Portal Industries is a nonprofit organization that has enhanced opportunities for persons with disabilities to become valued neighbors, productive workers and respected citizens for the past 40 years.
The organization, which is located in Grafton, offers “quality of life” adult day services, work services and supported employment, recreation programs or transportation for 110 clients every day. Portal’s clients include individuals with cerebral palsy, autism, Down Syndrome, epilepsy, cognitive or physical disabilities, mental health issues or brain injury.
Because the people its serves are fragile, both physically and emotionally, Portal Industries strives to make sure they are treated with respect and dignity, said Carol Stuebe, executive director at Portal Industries. That’s important for both its clients and their family members, she said.
“Parents want assurances that their sons and daughters are going to be treated with dignity and respect and with all resources available to help improve the quality of their lives,” Stuebe said.
Many of the services offered at Portal Industries are funded by its in-house work program. In fact, it receives 21 percent of its funding from its Industrial Services Program, which includes light manufacturing jobs. The work not only offsets the cost of the programs, but helps its clients become more productive and independent. Last year, Portal Industries performed work that resulted in $159,600 of wages for Ozaukee County citizens with disabilities – money they had to spend in the community for food, housing, recreation and transportation.
The agency also relies heavily on government funding (about 65 percent) and donations, so it’s important to maintain integrity with the people who give Portal Industries money, Stuebe said.
“Donors need to know that the money they’ve given is used in a way that we’ve solicited or that they’ve intended,” Stuebe said. “Likewise, taxpayers want to know that our services are cost effective.
“My role, as the administrator, is to be the moral compass,” Stuebe said. “As a mission-driven agency with lots of clients and stakeholders, we’re committed to making decisions that are right and not necessarily the most popular or the easiest.”
The agency has received accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) for the past 15 years, and is a participating partner with the United Way.
- Written by, Susan Bach – Published Oct 2, 2005 Journal Sentinel Sunday edition