FOCUS ON abilityCELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF FOCUS ON ABILITY

A Newsletter by ODC, Inc. SUMMER 2015

Empowering People With Disabilites To Achieve

1965

A group of concerned citizens help create the “South Wood County Sheltered Workshop” and the “Marshfield Rehabilitation Workshop” to provide vocational opportunities for adults with disabilities.

Gary Gilbert is hired as director of the two operations.

1969

The Marshfield Rehabilitation Workshop, Inc. and South Wood County Sheltered Workshop merge to become Wood County Workshop, Inc.

1970

On its 10 year anniversary, Wood County Workshop changes its name to Opportunity Development Centers, Inc. to reflect changes in programming.

1975 1977

ODC receives its first accreditation as a rehabilitation agency by the national accreditation agency CARF.

ODC’s 50 year anniversary is a great time for reflection. Much has changed in 50 years, in our world and within ODC. We have grown in scope and size, we have experienced changes in the economy and in our funding, and we have developed new programs and new business initiatives to meet the needs of the people we serve.

While many things have changed, one thing hasn’t - “who we are” as an organization and what guides our work. The people we serve have always been at the heart of all our efforts and decisions. We are guided by their needs, and we are always motivated to improve as an organization so that we can be more effective in supporting each person as they work to achieve their work and life goals.

Our 50 year anniversary is also an opportunity to look toward the future. We have learned so much as an organization over the past 50 years, and we want to use what we have learned to guide us.

We’ve learned that when people are given opportunity and support, combined with their own personal effort, they can achieve wonderful things in employment and in life. We’ve learned that we need to “dream big” as an organization and encourage the people we work with to do the same in pursuing what they want to achieve in their lives.

Without a doubt, ODC as an organization will look different in the next 50 years. We have come a long way, but we recognize we still have much more work to do. We want to continue to

facilitate even more connections and develop more opportunities so that each person can work and participate as an active, contributing citizen in the community.

What won’t change is our commitment to the people we serve. They will continue to be the inspiration and guiding force behind all of our work and all of our next steps as an organization.

We thank all of the people who have supported ODC and played an important role in ODC’s first 50 years. We look forward to a promising future for ODC and everyone we serve!

TOP: Gary Gilbert (center), then ODC President, at the Marshfield Rehabilitation Workshop in 1969.

p2 Opportunity Development Centers, Inc.

In Our Own Words

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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!

It’s hard to believe that ODC is celebrating its

50th anniversary… happy birthday, ODC!

ODC reminds me of so much good. One of my

fondest memories involves ODC when I was just

a child, in the early 1970s. My aunt needed the

services that ODC provided; she had mental

health issues and ODC was the only place willing

and able to meet my aunt’s needs.

There was so much misunderstanding about disabilities back then. Stigma

was more prevalent, and education was lacking on the subject. Much of

the time, people with disabilities were treated as outcasts. Even my aunt’s

immediate family had a hard time accepting her, so my family took in her

and her son. As time went by, ODC became a good fit for her, and was a

blessing to my aunt, her family, my family and the greater community.

I was just a little boy then, but the importance of ODC in my family’s

life really had an impact on me… and that was close to 50 years ago.

Besides helping so many individuals, I have seen over the years that

ODC is doing something else, too – ODC is fighting the stigma that

labels individuals and limits expectations. Stigma can be beat, but it

takes education, and ODC has been taking steps to educate everyone

in our communities for many years. People are more accepted, success

is being attained and progress is being made.

What is most important about ODC? Focus! ODC puts the focus on

the ability of the individuals, not on the disability. This makes all the

difference in the world.

ODC has been a blessing for countless individuals and families. Thank

you, ODC, for doing all that you do… and happy 50th birthday!

Andy Adams, ODC Employee

1986

ODC establishes Workskills and Supported Employment programs, opening up new employment opportunities for people with more significant disabilities.

With over $1.25 million raised during ODC’s first capital campaign, construction begins

on expanding the Wisconsin Rapids facility to include a warehouse and larger work areas.

1994

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Empowering People With Disabilites To Achieve p3

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Jahns - Daniel Janik, Jr. - Pam Jennings - Jill Joosten-Russell - Emilie Keuntjes - Chris Kinzel - Nita Kirst - Miss Wisconsin Rapids Area Madeline Kumm - Nellie Larsen - Eugene Mancl - Ginger Marten - Rick Merdan - Michelle Neumann - John Preuss - Rapids School of Performing Arts -

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- Shannon TerMaat - Tilly’s Village: ODC President Pam Ross, Jerry and Michele King, Ginger Marten, with special guests Eric Brittnacher

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p4 Opportunity Development Centers, Inc.

OH, WHAT A JOY!When asked about her new employee, Autumn, Dr. Patti Schumacher of Changes Within chiropractic clinic says this:

“‘Oh, what a joy’ pretty much sums it up.”

