Hundreds of Jobs In Central Wisconsin In Danger If A New Policy Takes Affect

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Updated: 3:44 AM Nov 13, 2009 Hundreds of Jobs In Central Wisconsin In Danger If A New Policy Takes Affect Hundreds of jobs in Central Wisconsin are in danger because of a proposed statewide policy. Posted: 4:44 PM Nov 12, 2009 Reporter: Margo Spann Email Address: mspann@wsaw.com

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Hundreds of jobs in Central Wisconsin are in danger because of a proposed statewide policy.

It would change the way Opportunity Development Centers do business.

Since 1965, ODC has helped people with disabilities find jobs at their facilities in Marshfield and Wisconsin Rapids, or in the community.

The ODC President tells us last year, they helped more than 600 adults find work.

About 200 people currently work at their facilities, doing a variety of packing and mailing services for local businesses.

The State Department of Health Services wants to limit how long the adults are allowed to work there before they have to transition to a job in the community.

The President says a time limit could force them into situations they aren't ready for.

"The goal of everyone is to get an integrated employment setting in the community for many people that's a goal but a very long term goal," says Pam Ross, the President of the ODC.

She says if jobs are cut from their facilities, some adults may not be able to find work and will be forced to stay home.

Even though the time limit hasn't been specified, the ODC is asking people to write to their local legislators in hopes of removing that from the proposal.

The Secretary of Health Services is expected to decide whether or not to revise the proposal by the end of next week.

Latest Comments

Posted by: Charles Location: Wausau on Nov 12, 2009 at 05:29 PM

Thank you for covering this very important story! The proposed funding changes would impact literally hundreds of people with disabilities and their families in Central Wisconsin. Under the new guidelines, if a disabled individual could not be placed in a job the community within 6 months, the funding supporting their work oriented program would be terminated. Their options would be to attend a "day services" program (which is not work related)or... no one knows. This action robs the disabled from being able to earn any kind of a paycheck doing work that many local companies value, as well as taking away the pride and dignity that all of us feel when we work and contribute. Work oriented programs for the disabled are many times more cost effective than the alternatives and benefit disabled workers, their caregivers, and the community. Please contact your local legislator and urge them not to time limit funding for prevocational services for the disabled!

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