Changes are coming to Wood Lane operations, but not the dire rumors that have been circulating.
Melanie Stretchbery, superintendent, held a meeting for parents Thursday to update them on the changes
coming up.
What is not going to happen, she stated, is the cancellation of transportation or the closing of the
school, both rumors she’s heard in recent weeks.
There will be no elimination of services, she stated again and again during her 90-minute presentation.

She’s been with Wood Lane for 32 years, and there has never been talk of closing the school, and she
suspects there never will be.
Wood Lane School provides services for students with special needs from birth through age 22.
What is going to change is how the agency places consumers into a workplace, and the elimination of
busing for adults.
But "families have a voice," she assured the group.
She said the changes to "community integration" went into effect April 1, but she has yet to
see guidelines for the changes.
The Employment First Initiative focuses on community integration for all people participating in
residential and day services; makes integrated community employment the preferred primary activity for
adults, working alongside non-disabled adults and earning at least a minimum wage; and individualized
planning for all consumers, including students.
The initiative is a response to the collaboration of the U.S. Department of Justice and the Centers for
Medicare and Medicaid, which governs the delivery of home and community-based services.
Stretchbery said if Wood Lane wants to continue to get Medicaid money, it will have to provide services
in an integrated setting, and that applies for both the workforce and residential.
"It does no good to figure out how to beat this," said Jay Salvage, director of adult services,
at the Wood County Board of Developmental Disabilities meeting April 21.
Stretchbery said the changes are coming with "hurricane force winds" and services in Ohio will
soon be under scrutiny.
Her presentation Thursday reiterated much of what Salvage reported.
But while he discussed the technical aspects of upcoming changes, Stretchbery told the small group how it
will affect their family members.
Wood Lane Industries is where workers with disabilities can assemble, package, sort, label, seal, and
staple. They are provided adapted equipment when needed for his or her ability to complete jobs
correctly and on time. Each task is customized to meet the individual abilities of each worker, while
allowing individuals to work at their own pace.
Employees are paid on a per-piece rate, which is validated every six months.
According to new guidelines, "this promotes a sweatshop-like environment," Stretchbery said,
and that people are being "held" there and are not being allowed to get a job.
"I think everyone should be able to earn a minimum wage," she continued. "But the people
we serve cannot do a job without our hand on their hand."
Meanwhile, Wood Lane varies between first and second place in the state in community employment.
"If you can work, you should work," she stated, but she added they cannot afford to forget
those people who need assistance.
What will change, she said, is where consumers will be placed.
Now, Wood Lane has an enclave at Calphalon where workers break down cardboard boxes. But they don’t work
side-by-side with other employees, so it’s not considered integrated.
But at Meijer, where workers bag, cart and stock for the store, that is considered integrated since
they’re working side-by-side with non-disabled employees.
She added that going from the school straight to the Industries is no longer an option.
Instead of proving a person is demonstrating readiness for work, it will be assumed they’ll have the
capacity to work.
Stretchbery stated the agency will continue its efforts to find jobs for those who can work.
To answer a question about the future of the Industries, she responded "I trust our board to not
pull the rug out from under any of our people."
If Wood Lane does not comply with the changes, federal funds for services will be lost, she repeated.
"If they’re happy where they are?" asked Darla Aben, who has a 28-year-old receiving services.

Stretchbery responded by saying "there are people who think they know better than we do" on how
to provide services.
There also is a threat for downsizing of the agency’s numerous residential homes. Wood County homes have
no more than nine residents, but she said the agency will have to downsize into smaller settings with
less intense services. Residents should be able to chose where they live and pick their own roommates,
as part of the integration push.
Yellow bus transportation for adults is slowly being eliminated. That means that school-age children will
no longer ride the bus with adults, and adults instead will be transported by a Wood Lane van, a private
provider or public transportation.
"Who wants to ride a yellow school bus to work?" Stretchbery asked the crowd.
She admitted, though, that transportation is one of the biggest barriers to employment.
Salvage said he is supportive of the values behind the changes.
"It’s the mechanics that are frightening," he said.