Opportunity Partners offers one of the few programs in Minnesota specifically designed for adults with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), providing day services with an employment focus. Adults with ASD often need additional, specialized support in order to reach their highest level of independence.
To reach that independence, individualized services focus on each person’s needs in order to reach their personal goals. Working together with staff and their support network, individuals focus on achievable steps in employment and the community that mark their path forward.
Planning tools
Funding Sources — Community Alternatives for Disabled Individuals, (CADI) Developmental Disabilities (DD), Community Alternative Care (CAC), and Private pay
Participant profile — Transition age through adult with an Autism Spectrum Disorder
Operating days and hours — Part-time and full-time slots are available Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., observing six holidays, and participants can earn paid time off
Staff Ratio — 1:4 staff to client ratio in a licensed Day Training and Habilitation program serving 50 individuals.
Contracted professional onsite supports — Counseling – Licensed Psychologists, Speech Therapy – Speech Language Pathologists, Occupational Therapy – Occupational Therapists, and Nursing – Health Counseling Services
Transportation
Opportunity Partners contracts with First Transit, through Metro Mobility. Metro Mobility certification is required. Direct transportation is available for a small number of individuals with specialized needs.
Live
Community living support
Life skills – cooking, relationships, wellness, safety
Work skills – career development, career exploration
Volunteerism – reading at a local preschool once a month, Feed My Starving Children and other local non-profits
Social activities – bowling, Wii, dance Specialized Services
Karlins Independence Program (KIP) helps individuals achieve the greatest employment independence that matches their abilities. Whatever the goal, the program focuses on building each individual’s workplace and social skills to reach it.
Music Therapy in collaboration with MacPhail Center for Music, musical tools are employed to improve an individual’s ability to give-and-take in conversation, better express their thoughts, and become more socially aware.
Sensory Therapy incorporates deep pressure, joint compressions, massage and exercise to help people learn to self-regulate their behavior and access sensory options independently.
Horticulture Therapy in partnership with the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, this therapy allows individuals to work, learn and relax in therapeutic gardens designed to accommodate people with a wide range of abilities.
Work
There are three kinds of employment available through Karlin’s Center.
Center-based production work like packaging, assembly and kitting.
Supported Employment Teams (SET) work together in the community with an instructor at different companies doing work like janitorial, food service and retail stocking.
Independent placements find the right job for the participant’s skills – including self-employment – supported with coaching, skill building and evaluations.
Each participant is evaluated for the best suited employment option. Participants can choose one or can combine multiple employment options to meet their personal goals.