05/27/2020 03:05
As the school year ends across the country, this year things are a little different….or a lot different. But that didn’t stop the Project SEARCH team at Marshfield Clinic Health Systems from developing a unique send-off to celebrate the achievements of the Project SEARCH interns.
10/24/2019 09:10
ODC and Milkweed Market staff were happy to host an Ameriprise – StrongBridge Wealth Customer Appreciation event this past Monday. Jill, the organization’s Business Development Director had appreciative words.
08/21/2019 10:08
Day Services participants from Wisconsin Rapids, Stevens Point and Marshfield were all smiles as they worked on their Milkweed Market “Make and Take Scarecrow Project”.
06/24/2019 02:06
In the past, ODC has hosted an awards dinner each year to honor those who support our mission: to empower people with disabilities to achieve their work and life goals.
01/14/2019 10:01
What is normal, anyway?
How many times in the lives of people with disabilities or mental health struggles were they considered “not normal”? I would guess more times than they would like to count.
01/07/2019 11:01
When I met with The Waterford staff for the first time three years ago, I spoke to them about a position that I had developed with another senior living facility that we call “hospitality aid”.
12/19/2018 09:12
Alex continued to grow with each work experience and he left each workplace a better place...
12/18/2018 01:12
What started as a hire at one gym with one worker in Wisconsin Rapids turned into hires at four gyms with four workers in Wisconsin Rapids, Marshfield, Stevens Point and Plover.
12/04/2018 02:12
Arborwood Lodge and Arborview Court, part of Crystal Fountains Assisted Living, have been working with ODC employment services for over eight years.
11/26/2018 10:11
When Skyler Slark first came to Marshfield’s Project SEARCH program at Marshfield Medical Center in September 2015, he had little confidence or self-esteem and not much hope for the future.
11/15/2018 01:11
It was my great pleasure to honor Arie Reinke with ODC’s 2018 Wisconsin Rapids Area Personal Achievement Award. I am honored to have worked with Arie. His persistence and perseverance in rebuilding his work and community life in a new city has been nothing but extraordinary.
11/15/2018 01:11
Congratulations to our nominees! May you continue to grow both personally and professionally… we appreciate and applaud your contributions to our community!
11/15/2018 10:11
Every person that was nominated for the Wisconsin Rapids area award this year deserves recognition as having “stood out” among the rest for many reasons.
11/13/2018 11:11
Stay tuned… and join us as we celebrate their journeys!
10/31/2018 02:10
ODC staff and participants are thrilled to once again be attending the Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities’ annual conference in Wisconsin Dells, called the Wisconsin Self-Determination Conference.
09/24/2018 02:09
Join us on Friday, October 26th from 6:30 pm - 10:30 pm at Hotel Marshfield for our 2018 Evening to Inspire Tailgate Party!
08/07/2018 01:08
This exciting evening will feature Piano Fondue, a high-energy “dueling pianos” performance.
06/07/2018 03:06
"There is much to celebrate this evening as one chapter is ending and another is just beginning."
05/22/2018 01:05
This year’s Marshfield Project SEARCH graduating class has so much to celebrate! They’ve been through a year of intensive work readiness training...
04/17/2018 12:04
The Marshfield Young Professionals (MYP) group has organized a Blind Volleyball Tournament, during YPweek, to benefit Opportunity Development Centers, Inc. (ODC).
03/29/2018 01:03
On Tuesday, we gathered at the Elks Club in Wisconsin Rapids to honor local businesses and organizations that work with ODC Employment Services.
03/15/2018 03:03
It was just another inspirational moment for those of us who attended the ODC Employer Appreciation event in Marshfield earlier this week.
12/20/2017 04:12
When Allyson came to ODC, she immediately told me that she was ready to work.
12/20/2017 03:12
A hard worker. Always on time. Always on task. Does his job fantastically!
12/20/2017 11:12
I got to know Katie about four years ago, when I interviewed her for a video that ODC was producing. I was immediately struck by her strength and dignity...
12/18/2017 11:12
We are consistently amazed at how, each year, ODC’s Annual Awards Dinner is even more inspiring than the last.
12/14/2017 10:12
Jessiah just recently said “good-bye” to ODC, as he retired this fall after 14 years.
12/12/2017 04:12
At ODC, we know that “opportunity + support + personal effort = achievement”!
12/12/2017 03:12
Jason came to ODC in 2009 with the goal of community employment.
12/11/2017 03:12
Ryan had no plans to look for community employment, and he was not shy in saying so.
12/06/2017 11:12
When Matthew started the Project SEARCH program in 2013, he was very quiet, shy and unsure of himself.
12/04/2017 11:12
When Vicky joined ODC two years ago, she made the decision to challenge herself to gain physical strength… she would no longer be using her wheelchair.
