Blog - Woods Services

Social Enterprise: Creating Employment Opportunities for People with Disabilities

November 1, 2016

(The following piece was originally published in Social Innovations Journal, Issue 28)

Jobs offer opportunities for social engagement, inclusion, and income generation that often elude a person with disabilities. Woods Resources is a network of exceptional human service providers that have joined forces and resources in achieving optimal outcomes for 3,600 children and adults with disabilities in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. This is accomplished through a comprehensive continuum of support and services, including several social enterprises that are designed to provide integrated and competitive employment opportunities.

There is dignity in work. It contributes to an individual’s self-worth and self-respect and offers a sense of purpose and accomplishment. According to the United States Department of Labor only 19.8 percent of people with disabilities who are over the age of 16 are employed, compared to 68.8 percent of those without disabilities.¹

Jobs offer opportunities for social engagement and inclusion that often elude a person with disabilities. Jobs also offer a chance to earn money, which facilitates greater independence. While changes in public policy such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) support and encourage the employment of individuals with disabilities, employment rates continue to lag.

There have been numerous studies of consumer attitudes about companies that hire people with disabilities, with the majority of consumers stating a preference to do business with companies that are socially responsible and provide employment opportunities for people with disabilities. In a report published in the Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation in 2006, 92 percent of respondents to a national survey of consumer attitudes towards companies that hire people with disabilities felt more favorable toward those that hire individuals with disabilities. In fact, 82 percent specifically agreed they would prefer to give their business to a company that actively hires people with disabilities.²

There are numerous other reasons businesses should commit to hiring people with disabilities. They help to diversify the workplace, enhance employee morale and productivity, contribute to a reliable and enthusiastic workforce, and have access to on-the-job training supports provided at no cost to the company.

To address the void of employment opportunities for people with disabilities, a number of organizations have created affirmative enterprises that employ people with and without disabilities.

Woods Resources is a network of exceptional human service providers that have joined forces and resources in achieving optimal outcomes for 3,600 children and adults with disabilities in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Together, Woods Resources and its partners embrace innovation and teamwork to empower individuals to reach their highest potential. This is accomplished through a comprehensive continuum of support and services, including several social enterprises that are designed to provide integrated and competitive employment opportunities.

Woods Resources’ oldest and largest affiliate, Woods Services, was founded over a century ago by visionary Mollie Woods, who gained international recognition for her groundbreaking work in helping children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. In September 2016, Woods Services’ Yellow Daffodil Flower and Gift Shop celebrated its 50th anniversary. The Yellow Daffodil operates two stores and a seasonal kiosk at a local shopping mall. It is getting ready to launch online ordering capability, which will create additional new jobs.

The Yellow Daffodil Flower and Gift Shop does what they wish other businesses would do; they divide larger jobs into smaller ones and match them to people’s interests and talents. A young woman loves preparing the flowers when they arrive twice a week. Another individual loves merchandising and helps to display the gifts throughout the store. Someone else loves cleaning the vases. There are 20-25 separate jobs among the stores. Additionally, many of the items sold in the stores, such as artisan soaps, hand-poured scented soy candles, pet beds, and toys, are created by individuals with disabilities. This provides even more jobs that have varied skill requirements. The assembly of each item is broken into multiple steps that can be fulfilled by people with specific abilities. When needed, assistive devices are utilized, which facilitate the work for individuals challenged by physical disabilities.

Woods Services established another affirmative business that makes and sells products at the Yellow Daffodil. Beechtree Products, whose motto is, “feel good products, made with love,” hires individuals with acquired brain injuries to develop, produce and market a line of scented bath and body products. Using Yellow Daffodil’s model of scaling large jobs into smaller tasks makes it possible for people to find their niche job in this unique business. Beechtree Products is also launching an online ordering website that will create more jobs and opportunities requiring employees with different skillsets.

Allies is another Woods Resources affiliate with affirmative businesses that employ people with disabilities. For more than a decade, Allies has been paving a path to independence, acceptance, and equality for individuals with special needs. Driven by the individual needs of the people it serves, innovation is the hallmark of the organization’s services and underscores its every pursuit.

Allies’ Greensleeves Boutiques are located in four communities and sell unique and re-purposed home décor, gently worn clothing and jewelry, baked goods, and much more. In addition to its storefronts, Allies offers day habilitation and prevocational training activities in space located in close proximity to the shops. This arrangement provides the opportunity for participants to cycle between work and other activities over the course of a day.

