#KWworkers

Through Portage Industries Inc., 210 individuals with disabilities find employment despite the economy’s downfall.

Justin Bloomquist, 26, has arthrogryposis, a rare muscle disorder from birth. He graduated from Kent State three years ago with a bachelors in computer information systems and has worked with the company for about a month. He said if it wasn’t for the company, he doesn’t think he would have a job.

“I like it a lot,” Bloomquist said. “The people are very nice to me.”

Bill Whitacre, director of adult services, said Portage Industries serves individuals with mild to severe disabilities.

“We don’t really specialize in any one area,” Whitacre said. “As long as someone has a developmental disability and a qualified diagnosis and they’re eligible for our services, we serve them at adult services.”

Due to state budget decreases, progressive funding cuts to the company have been made over the past several years, forcing Phil Miller, CEO of Portage Industries Inc., and Whitacre to make changes without it leading to letting employees go.

Portage Industries receives its primary funding from the local tax dollars through tax levies and medicaid, and the budget cuts have lead to “a heavier burden on tax dollars.” However, Miller said Portage county voters still choose to help fund the program.

Whitacre said the program tries to accommodate needs of all of the individuals while they work or attend the rehabilitation center, both located at Portage Industries Inc.

“We try to mold our program around each individual person so that…we can meet what their needs are,” Whitacre said.

Miller said the goal of the company is to place individuals with jobs in the community. Thirty-five to 40 of the 210 individuals work in local communities after Portage Industries helps them find a job.

“You always want to help a person become as independent and as much apart of their community as possible,” Miller said. “This program is designed to move people along towards as far as they can go, as far as they want to go.”

While the individual works in the community, a job coach is assigned to help him or her along the way.

“(The individuals with disabilities) are not just thrown out there, but they’re assisted…they’re provided training, and then we have a follow up program so that we’re contacting the individual and the employer . . . every month to make sure that everything is working successfully,” Miller said.

If the individuals are not working in the community, they are at Portage Industries’ location where about 10 to 12 companies utilize the labor services, Whitacre said.

Most of the work involves packaging, light assembly and shredding.

“Our strength is labor-intense projects,” Miller said. “We can do that pretty competitively, price wise.”

Regardless of the disability, if work is available, it is offered.

“In many cases, even individuals that have severe physical limitations, we may try to come up with some piece of adaptive equipment or guide… that would help them be able to complete that task,” Whitacre said.

If there are not enough jobs for everyone at one time, the result is not to lay off someone.

“Because we are more than a work center, we provide those other services (vocational), so people are always welcome to come even if there is no work,” Whitacre said.

The individuals can partake in vocational activities such as physical therapy, art classes, field trips, etc. Some individuals who come to the center for just a paycheck are not required to come in when there is no work. However, Miller said the company tries to have work daily for everyone who wants it.

“We’re not satisfied with not having work, so we do everything we can to provide work. That’s what we want to do,” Miller said. “Work and a paycheck is important to everyone and to us too — that’s our goal, that’s our effort.”

Contact Caitlyn Restelli at [email protected].