Dr. Schumacher has owned and operated Changes Within in Marshfield for 11 years. While the clinic serves all ages, they specialize in pediatric chiropractic services. According to Schumacher, her patient list includes many children with special needs – one of the reasons that she was so receptive when ODC came to call about providing an internship opportunity for a young woman participating in Project SEARCH, a high school transitional program for students with intellectual disabilities.

Enter Autumn, who was set to graduate from the Project SEARCH program on May 15. But before that date rolled around, before the end of her internship at Changes Within, Schumacher decided that she couldn’t let her go. Autumn was hired on May 6.

“I can honestly say that I see quite a few children with disabilities that have kind of ‘given up’,” said Schumacher. “I want them to see Autumn, to see that she never gives up. She has a positive attitude every day when she comes in – she hates it when she has to miss work. I’m hoping that she’ll have some influence on them.”

“The effect on the rest of my staff is night and day as well,” said Schumacher. “We take everything for granted, but Autumn has opened our eyes to see the blessings we have in our lives.”

Autumn is responsible for a variety of office tasks within the clinic. Another of her Project SEARCH internships took place in the human resources department at St. Joseph’s Hospital, where she learned that she really enjoyed office work.

“Working in HR taught me to find a system that works and don’t mess it up,” said Autumn. “I even had my own office there!”

“She’s not afraid to tackle anything,” said Schumacher. “She’ll try it, and if she can’t do it she’ll let us know. But if she can, she’s going to do it with 100% effort.”

TOP: Schumacher and her staff closed Changes Within chiropractic clinic for a time on May 15, so that all of them could attend Autumn’s Project SEARCH graduation ceremony. “At the graduation, I was so mad at my mom because she just kept snapping pictures,” said Autumn. “But mom said, ‘you’re going to thank me for this when you’re really, really old!’” | BOTTOM: “Autumn is always smiling,” said Schumacher. “She does cheerleading on the weekends and I can totally see why she loves to do it, because it just lights her heart on fire to be able to cheer and have a good time.”

1998

Having raised $745,000, construction is completed on a new building in Marshfield.

Gary Gilbert retires, and Pam Ross succeeds him as President.

2000

ODC is awarded a federal contract with the US Postal Service to manufacture 10 million label holders.

2001 2003 2004

Access and Beginnings programs are established to provide work opportunities for people with significant support needs. Community donors support construction of the Beginnings workroom.

Community Care Connections of Wisconsin

becomes the primary referral and funding agency

for individuals served by ODC programs. For many

years, Wood County Unified Services was the major

funding source.

2009

Empowering People With Disabilites To Achieve p5

2010

ODC named the 2010 Business of the Year by Marshfield Area Chamber of Commerce and Innovative Business of the Year by the Heart of Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce.

ODC receives a Pathways for Independence grant to “rebalance and restructure” our staff resources to advance integrated community employment for individuals with disabilities.

2011

ODC is awarded a Project SEARCH program in Marshfield. Project SEARCH is a high school transitional program for students with intellectual disabilities.

2014

ODC develops and implements its Convenience Store Certificate of Competency program, which utilizes a curriculum to “graduate” individuals with a signed certificate of competency in service industry work.

ODC is awarded a Project SEARCH program in Wisconsin Rapids.

2015

ODC celebrates 50 years of empowering

people with disabilities to achieve

their work & life goals.

PAYING IT FORWARDLuAnn is a staff aide. She works with

individuals with disabilities at Lincoln

Industries in Tomahawk, providing

them with direction and support as

they perform their work at a center

much like ODC’s.

But LuAnn has come a long way.

Not so long ago, she needed a little

direction and support herself, and she

found that through ODC. She now

gives back, helping people to achieve

their goals.

When LuAnn met Sandy Ewan, ODC

Employment Coordinator working in the

Merrill area, she had been unemployed

for many years. Her anxiety disorder

had become disabling and had made

her job search difficult; her troubles

TOP: “She took to the job like ‘magic’,” said Sandy Ewan (right), ODC Employment Coordinator, of LuAnn (left) and her employment at Lincoln Industries in Tomahawk.

were compounded by numerous

surgeries for which recovery time

was lengthy. Those surgeries had left

her with physical limitations that also

narrowed her employment options.

“I was at the end of my rope,” said

LuAnn. “I didn’t know what I was

going to do. I had the ambition and the

energy – I wanted a job and I wasn’t

messing around.”

“I had put in 22 applications in a year’s

time,” said LuAnn. “I went back to each

location and I called each location –

nothing was happening.”

Then, in January, Ewan joined the

search.

“I chose ODC to help me find a job,”

said LuAnn. “Sandy asked me what I

like to do, and what my strong points

and weaknesses are. I have trouble

with paperwork, and she helped me

with all of that. She ‘interviewed’ me

just like an employer would... she

videotaped the interview and played

it back for me, to help me improve my

skills.”

