Sycamore | Since 1963, Opportunity House has been providing people with disabilities services to help them in their daily lives.

Opportunity House, 202 Lucas St., Sycamore, helped more than 200 people last year by providing services like job placement, work services and recreation. They also offer developmental training among their other services.

“Developmental training is a program for folks who have maybe more severe or multiple disabling conditions,” said Executive Director Robert Shipman. “Folks who have pretty severe impairments are able to get personal care, and we try to enhance their personal living skills like taking care of themselves and things like that.”

Opportunity House also has a supported employment program, which finds jobs in the community for people with disabilities. Once someone finds a job, Opportunity House provides special staff that works with the individual so they learn that job. Over time, this staff member, or job coach, may fade as the individual gains their independence in the job, Shipman said.

“For example, a person has a job, the job coach has faded and that person’s pretty independent, but they’ve added some things to the job, and that person needs job coaching to learn the new tasks. We’ll put a job coach back out there to provide that support,” he said.

Employer satisfaction surveys show that many employers really like this program.

“It gives them, I think, some comfort knowing that the person is going to be trained well,” Shipman said.

They also provide respite for the families of people with disabilities. Shipman said this is a break from the day-to-day routine, allowing the family to go out.

“Caring for a person with a disability can be pretty exhausting, and people may need a break from that, so we have staff that can go into the home and provide supervision so the family can get a break,” Shipman said.

Additionally, Opportunity House has a Special Olympics program that offers athletic and competition training year round. According to its website, sports offered include basketball, soccer, volleyball, tennis and golf among others.

Shipman said there is no cost for services, except for some incidental costs with their Special Olympics program and some recreation activities.

“There might be some transportation fees if we’re going to a ball game or something like that,” Shipman said. “So per say, there are no charges for the work training, developmental training or things like that because we’re funded through the state and community donations.”

Shipman said the Opportunity House also funds its daily operations and pays its staff through those same funds.

“A large part of our funding is from people who donate and the community’s financial support,” Shipman said. “Their support is very important.”

Sycamore Mayor Ken Mundy said there is a long tradition with Opportunity House and the community.

“It means a lot to folks with special needs who, thanks to Opportunity House and the workshop there and the living quarters, are able to function in society with a high, high degree of independence,” Mundy said. “It’s a wonderful experience and it points to the fact that we care about all of our folks here in Sycamore, and we hope they all do well and all reach their potential.”

Shipman said it’s essential to provide these services.

“There are no other services available for folks with developmental disabilities in the community,” Shipman said.

For more information on the Opportunity House and the services offered, visit www.ohinc.org