Another Woods Resources affiliate, Archway Programs, offers a unique post-graduation skill-building music program that is also a business. Among its many services, Archway offers broad-based special education. Graduates of Archway’s schools accepted into the summer Band of Colors music program receive vocational training in various aspects of music production and performance and learn to create adapted musical instruments. Students schedule performances, set up and run sound systems, edit the website, and leave the summer program with well-honed skills in the music field. The adapted instruments that are made by the students are offered for sale on the organization’s website: bandofcolors.org.

The return on investment of these affirmative enterprises cannot be measured in terms of profitability, as they operate at break-even when well-managed. However, the ROI in regard to the profound impact these employment opportunities have on the lives of the individuals who work in them is priceless. In several cases, start-up and expansion initiatives were funded with support from various philanthropic foundations. Ongoing operating expenses are paid with sales revenue. Necessary services and support to the employees are funded through fee-for-service reimbursement provided by various service funding agencies. The model is easily replicable and scalable, as demonstrated by the multiple sites operated by the Yellow Daffodil Flower and Gift Shop and Greensleeves Boutiques.

Transitional training is a critical component of vocational preparation for young adults with disabilities. Archway works with regional employers to provide a wide range of jobs for many of their students. Students receive transition training while testing a variety of vocational opportunities for which they can earn a paycheck. They are accompanied by job coaches who help to train them and continue to prepare them for life post-graduation. Woods Services recently established a school dedicated solely to preparing students for work. Students attending the Brookwood School will rotate through various career exploration tracks that will culminate in internships, service learning, and paid employment. This program will help up to 70 students at any given time with disabilities make a seamless transition to integrated and competitive employment post-graduation. The success of the Brookwood School is dependent upon its ability to develop strong partnerships with area businesses to provide mentors and work experiences.

As increasing numbers of states jump on the “Employment First” bandwagon designed to increase opportunities for competitive and integrated employment for people with disabilities, we need to develop change solutions that encourage and facilitate partnerships among individuals with disabilities, service providers and businesses.

Author bios

Peter Shubiak is the Chief Operating Officer of Woods Resources and is responsible for providing direction to and facilitating collaboration among the organization’s five affiliate organizations. Peter is an accomplished senior healthcare and social services executive with extensive experience in managing comprehensive and integrated systems of care for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, behavioral health, and co-occurring disorders. He joined Woods in October 2011 and has extensive experience in operations, strategic planning, outcome performance, quality improvement, business development and staff development.

Cheryl Kauffman is Vice President of Communications and Public Relations and oversees advancement initiatives to engage stakeholders and individuals on behalf of Woods Resources and Woods Services. She joined Woods Services in 2002. She has broad experiences in building and sustaining brand awareness, strategic communications, and external relationships.

References

1. Disability Employment Statistics, United States Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy (August 2016), accessed October 12, 2016, https://www.dol.gov/odep/.

2. Gary Siperstein, Neil Romano, Aamanda Mohler, and Robin Parker, “A National Survey of Consumer Attitudes Towards Companies that Hire People with Disabilities,” Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation 24, no. (2006): 3-9.

Woods Resources Names New CEO

September 26, 2016

Following a comprehensive national search, the Woods Resources Board of Trustees is pleased to announce the appointment of Tine Hansen-Turton as the organization’s next President and CEO. Ms. Hansen-Turton currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer at Public Health Management Corporation (PHMC) and will assume her position as the head of Woods Resources on October 3, 2016.

Tine Hansen-Turton oversees and leads corporate strategy, operations, business development and M&A for PHMC, a nationally leading public health institute. She also serves as the founding Executive Director for the Convenient Care Association (CCA), the national trade association of over 2100 private-sector retail clinic industry, serving 20 million people with basic health care services across the country. In addition, Tine Hansen-Turton serves as CEO of the National Nursing Centers Consortium (NNCC), a non-profit organization supporting the growth and development of over 500 nurse-managed and school health clinics, which serve more than 5 million vulnerable people across the country in urban and rural locations, including schools. For the past two decades Tine has been instrumental in positioning Nurse Practitioners as primary health care providers globally.

“Tine comes to Woods with an extraordinary background and set of experiences which will enhance our ability to serve the needs of Woods’ diverse client population. She is uniquely qualified to provide transformative leadership for our complex and growing organization, and we are very excited that Tine is going to be leading Woods,” said Woods Resources Board Chair, Cecilia O. Vega. “I especially want to thank Peter Shubiak, Chief Operating Officer of Woods Resources who served as the Interim and Acting CEO, for providing continuity and guidance throughout the transition period.”