Ewan used all of the tools at her disposal

to assist LuAnn in securing employment.

One of tools, a six-week work

experience, is often utilized by ODC

staff to help them better identify an

individual’s interests and skills in order

to find the best job match possible.

LuAnn’s work experience was to take

place at Lincoln Industries in Merrill.

“As soon as Sandy mentioned Lincoln

Industries, I was thrilled,” said LuAnn.

“My cousin has Down Syndrome, and

my uncle was a person with a disability

as well. We helped care for them

when I was growing up. My mom is a

caretaker and so is my sister, and my

aunt is a nurse, so I think we have that

in our blood.”

After five weeks, LuAnn’s supervisor

surprised her by asking her to take a

ride to Lincoln Industries’ Tomahawk

center to work for the day. That sealed

the deal for both LuAnn and her

supervisor who, in March, presented

LuAnn with that long-awaited job

offer – she would be working at the

Tomahawk center.

“This opportunity and this job 100%

changed my life, and I’m not kidding,”

said LuAnn. “It changed it from black

to white, 180 degrees! I now have a

responsibility, and I take responsibility

very seriously. I help people, and I feel

good about myself.”

“I would have never gotten this job

without ODC – I was trying myself but

it wasn’t happening,” she said. “This

has changed my life. This is the best

job I’ve ever had and I’m very thankful

for everything – it was the right time

with the right people, and it was just a

blessing.”

p6 Opportunity Development Centers, Inc.

THE RIGHT FITOn Adam’s one-month work anniversary, AgSource threw him a party.

“It was a really nice surprise, because I had mentioned that my anniversary was coming up,” said Adam. “So they gathered everybody in the breakroom, and Janine came and told me that we were going to meet with Lynn from ODC. Then everybody said ‘surprise’ and congratulated me!”

Adam and his colleagues were celebrating the anniversary of his hire as a lab technician at AgSource in Marshfield, a laboratory that provides food, water, environmental and milk testing services. Adam had worked with the company before, during a six-week temporary work experience in 2012 that explored his interests and skills with the support of ODC staff.

“Lynn Haefer from ODC came and talked to me about the possibility of a temporary work experience and right away, we had a great working relationship,” said Janine Brun, Laboratory Operations Manager at AgSource. “Adam worked out really well and we enjoyed him immensely. Even in that time, in those six weeks, you could see how much he had grown.”

But, she said, AgSource hadn’t budgeted for any new positions at that time, so his hire was out of the question.

“That was three years ago”, said Brun. “Once we moved into our new building and I knew that I had enough work for two part-time staff, he was the first person that came to my mind. After Adam left the temporary position, I had told him and Lynn that I was going to get him back in this role somehow, some way.”

After the AgSource experience was over, Adam worked with Haefer on other temporary assignments, but none seemed as good a fit as the lab. Adam has a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from UW-Stevens Point, so it makes sense that he would love the AgSource environment.

“He’s doing something that he has the education and the background to do, and he loves it!” said Brun. “He’s just so happy to be here. And that really, really helps my other employees have a more positive outlook on life. He keeps them happy, too!”

“Everybody loves him,” said Brun. “When we had that little get-together, everyone was excited to be a part of it. We just wanted to show him that we’re behind him all the way, that what he does matters to us, that he’s doing an excellent job, and that we’re proud of him.”

And according to Adam, “This job definitely feels like the right fit!”

ABOVE: Adam’s “surprise” one-month anniversary celebration included a sign that he’ll treasure… “Adam, we are so happy you are here!”

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

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

Cindy KieslingExecutive DirectorLabor Education and Training Center

Dave KrauseAssistant Vice PresidentForward Financial

Jeff MeyersVice President - Commercial LendingWoodTrust Bank

Tammy SalewskiVice PresidentRon’s Refrigeration & Air Conditioning

Nan TaylorDirector, Business Development & Community RelationsRiverview Hospital Association

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

2015-16 ODC, Inc.

Board of Directors

Empowering People With Disabilites To Achieve p7

THE FACES OF ODCRecognizing people who have participated

in ODC programs for many years...

Frank is one of two individuals who began

their career at ODC in 1974! He continues

to work on the ODC production floor

in Marshfield three days per week – we

don’t see him retiring anytime soon!

FRANK41 years

Joyce also began her career at ODC in

1974! She has had many community jobs

over the years, and now works exclusively

at Arborview Court, an assisted living

facility, with the support of ODC staff.

JOYCE41 years

Roseanne has worked at ODC’s

Marshfield facility since 1978! She still

works three days per week, many times

in the wood room production area.

ROSEANNE37 years

Diane began working at ODC’s

Wisconsin Rapids facility in 1978.

She retired from work in 2012 but

still participates in our Day Services

program.

DIANE37 years

We are so glad to be part of your success!

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

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