Thief River Falls / Minnesota / United States
The Occupational Development Center, which has its administrative offices in Thief River Falls, Minn., is a community rehabilitation business that receives referrals for services from the rehabilitation services branch of the Department of Economic Security and County Social Services. Established in 1971, it has nine divisions throughout northern Minnesota and provides accredited programs for those experiencing employment challenges. Through these programs it has placed many people with disabilities in various working environments, including cleaning and janitorial work, offices, retail sales, product sorting, general labor and in restaurants. It also provides services to employers, which include job coaching, advocacy, safety training, career guidance and disabilities training.
