direct support professional

training instructor

mentor

truck driver

receptionist/administrative assistant

Opportunity Village

In the beginning it wasn't too bad considering I was hired on as a seasonal (temporary) hire for the 2019 Magical Forest events, although there often at times was a severe lack of structure as well as management guidance throughout our scheduled work days. You pretty much got out of it what you put in to it. A lot of hires usually come on board in the beginning, so I met many different people and formed a few bonds with some which made working there a bit more enjoyable. Some days it was like feast or famine though, especially right before HallOVeen and Christmas. I actually enjoyed my time working for the OV during the Magical Forest period. Most seasonal staff were afforded the opportunity and encouraged to apply for permanent positions within the organization. So when it was time, I submitted my application for what seemed to be a good choice for Floor Care Custodian. On their website they advertised the position as a full-time job. This however was incorrect, and at the time of my interview for this position I was told that it was only an on-call part-time job. It was a job nonetheless with the organization which I figured would eventually become a full-time job with benefits. After 90 days it was still an on-call part-time job with no mention of anything becoming permanent. The job itself wasn't too bad. I learned quite a bit while I was there and met some good people. However the crew I was with were treated like the "red headed stepchild" of the family, which didn't really bother me, but you couldn't help but feel like you weren't really a part of the "group". Eventually the COVID-19 pandemic led to my "lay-off", which is fine with me. I spoke to one of my first line supervisors a couple of times and they mentioned that our main boss had been trying to reach out to me, but they never actually were. I honestly didn't try to reach out to them either, but I already knew that my time with this organization had run its course. I would probably consider working for the Magical Forest again in the future as a seasonal employee once again, but I wouldn't recommend working for this organization as a full-time employee, unless perhaps you're in the "elite" section where all they do is administration and clerical work, etc.

When you clock in the mornings...
- get your work truck keys
- get your route sheets for the day
- load up your work truck with bins

During your route...
- jumping in and out of your work truck
- swapping filled bins with paper for empty ones or emptying console bags
- getting signatures on the route sheets for every stop

After your route...
- unload filled bins from your work truck
- weigh every bin and document it on the individual route sheets
- stage bin to be ready for shredding 

Coworkers...
- have the facial expressions of not wanting to be there
- constantly complaining about being underpaid 
- constantly complaining about being overworked 
- constantly complaining about staffing shortages 
- constantly complaining about there route for the day
- constantly complaining??

Management...
- person in charge seems very lackluster on department issues
- person in charge seems to neglect drivers/ drivers issues
- need to balance being professional with being human, engage in your staff, be personally involved and not with just there output

Conclusion...
- job can be very easy but the company’s policies and procedures make it hard on the entire staff of employees 
- unrealistic routes with too many stops and not enough help 
- they tolerate poor performance and permit weak links to exist with no consequences 
- they treat everyone equally which shows your top performers no matter how high they perform they will be treated the same as the bozo who just punches the clock 
- no room for advancement 
- issues and concerns that arise within each department should be addressed but feels like they land on deaf ears
- drivers complaining about more pay should be addressed to upper management but it just lands on deaf ears
- drivers are the backbone of opportunity village but they are not treated as such with insufficient compensation and adequate staffing

Worked here for 3 years loved working with the individuals. Management wasn't great at all. Pay raises werent a thing. I did like the benefits.  A lot of highschool drama in the work place and seemed to be ok with management. No acknowledgment for your work. Company does have other advancement opportunities but they are all who you know and are friends with. Pay could have been better. They also don't care to upgrade their equipment.  You get paid lunches but because you dont get a lunch to yourself.  Two 15 minute breaks. They go off a point system so with that being said if you get sick you get points and even in an emergency they still give you points when you reach 3 points its a write up. I got send home after passing out one day and still got points. How does that make any since.  Also their isn't job security. God forbid you get hurt on the job kiss your job goodbye.  It has some benefits but make sure you dont stay for too long. One lady I worked with had been there 12 years and no pay raise. She was making less than me. Also they have training which is great so if your about to expire on things they will make sure you get it done and its free for the employees.

Worked at OV for 5 months and I enjoyed my experience! Coworkers were very sociable and supportive, and I enjoyed helping the program's participants.

However, there is very little to no training on de-escalation when it comes to client's disruptive behaviors, which can make things extremely stressful and can sometimes even lead to physical situations (can say from experience). The worst of it is that even if the client's behaviors are out of your control, you might even lose your job despite the fact that you weren't sufficiently trained to deal with those behaviors.