“I am excited to bring my 20+ years of policy and advocacy, leadership and entrepreneurship skills to continue to build on the legacy Mollie Woods started over 100 hundred years ago and that her successors and Board have followed ever since. I am honored to join its incredible staff and leadership who are THE national leaders in providing evidence-informed quality programs and services to people with exceptional challenges, disabilities and complex needs. We have an obligation to the individuals we serve and their families to make sure that their voices are heard at the city, state and federal levels so children and adults everywhere with special needs have access to quality services at the right time, the right location and at the right cost when they need them,” said Tine Hansen-Turton upon her acceptance of the position.

Woods Resources brings exceptional organizations together and provides them with support, services, and resources that result in a human services system of optimal performance. Woods advocates with and on behalf of the individuals they serve, their families, and the provider community to ensure a better system of care. Woods Resources is comprised of five affiliate organizations: Brian’s House in Chester County, PA, Allies, Inc. and Archway Programs in NJ, Woods Services in Langhorne, PA, and Tabor Services in southeastern PA.

Cerebral Palsy – From My Point Of View

April 28, 2016

A Guest Blog by Lauren McGowan

Some people might underestimate the true beauty that Cerebral Palsy has to offer. Cerebral Palsy may be the result of a birth injury happening before, during or after the birthing process; a matter of oxygen not arriving at the brain quickly enough until it was too late, causing damage that can never be repaired.

Victims will have to compensate and learn basic things that most people master without trying. The extensive learning process will follow them throughout their whole lives resulting in some ongoing frustrations. A person will have to develop a great deal of patience and tolerance to live a normal life style Cerebral Palsy is a condition in which messages simply are not getting to the brain quickly enough.

Cerebral Palsy is a condition, not a disease. A condition that doesn’t worsen over time, only improves with hard work and determination. Determination goes a long way with this condition. For individuals with this condition, physical therapy helps tremendously.

Physical therapy involves strengthening muscles and providing room for growth and development. Growth and development is powerful. It will take the individual a long way. Some people will argue that physical therapy is not a long term solution for people who suffer from Cerebral Palsy. Well, if you had a condition that never went away, you would want something that reduces the tension in the muscles.

People with Cerebral Palsy will sometimes feel discouraged because the world around them doesn’t fully understand at times, but that feeling can truly inspire them. In the long run, inspiration is all someone really needs. Inspiration will lead a person with this condition to many different places. Places that they never even dreamed of going if the oxygen flowed though the brain on the first day of life. Yes, people that come into the world through unlucky circumstances are in fact very lucky in a hidden way.

About the Author

Lauren McGowan is a resident at Beechwood Neurorehab. She enjoys writing, Facebook, going to the mall, spending time with her family and friends and living life to the fullest. Lauren recently self-published the book In Kayla’s World, She’s Never Afraid To Afraid To Have Big Dreams, a tribute to her late best friend Kayla Jo Young.

Striving for People-First Language

April 13, 2016

The Power of Words

It has been nearly 25 years since Kathie Snow, an author and public speaker, published her first article addressing the notion of “People-First Language”. Inspired by her son Benjamin, who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy when he was four months old, Snow encouraged everyone to utilize “People-First Language”, which puts the person before the disability and describes what a person has, not who a person is. For example, saying “she has autism” instead of “she’s autistic” or “people with disabilities” instead of “the handicapped or disabled”.

Fast forward to 2016 and Snow is still making the rounds to educate parents, educators, and the general public about language sensitivity and an updated article entitled “To Ensure Inclusion, Freedom, and Respect for all, we must use People First Language” is utilized as a handout for training programs around the country. In the article, Snow makes several interesting observations including the fact that “people with disabilities constitute our nation’s largest minority group” (one in five Americans has a condition that is considered to be a disability) and also points out that this group is the only one that any person can become a part of, at any time.

Each person struggles and succeeds in different ways. There are very few people out there who would prefer to be categorized by their “problems” (whether it is a physical disability, depression, anxiety, obesity, anorexia, or a number of other common issues) rather than the qualities, talents, and characteristics that make us all unique. The sooner we embrace and utilize “People-First Language”, the sooner we can embrace each other as individuals and work to make this world a better place for everyone.

A Time for Lyme

August 6, 2015

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 300,000 Americans are diagnosed with Lyme disease each year, and the prevalence is rising.

Since national surveillance began in 1982, the number of Lyme disease cases has increased nearly 25-fold. Lyme disease is also spreading geographically; once thought to only occur in the northeastern part of the United States, Lyme disease cases are found throughout the country.

What is Lyme disease?

