LAPEER — A spirit of willingness and optimism pervades the building bearing the simple sign, “Growth and Opportunity.” Formally dubbed a private, non-profit community rehabilitation center, Growth and Opportunity Inc. provides people with disabilities many opportunities designed to help them achieve their maximum level of independence. The organization helps participants to grow their skills and provides them with employment and volunteer experiences.
There are winners on both sides of the equation at GO. Program participants have the satisfaction of performing meaningful work, expanding their abilities, enjoying social contact and recreation. They also enjoy getting a paycheck. On the other side of the equation, customers get their products or services with on-time delivery and quality.
GO got its start back in 1956 when a group of parents got together to provide academic services to children with developmental disabilities. They started out in a two-room schoolhouse. Over the years, the organization incorporated, moved, and changed its name to Growth and Opportunity. It has occupied the current facility at 525 S. Court Street in Lapeer since 1979.
Bob Shemanski has been the executive director of GO for the last four years, and worked at the facility three years prior to that. An extremely dedicated and long-serving staff shares his optimistic, can-do attitude.
Shemanski says, “It gets under your skin. It really does. You know you’re making a difference in someone else’s life.”
Growth and Opportunity currently has 125 program participants. They come to the organization either through referral from Lapeer Community Health, the Lapeer County Intermediate School District or privately. GO is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities. A team, which includes staff from GO, the referring agency, and parents or guardians develops a plan for the participant at GO.
“I thoroughly enjoy working with the staff there,” says Krista Krefeld, transition coordinator for the intermediate school district. “They are always very creative, always looking for new ways to meet individuals’ needs ... they really try to prepare (the participants) in all aspects of life,” she says.
Parent and board member Charlene Karppinen says that 10 years ago she was looking for the right program for her daughter, Elizabeth. When she found GO, they moved from Oakland County to take advantage of it. Karppinen says Elizabeth “loves that place. She really looks forward to going there.”
“Bob is a great director. He sets the tone,” Karppinen says. She says that the staff will bend over backwards to work with participants and figure out what will work best for them.
“Everybody there feels secure. Everyone knows everyone else’s name. It’s a real caring place.”
GO serves another very important customer base. This includes a variety of companies and entities ranging from automotive and non-automotive suppliers to a local golf course. GO program participants perform manufacturing and service work, and are paid for their efforts.
Participants assemble and disassemble products, package parts, sort and do rework, to name a few of their services. GO has customers that they have done business with for years, and they also look for new opportunities. GO is ISO-certified.
In addition to employment, participants take part in the skill-building program. More than 100 different tasks of varying complexity serve to build skills in areas such as fine and gross motor skills or memory. At one station, participants may be performing sorting and measuring activities. At another, participants form complex words with individual letters. Nearby, some participants work at computer stations.
In another room, pre-vocational participants also work on skills development. This group has similar tasks to perform, but have more assistance with a lower staff/participant ratio.
Through community employment and volunteer services, participants get out into the community and enjoy the satisfaction of giving back while increasing their skills. They perform volunteer work for non-profit organizations. One popular volunteer job is helping out at Paradise Animal Rescue, where they can lend a hand while enjoying the animals. Participants also enjoy recreational activities like bowling and swimming.
Staffers at GO are always thinking out of the box, looking for ways to empower program participants. Two participants use space at the facility to run their own small businesses. Greg is in the scrap metal business. James dismantles pallets, cuts the wood, and bundles it to sell for firewood. James also performs the facility’s monthly maintenance checklist.
In that creative spirit they have, GO is launching a new endeavor: Ebay. Program participants, with support from staff, will list and sell donated items through their own Ebay stores.
People are invited to drop off items for donation at the facility.
Call Mr. Bob Shemanski for information 810-664-8504 ext 316
Growth & Opportunity 525 S. Court St., Lapeer, MI 48446
Call Today: 810.664.8504
ISO 9001:2008 | CARF Certified | Over 30 years experience
