• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Subscribe
Program Guide
Watch Live

CCX Media

Skip NavigationMenu
  • News
    • Close
        • CCX News
          • CCX News Home
          • News Stories
            • CCX Daily Newscast
          • CCX Media Schools
        • Feature Segments

          • Business Matters
          • School Spotlight
          • Standout Student
          • Weekend Showcase
          • Newsmakers
        • News Tip

          Send us a story idea or news tip!
          Facebook Instagram Twitter
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
        • Apple News
    • Close
  • Sports
    • Close
        • CCX Sports
          • CCX Sports Home
          • Sports Tips
          • Hall of Fame
          • Upcoming Event Coverage
          • Play of the Week
        • Sports Coverage

          Adapted SportsAdditional SportsBaseballBasketballFootball
          GymnasticsHockeyLacrosseSoccerSoftball
          Swimming & DivingTennisTrack & FieldVolleyballWrestling
        • Social Media

          Facebook Twitter Instagram
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
          Shop/Order
    • Close
  • Cities
    • Close
        • CCX Cities
          • CCX Cities Home
          • Cities Stories
          • In The Community
          • Our Town’s Story
          • Community Resources
          • CCX Media Schools
          • City Meetings
        • Your City

          Brooklyn Center Local News and Events
          Brooklyn Park MN Local News and Events
          Crystal
          Golden Valley
          Maple Grove
          New Hope
          Osseo
          Plymouth
          Robbinsdale
        • Social Media

          Facebook Twitter
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
    • Close
  • Create
    • Close
        • CCX Create
          • CCX Create Home
          • Channels
          • Resources
          • Meet The Create Team
          • CCX Create Virtual Tour
        • Get Creative

          • Launch Your Creative Vision with CCX Create
          • Free Classes
          • Contact Us
          • Polka Spotlight
          • Diversity Minute
        • RueShare

          • Member Login
          • Member Guide
        • Social Media

          Facebook Twitter Instagram
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
    • Close
  • Subscribe
  • Program guide
  • Watch Live

Pandemic Causes Hardships for Workers with Developmental Disabilities

3:50 PM | Tuesday, July 28, 2020

At a time when many recreation options are still on pause due to COVID-19, camping has risen in popularity.

“Camping is more popular than ever this year, so their business is booming, which is really good for us to provide more work opportunities,” said Bill Schultz, interim CEO of nonprofit Opportunity Partners.

At the organization’s Asplin Center in Plymouth, adults with intellectual developmental disabilities are benefiting from the camping craze.

“Yeah I like it,” said Laura Green, one of the people who come to Plymouth for work. On Tuesday, Green was one of dozens helping to put labels on discs that people use to start campfires.

“I love it,” Green said of the work.

opportunity partners

Laura Green puts labels on fire discs at Opportunity Partners’ Asplin Center in Plymouth.

That joy is especially apparent, considering that for much of the pandemic, Opportunity Partners had to shut down this program, and others like it, to help limit the spread of the novel coronavirus.

“Initially when we closed down, it was our own decision,” Schultz said. “We wanted to keep people safe.”

When the organization thought about reopening, state officials decided it wasn’t the best idea.

“And the biggest reason was, they were having outbreaks in nursing homes and they were concerned about group home settings, and they have had some outbreaks there,” Schultz said. “So they really wanted to keep that to a minimum. It was a big driver.”

The decision had a two-pronged effect. Opportunity Partners took a big financial hit due to a loss of revenue it received from the state for providing services to people with disabilities. Those who rely on these services endured the mental toll of social isolation.

“Just being stuck at home,” Green said.

Allowed to Reopen in Mid-July

As of mid-July, the state allowed allowed Opportunity Partners and other day service programs for people with disabilities to reopen on a limited basis.

“What you’re seeing now is just a fraction,” Schultz said. “Traditionally, we have several hundred people who come into our programs, and currently we’re only able to offer to less than 200 people coming back.”

There’s no word on when they’ll be able to operate at their pre-coronavirus levels, but the plan is to work with the state Department of Human Services to let them know what they’re doing from a safety perspective, and hopefully get things back to normal at some point.

“We need to get people back engaged, back into the programs that we have to help support them and help build their skills,” Schultz said

Sponsored
Delane Cleveland, reporting

Plymouth

Related Stories

Plymouth Veteran Who Lost Foot in WWII Celebrates 100th Birthday:  A World War II veteran in Plymouth… Read More
Plymouth’s Red Roof Inn Slated for Demolition in Two Weeks:  The former Red Roof Inn hotel near the… Read More
J&E Cos. To Close Plymouth Plant, Lay Off Workers:  J&E Cos., a precision metal manufacturing… Read More
Expert on Minnesota Special Session: ‘Public Is Going To Be Surprised’:  The most divided… Read More
Latuff’s Pizzeria To Add Breakfast with Expansion:  Latuff’s Pizzeria, the oldest restaurant in… Read More
Metro Transit Seeks Input for Bus Stop Signs:  Do the signs at bus stops meet the needs of riders?… Read More

Footer

NAVIGATE

  • CCX Media
  • NEWS
  • SPORTS
  • CITIES
  • CREATE
  • Job Opportunities
  • Meet the CCX Media Team
  • ABOUT CCX MEDIA
  • Annual Programming Reports
  • CABLE COMMISSION

SUBSCRIBE

Get email updates for daily story previews. “Week in Review” video links, and programming previews.

Subscribe Today

CONNECT

HAVE A NEWS TIP? CALL OUR TIPLINE AT:  763-533-1710
Send us story ideas and comments!
Get in touch with us
  CCX MEDIA     SPORTS
 NEWS                SPORTS
SPORTS.           SHOP/ORDER

LOCATION

CCX Media
6900 Winnetka Avenue North
Brooklyn Park, MN 55428

Main Phone:  763-533-8196

CCX Media serves the northwest suburbs of Minneapolis, Minnesota, including Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Crystal, Golden Valley, Maple Grove, New Hope, Osseo, Plymouth and Robbinsdale.
Copyright © 2025 CCXMedia | All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Accessibility Statement
Web Design and Development by CEL Marketing PR Design and BizzyWeb | Log in