Today's stories represent our organizational values of Impact, Choice, Heart and Partnership. Do you have a values story to share? Let us know.
Impact - advocating together
Advocates from Opportunity Partners were amongst the 1,000 people at the State Capitol on March 13 to "Stop the Cut." The issue centers around the Minnesota Department of Human Services receiving notification from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services of a problem with Minnesota's rate setting policy for Minnesotans receiving home and community-based services. If this is not fixed by the state legislature, the issue will result in a 7% cut to the reimbursement rates for services received by several thousand Minnesotans with disabilities. The cut would initially affect only individuals who have an unbanded 245D waiver rate beginning July 1 - approximately 27 percent of all waiver recipients - and everyone would experience the cut when banded rates end after December 31, 2019.
Opportunity Partners is working to determine the specific impact to the people we serve and our organization. Please note that this cut has not yet gone into effect and coalitions we support are working aggressively to stop it. Please consider taking action to advocate with your state legislators. Visitwww.arrm.org/stop-the-cut for ways to get involved. If you have questions, please
email us.
Partnership - redefining ability
We hope to see you at our 2018 Gala!
The RSVP deadline is April 16. We hope you will join us for an evening celebrating 65 years of redefining ability. Tickets available online.
Saturday, April 28
Opportunity Partners - Koch Campus
5500 Opportunity Court Minnetonka, MN 55343
Heart - making a difference
Karlins Center opened in 1996.
With your support, Opportunity Partners has provided autism services for over 30 years. In 1985, we began providing community and on-site work for those on the Autism Spectrum. Today, we have two programs focusing on individuals with autism - Karlins Center in Plymouth and the Spectrum program at the Pilot Knob Service Center in Mendota Heights.
As we wrap up Brain Injury Awareness Month, Employment Specialist John Irwin writes about Peter, who has been working competitively at Bon Appetit at Macalester College. He works as a server and is well-deserving of his hard earned success.Read more.
Choice - service redesign, independence at work
Yohan landed his first competitive, integrated job last November at Transtech in Hopkins, where he cleans and refurbishes wheelchairs and other equipment. He says Opportunity Partners taught him to stay focused and always check his work. In 2017, Yohan was one of 41 competitive, integrated job placements from our Day Service programs. As Opportunity Partners celebrates 65 years in 2018, understanding our many stakeholders - people we serve, families, funders, policymakers, employers and our staff - and building services that are responsive to changing needs and expectations in the sector remains our primary focus. Do you have a success story to share? Let us know.
Impact - thank you for coming to the spaghetti dinner
Thank you to all who attended the spaghetti dinner earlier this month! Special thanks to members of the Hopkins Noontime Lions for organizing the event for the 14th year. Together, we were able to raise nearly $1,000 for Opportunity Partners.
Established in 1953, Opportunity Partners helps people with disabilities live, learn and
work more independently through innovative services and collaborations with business.
Together we advance the quality of life for people with disabilities.
