wants to be successful, and gives everything her all.”

Like many of the individuals served by ODC, Carol is a busy woman. She works four days a week at ODC, where supportive staff make adaptations to jobs so that Carol can perform them despite the fact that she has limited use of her hands. Carol also works at Goodwill, a job she truly enjoys. In the past, an ODC job coach supported Carol at Goodwill each time she worked; now, because of adaptations made by ODC to Carol’s work station, she is working independently.

ODC Day Services programming is also part of Carol’s busy week. She enjoys crafting in her free time, and will bring projects to ODC for others in her Arts and Crafts class to try themselves. She has begun volunteering for Meals on Wheels, and the opportunity to help others is very important to her.

“Carol is a kind-hearted person,” said Szymanski. “She is truly a pleasure to know.”

DUSTIN’S WORK. DUSTIN’S CHOICE.According to Chris Nemitz, ODC Service Coordinator, Dustin is a perfect example of how much can be achieved when individuals with disabilities, their families and ODC staff all work together toward a common goal.

Dustin came to ODC in 2009, just out of high school. Nemitz states that he wasn’t well prepared for a work environment.

“He was having trouble motivating himself without help,” said Nemitz, “and wasn’t pushing himself to learn and grow. He was working well below his capability level.”

All that has changed, but Dustin’s journey was not quick or easy. The 2 ½ years he spent working at the ODC work center was the game-changer.

“We openly challenged Dustin,” said Nemitz, “and involved his parents in the process. We all knew that he had so much more to contribute, was so much more capable than he was showing us.”

Slowly, with time and ODC staff as his coaches and cheerleaders, Dustin began to buy into the challenge. He set his own goals, which included developing his work skills and work ethic at ODC as well as actively searching for employment in a community setting. As his confidence level grew, he was able to move into his own apartment and begin living independently.

Dustin is now participating in an eight week work experience at Family Video. With the assistance of his ODC job coach, he is “trying out” the world of work in a community business for the first time, and loving every minute of it.

Dustin is a young man who, as Nemitz puts it, “has tons of talent, and has come a very long way.”

Empowering People With Disabilites To Achieve p5

FRANCES’ WORK. FRANCES’ CHOICE.Frances’ path to successful employment began within the ODC work center in 2003. During most of the years since that time, Frances has worked in community jobs and at the work center, where she performs a variety of jobs, and continues to build her self-confidence and reinforce her good work habits.

“The work center has been a very supportive environment for Frances,” said Mary Blanchard, ODC Employment Resource Manager. “She has addressed some very complex personal issues in her life, and ODC staff were always there to provide the stability and structure she needed to get through that difficult time.”

Over the years, Frances has seen her community work hours decreased and positions eliminated due to cost containment. Most recently, her four-year position at Arby’s was eliminated and she turned to ODC for assistance. Employment staff worked with Frances to obtain two part-time fill-in jobs at Quality Roofing and Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, until she was ultimately hired for a permanent part-time position at Hotel Marshfield. She also continues to work at ODC.

“Work is very important to Frances, and she has such a strong work ethic,” said Blanchard. “She’s very dependable, shows up ready to work, and has a great attitude. She’s so grateful that she’s gotten this opportunity with Hotel Marshfield and recently commented that she doesn’t just like her job, she LOVES it!”

EDDIE’S WORK. EDDIE’S CHOICE.If you visit ODC to drop off electronics for recycling, you’ll probably meet Eddie. He is affectionately known as one of the “warehouse guys”, as his jobs at ODC are located primarily within the large warehouse in Wisconsin Rapids. He is responsible for collecting, sorting and properly storing the large volume of electronic equipment that is disassembled for recycling by ODC workers each day. He also works a very large cardboard compactor, compressing and bundling truckloads of cardboard for recycling.

Eddie came to ODC to work and to learn. He participates each week in Independent Living classes offered in ODC’s Day Services program,

which focus on skills training in adult life activities such as cooking, shopping, laundry and money management. He is also working with ODC staff on the skills needed for successful community employment, including following direction and attention to detail.

Like many others at ODC, Eddie is exploring his community employment interests by joining work crews which meet the project needs of businesses on-site at their location. Over the past two years, Eddie has joined crews working at WOW Logistics, Manilla Gorilla and the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters baseball stadium. Each work crew job has given Eddie the opportunity to try a new work experience in a supportive setting, with others that he knows, and to take those important first steps toward community employment.