11/16/2017 03:11
One year ago at this time, if we were to tell you that Jeffery was going to be a smiling, joking ODC service participant capable of completing multiple-step work tasks, you would have thought we were speaking of someone else. Yet, this is exactly who Jeffrey has become over the last year of his training at ODC.
09/20/2017 01:09
We are so honored by the generosity of Paul and Rita Meier, owners of the Blue Heron Brew Pub in Marshfield!
05/11/2017 03:05
ODC’s very own Lynn Haefer (center), Employment Services Supervisor, was recently chosen to speak on a panel of highly-skilled job developers during the annual statewide Rehabilitation for Wisconsin Conference in Wisconsin Dells!
05/01/2017 12:05
We recall a time, not so long ago, when people with disabilities were not acknowledged as members of society and community-based employment was unheard of.
03/28/2017 02:03
Last Tuesday, ODC’s Employment Services team in Wisconsin Rapids celebrated our Wisconsin Rapids area employers at an annual Employer Appreciation Breakfast.
01/16/2017 08:01
ODC’s relationship with The Baltus Company goes back a long, long way. In the 1980’s, an ODC candidate was hired to work at their car wash…
01/11/2017 11:01
Much like ODC, Copps Food Center has been a part of our community for over 50 years.
12/15/2016 11:12
ODC’s 2016 Annual Awards Dinner was, once again, a night to remember! Fifteen Personal Achievement Award nominees were honored, as well as the three recipients of this award: Ben Tauschek, Trista Wolff and Jeff Micke.
12/15/2016 08:12
“What can I do next?”
Those are words that are often heard from Ben by his employers and those for whom he volunteers. And everyone agrees… Ben is a real stand-out!
12/13/2016 02:12
Jeff is a very humble man. When told that he was a recipient of the Personal Achievement Award, his response was one of disbelief… “Really?”, he said.
12/12/2016 12:12
Trista felt very alone and trusted no one when she came to ODC. She had no self-confidence or sense of self-worth, and she was sure she was a failure.
12/08/2016 11:12
Dustin has always taken his personal goals seriously.
12/07/2016 01:12
On a Saturday in early 2011, Sam graduated from high school. The next Monday, he began a new journey at ODC…
12/05/2016 03:12
Those at ODC who have spent the past 11 years working with Brent describe his progress “by leaps and bounds”.
12/01/2016 08:12
Jessica is very proud of her job at Arborwood Lodge... as well she should be!
11/30/2016 10:11
Casey came to ODC right out of high school, a quiet, shy young man who was quite unsure of himself. That has most certainly changed…
11/28/2016 11:11
Working at a library was Katie’s dream job. But when given that opportunity, Katie almost succumbed to the pressure of her fears and barriers.
11/23/2016 08:11
Anna’s biggest barrier has never been her disability… it was her belief in herself. But as her confidence has grown, so has she grown as a person.
11/21/2016 09:11
In 1979, when she was just 10 years old, Dawn was diagnosed with a stage 3 brain tumor. The cancer was ultimately cured, but it left Dawn with significant cognitive disabilities.
11/17/2016 01:11
All it took was a little time, and a little patience. Since 2011, David has grown from a man who had a very hard time dealing with frustration in the workplace to one who is moving toward community employment.
11/15/2016 11:11
Barb has participated in ODC’s supported employment services since 1998, when she started working at Hillers True Value.
11/10/2016 01:11
In November 2014, Amara came to ODC a bit shy and unsure. Just six months earlier, her mother had passed away and she had moved from her home in Florida to Wisconsin, to live with her father and step-mother.
11/08/2016 11:11
When Andrew was referred to ODC, he was 14 years old. His drive to work was obvious, but he soon learned that there would have to be work on his part to reach that goal.
11/03/2016 10:11
Nine years ago, Jennifer came to ODC as part of the Beginnings service, available to individuals with very significant behavioral or medical challenges.
11/01/2016 12:11
Mark has trained at ODC’s facility for 17 years. Despite many challenges, including anxiety and significant health issues, he has set his sights on community employment.
10/27/2016 10:10
Each year, ODC honors individuals with disabilities who have overcome significant barriers and achieved outstanding personal goals in the workplace and the community.
10/25/2016 01:10
Did you miss ODC’s Evening in Paris last week?
10/05/2016 01:10
ODC recently celebrated the life of a wonderful friend and colleague, Michael Coleman (Getsinger). Before his passing earlier this year, Michael had worked with ODC, both in the community and in the facility, since graduating from high school almost 27 years ago.
09/28/2016 01:09
Do you have an old TV or computer that you just want to get rid of but you just keep telling yourself that you'll deal with it later? Well, this weekend is the weekend!