Lyme disease is an illness caused by the bacteria, Borrelia burgdorferi, that is transmitted by a tick, most often referred to as a “deer tick.” Per the CDC, in 2013 (most recent report) Pennsylvania reported 4,981 confirmed and another 777 probable cases of Lyme disease making our state a “hot spot” for the disease http://www.cdc.gov/lyme/stats/chartstables/reportedcases_statelocality.html .

Who gets Lyme disease?

Individuals of all ages can get Lyme disease. People who spend time outdoors in tick infested environments are at an increased risk of exposure. Most individuals have reported an exposure to ticks or woodland/brush habitat during the months of May through August, but exposure can occur whenever the temperature at ground level is warm enough for ticks to be active.

What are the symptoms of Lyme disease?

Lyme disease often presents with a bulls-eye rash (AKA, erythema migrans), accompanied by nonspecific symptoms such as fever, malaise, fatigue, headache, muscle aches, and joint pain. The incubation period, the time from the infection to the onset of symptoms, is typically 7 – 14 days, but may be as short as 3 days and as long as 30 days. The bulls-eye rash is observed in 85% or more of patients; however, some infected individuals have no recognized symptoms of the illness, or have only non-specific symptoms suggesting a viral illness.

Does past infection with Lyme disease make a person immune?

Past infection does provide some immunity, but that protection is short-lived. It is possible for a person to get infected more than once.

What should one do if they think they have Lyme disease?

Once should see their medical provider as quickly as possible especially if they have a bulls-eye rash or other symptoms of Lyme disease. It may be helpful to snap a photo of the rash you are seeing (use your cell phone), just in case you can’t see your doctor right away. If you feel you need to see a doctor urgently and your doctor is not available, you may want to be seen at a 24-hour clinic in your area or the ER of your local hospital.

How is Lyme disease treated?

Your healthcare provider will determine the best course of treatment. Generally if you recognize the symptoms early, the doctor will prescribe an oral antibiotic, but as the disease progresses the antibiotic may be given intravenously or other treatment may be needed.

How is Lyme disease diagnosed?

Lyme disease is diagnosed by clinical symptoms or blood test panel. The doctor or medical professional may also ask you questions about exposure to wooded areas, outdoor activities, etc.

What can one do to help prevent Lyme disease?

To help prevent Lyme disease everyone should be “AWARE”:

A – Avoid tick areas when possible (wooded areas, tall grass, shrubs, etc.). If you are walking near or in wooded areas, try to stick to the center of the path and not directly next to brush or trees.
W – Wear protective clothing when going outdoors (cover skin areas as much as possible)
A – Always do body checks once you have come in from the outdoors to check for ticks.
R – Repellents may be helpful, but consult your healthcare professional first as they may discourage the use of the products if you have certain allergies, medical conditions or skin problems.
E – Easy and careful removal of Ticks.

How do I remove a tick?

Per the CDC, if you find a tick attached to your skin, there’s no need to panic. There are several tick removal devices on the market, but a plain set of fine-tipped tweezers will remove a tick quite effectively.

Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible.
Pull upward with steady, even pressure. Don’t twist or jerk the tick; this can cause the mouth-parts to break off and remain in the skin. If this happens, remove the mouth-parts with tweezers. If you are unable to remove the mouth easily with clean tweezers, leave it alone and let the skin heal.
After removing the tick, thoroughly clean the bite area and your hands with rubbing alcohol, an iodine scrub, or soap and water.
Dispose of a live tick by submersing it in alcohol, placing it in a sealed bag/container, wrapping it tightly in tape, or flushing it down the toilet. Never crush a tick with your fingers.

Avoid folklore remedies such as “painting” the tick with nail polish or petroleum jelly, or using heat to make the tick detach from the skin. Your goal is to remove the tick as quickly as possible–not waiting for it to detach.

Follow-up

If you develop a rash or fever within several weeks of removing a tick, see your doctor. Be sure to tell the doctor about your recent tick bite, when the bite occurred, and where you most likely acquired the tick.

Ms. Barnes has been employed at Woods for over 30 years and has over 25 years of experience in Infection Prevention and Control. She received her Master’s in School Nursing and Health Education from St. Joseph University in Philadelphia and her B.S. in Nursing from the Penn State University. She has great compassion for working with those diagnosed with Developmental Disabilities.

Resources:

Lyme disease Organization

https://www.lymedisease.org/lyme-basics/lyme-disease/early-lyme/

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Lyme disease

http://www.cdc.gov/lyme/index.html

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Emerging Infectious Disease, Dispatch, Aug. 2015

http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/21/8/14-1878_article

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Tick Removal

http://www.cdc.gov/ticks/removing_a_tick.html