Deb Kehrberg, ODC Service Coordinator, sums it up: “Eddie’s potential is limitless. He is a determined young man with a strong work ethic. His future is very bright.”

p6 Opportunity Development Centers, Inc.

In Their Own Words

In Their Own Words features stories of opportunity,

support and personal achievement. In this column, we

FOCUS ON ABILITY!

MARK“My name is Mark and I have a heart murmur that is part

of my disability. I graduated from high school in 1987

when I was 21. I worked at Goodwill for a while during

high school and

after I graduated.

I then started

working at ODC

in the fall of

1987 in the work

center. For me,

working at ODC

is challenging

because I get

to do a variety

of work. I like

to work at ODC

and I think we

are like a family

here and I like

to work with my

friends. They help many people to get jobs in the

community, too. I have worked on work crews in the

community doing lawn work and working at another

company doing assembly projects when they need us.

We have a commercial kitchen at ODC and I got to work

in there, too. ODC is a good place to work and they are

encouraging me to work in the community too. I just

had a part-time job in the community at the Literacy

Council and also stayed working at ODC. Even with

ODC's job coach to help me, I felt like the job was too

much for me and I decided not to work there anymore,

and now I am working only at ODC. I would not want to

see ODC's facility go away because I like working here

and they help so many people with disabilities to work

here or in the community. I hope that we will always

have that choice to work wherever we choose. The

community is fine for many people to work, but I really

think the facility is the best choice for me and for some

other people.”

- MARK

DAVID"My name is David and I have worked at Opportunity

Development Centers, Inc. in Wisconsin Rapids for

five years. I am very proud of where I work and I want

to keep my job. It is my choice to work here and I

need the money I earn at ODC for my family to make

it. I am able to set my own goals which are helping me

learn the skills I

need to work in

the community,

and have the

support I need

to work towards

them. Without

these supports

I would not be

able to find a

job and feel

comfortable

working in the

community yet.

I have made

friends with

some of my

co-workers and wouldn’t be able to see them if I lost

this job. I would like to continue working at ODC. For

instance, if I was to get a job in the community and I

could not keep it, I would have nothing to fall back on

for a job if I didn’t have ODC. My goal is to get a part-

time job in the community and also work at ODC. I

can’t stress enough the importance of not only my job

to work at ODC but the other people that work there

as well.

Thank you for taking the time to listen.”

- DAVID

Editor’s Note: Mark and David sent these letters to their

legislators, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services

and Governor Walker in response to concerns over potential

changes in Medicaid funding that may affect ODC’s center-

based programs and others like them within the state.

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Lyle LangChairpersonPresidentLang Furniture

Luke WeilandVice-ChairpersonAttorneyLuke A. Weiland, Attorney at Law, LLC

Josh LinnSecretaryAdministrative ManagerThe Bridge Center

Lori GroppTreasurerAcademic Business Systems Manager, Division of EducationMarshfield Clinic

Layton AndersonVice President of Hospital OperationsMinistry Saint Joseph’s Hospital

Dale ArendtExecutive CoachThe Arendt Group

John CorrigallVP Human Resources & AdministrationRenaissance Learning, Inc.

Brenda DillenburgMarshfield Campus DeanMid-State Technical College

Dave EckmannSpecial Assistant to the Chancellor,Economic DevelopmentUWSP

Jeff HillOwnerGene Hill Construction

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Jeff MeyersVice President - Commercial LendingWoodTrust Bank

Tammy SalewskiVice PresidentRon’s Refrigeration & Air Conditioning

Pam RossODC Presidentpross@odcinc.com | 715-818-6447

2014-15 ODC, Inc.

Board of Directors

Empowering People With Disabilites To Achieve p7

WATCHfor our newest video on YouTube!

Coming in November!"The Wish"

ODC will soon release another inspirational video featuring

individuals who envision a world different from the one in which we

live, and who aspire to make that vision come true! Watch for it on

YouTube or on our Facebook page.

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3 business days notice

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Opportunity Development Centers, Inc.1191 Huntington AvenueWisconsin Rapids, WI 54494

WE CAN’T DO IT WITHOUT YOU!You are a partner in ODC’s mission,

and your support helps so many people achieve their goals.

Please watch your mail for ODC’s Annual Appeal, coming to you during the month of November.

YOUR GIFT WILL TRULY MAKE A DIFFERENCE!