In addition, many behavior plans for clients are very outdated, irrelevant, and do not give the full scope of a client's behaviors. For example, a client's behavior plan can tell you that they are very calm, but in actuality said client can have aggressive and physical behaviors that put staff at risk.

Despite this, the job is very simple, and data collection for client's is easy. If you want a fulfilling job and want to support individuals diagnosed with IDDs without previous training/experience, go for it! However OV is a non-profit company, and truthfully you'll see the repercussions of that status with management and support plans.

My experience working at Opportunity Village has provided me excellent stability in terms of schedule, but my experience working with the contracts as an indexing specialist has been mixed. While my supervisor is someone whom I respect because he is excellent at respecting us, employee morale overall has been low in this department due to significant upper level management organizational issues.  Incentives given to encourage employees to stay are often inadequate, and communication mishaps within the department sometimes affect the quality and accuracy of our work. Opportunities for advancement are limited as well, but this is more due to the limited resources of a non-profit organization. All things considered, I have learned quite a bit about the mechanics of business from the nature of my contract, and have also learned how to collaborate with my team-mates in solving specific indexing-related problems. I can confidently say that many of my coworkers and my team leaders have my back.

Few staff to help with each need.  Staff (male and female) must mesh well together for overall harmony.  The climate between the staff soon trickles down to the consumers.  The best help to give a consumer is to teach them to be as independent as possible.  Management has been varied---male, female; older, younger; more education, less education.  Management has usually been fair.  [Something that seems strange to me is that while having a job review with a supervisor that I did not like---he gave me a compliment (that I consider the best compliment I ever received).   I took this well, and have always remembered it.]  The hardest part of the joy was trying to navigate through the politics of the place.  I don't like politics myself, and would try to ignore it, which is impossible.  The most enjoyable part of the job is interacting with the consumers.  I have to work at not being manipulated by them, as I have an eager to please personality.

I loved working as a DSP. I loved my individuals. Management is terrible and they will fire you for being honest. They do not support their DSPs and in my short time there, I saw many a good DSP leave due to the lack of support from the higher ups. The stress comes from management. They cause division and strife. They are not for the DSPs or the individuals. The most frustrating part of this job is that you’re really not helping the individuals become independent. Many of my individuals were there for over 10+ years. It’s not a day hab, it’s an adult daycare. They set unrealistic goals and many of these individuals will never be independent. And to try to convince the families of these individuals that what they’re doing in the day program, specifically Enable, will enhance independence is a lie. 

I worked at opportunity village for about 2 months. While i was there i met co-workers that i thought were awesome at what they did with the clients and individuals and they were also very helpful in getting me enriched with the program itself. The admin was the issue. They provide no curriculum for any of the clients that attend opportunity village. They don't go to bat for their employees and could less about what they need. Seems as if they only care about making money off the clients that are there. The employees that work there actually have a passion for the clients they work with and the individuals that are there and it doesn't seem that the higher-ups share that same passion or concern. I really hope that things change because this could be an awesome place and maybe it just the one sight that i worked at but nevertheless things need to change and fast. I wish them the best.

Opportunity Village has the happiest clients I've seen in any day program for adults with intellectual disabilities.  They truly love their work, their lives are enriched, and they are treated with the greatest respect.

Working as an entry level staff gives you minimal pay, but descent benefits.  Management is not consistent through the company, but upper to lower management communication struggles.  Taking initiative is not encouraged or rewarded, and upward movement is rare.  Staff have been fired without any warning or chance to improve.  You do not have a lunch break, but instead eat with clients.

The best part of the job is working with the individuals.  They are often full of life and excitement, and they love their staff.  The hardest part is dealing with individual behavioral issues.

A typical day for me is getting my assigned work area and keeping it clean and stocked until my next work assignment which is cashiering.I have learned the true meaning behind... never let a disability allow you from living your life, I work along-side some of the greatest people you could ever meet. Opportunity Village is known for training and employing ones with a mental or physical disability. The hardest part of my job is watching these brave men and women in the military leaving their loved ones behind to serve our country. My most enjoyable part of my job is offering great customer service and seeing that I made a difference in someones day.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Direct support professional 6 salaries reported	$17.08 per hour
Training instructor 4 salaries reported	$16.75 per hour
Mentor 2 salaries reported	$17.25 per hour
Truck driver 2 salaries reported	$20.00 per hour
Receptionist/administrative assistant 1 salary reported	$27.50 per hour

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