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.
05/11/2020 11:05
Michele Losey, one of ODC’s Mental Health coordinators, has been a key in helping Chucky and his family take steps in the right direction to create a healthier lifestyle.
09/27/2019 11:09
ODC participant Nathan “Buck” is moving on to Uptown Coffee Company.
08/01/2019 01:08
We are proud to share a great message from the SWEPS food pantry in Wisconsin Rapids… to everyone involved, “way to go”!
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.
11/28/2018 03:11
Our congratulations to Marshfield Clinic Health Systems for receiving America’s Job Honors Award in a packed house at the Monona Terrace in Madison this afternoon.
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!
11/06/2018 01:11
Bill works at Ascension St. Michael’s Hospital (SMH) collecting confidential papers throughout the hospital to be shredded.
07/12/2018 10:07
2017 was another year of growth and transformation for ODC.
06/07/2018 03:06
"There is much to celebrate this evening as one chapter is ending and another is just beginning."
06/04/2018 12:06
Jordanah made a big announcement at her recent Marshfield Project SEARCH graduation ceremony...
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...
05/14/2018 11:05
Congratuations to Curtis and Withee Tire for finding a really good match…
05/09/2018 03:05
For over a year, Alex has been taking advantage of temporary work experiences coordinated by ODC, opportunities for him to learn and practice his work skills…
03/26/2018 08:03
Of all the individuals we work with, Brian has one of the strongest desires to work in the community.
02/19/2018 03:02
Those of you who follow ODC know that Dustin is “in our news” quite a lot, and for good reason!
02/13/2018 11:02
Luke has been working at Applebee’s in Marshfield for only a couple of months, but he’s made such an impression...
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...
12/14/2017 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.
12/04/2017 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.
11/21/2017 01:11
Today, I received an email that, from an ODC job developer’s perspective, is as good as it gets.
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.
10/05/2017 11:10
Nicole was only 13 years old when an accident caused her spinal cord injury.
09/25/2017 02:09
This is a smile that comes with being a new hire at the Marshfield Clinic/Marshfield Medical Center!
08/31/2017 01:08
Matt was a volunteer firefighter with the Amherst Fire District when he had an accident that caused a traumatic brain injury… he was just 27 years old.
07/25/2017 11:07
John recently made his “debut” as one of the stars of a promotional video filmed by members of the Conover Company, who came to visit us last week!
07/13/2017 02:07
The men in ODC’s microwave cooking class meet every Wednesday to learn their way around the kitchen.
06/28/2017 01:06
Here at ODC, we’re like family. We support each other through the hard times, and celebrate each other’s successes…
06/19/2017 10:06
In just a few months, Katie will “graduate” from ODC’s Supported Employment services and will be working on her own, with no job coach support, at the Marshfield Public Library.
06/06/2017 02:06
A few years ago, Matt experienced a traumatic brain injury and decided to take advantage of all that ODC’s Day Services program in Stevens Point has to offer.
05/05/2017 02:05
ODC’s Career Exploration service is not just about exploring jobs in our communities!
03/01/2017 02:03
ODC’s Tuesday night CommunityConnect group recently made a big spaghetti dinner for 14 residents at Acorn Apartments in Wisconsin Rapids!
02/20/2017 01:02
Since taking advantage of the learning experiences he was offered at ODC’s training center in Wisconsin Rapids and...
02/07/2017 10:02
Once a month, on a Thursday afternoon, Anisia, Amara and Monica make a special treat for the residents of Acorn Apartments in Wisconsin Rapids.
02/01/2017 03:02
Most of us love our morning “joe”… so do we really need another reason to visit Biggby Coffee in Marshfield?
01/30/2017 02:01
After over 13 years, Mary recently retired from her job at the United Way of Portage County.
01/24/2017 11:01
Bill worked for many years at Taco Bell as part of ODC’s Supported Employment Program. Unfortunately, he was laid off in early 2016 due to restructuring after a change in ownership.
01/18/2017 02:01
When ODC and Community Industries Corporation (CIC) became one organization on January 1st, not much changed that would be noticeable to the average community member.
12/19/2016 01:12
This sharp-dressed man is Wes, who trains full-time at ODC. But ODC’s goal is to not only connect individuals with work opportunities, but with the people, places and activities that make life more fulfilling… the “outside of work” part of our lives.
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.
10/19/2016 10:10
When you love your job, you bring treats to the office! Colton did just that, leaving a message for his co-workers...
10/11/2016 11:10
Why is Aaron grinning from ear to ear? He is now employed at...
09/21/2016 02:09
Sara’s journey has led her from ODC’s Day Services program, where she worked on her social skills and personal development, to work in the ODC center, where she became more confident in her abilities...
09/20/2016 08:09
Attorney Jon Blum welcomed new hire Nichole to Duncan Disability Law in Nekoosa!
09/01/2016 09:09
Lack of confidence and fear of failure are common barriers to community employment for individuals with disabilities. Anna (center) was struggling with both, until ODC’s training and educational services helped her assess her interests and...
08/30/2016 09:08
Volunteering is an integral part of ODC's new CommunityConnect service, which is designed to explore individuals’ interests and skills, build their independence and confidence in accessing the community, and connect...