Recent News
May Is Mental Health Awareness Month
Each year millions of Americans face the reality of living with a mental illness. One in five Americans is affected by mental health conditions. Stigma is toxic to their mental health because it creates an environment of shame, fear and silence that prevents many people from seeking help and treatment. Some individuals living with mental illness close themselves off from the world to the extent that they quit their jobs and avoid social contacts. Read more >
Success Comes in All Shapes and Sizes
April 2, 2018 — Anxiety is defined as distress or uneasiness of mind caused by fear of danger or misfortune. For many, this is easily hidden. For others, it is worn for all to see and to witness. Some people show their anxiety by hiding it internally, avoiding anything that triggers them. Others have no real understanding on what will help them, which causes them to attempt to express it. Sometimes, this comes in the form of interfering behaviors that may be difficult for the person to control. For someone like Deb Carlson, this is the case. Read more >
The Benefits of a Multi-Sensory Environment
February 21, 2018 — Many people diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Asperger syndrome, or a Pervasive Developmental Disorder not otherwise specified have difficulty managing their sensory input. They may overreact, or under react, to optical (sight), tactile (touch), olfactory (smell), and auditory (sound) input - often times to the point where they are unable to participate in typical life activities! Read more >
Malco Products Named Outstanding Disability Employer by Minnesota Organization for Habilitation and Rehabilitation
October 20, 2017 — Nominated by Functional Industries, Malco Products was named an Outstanding Disability Employer by the Minnesota Organization for Habilitation and Rehabilitation, MOHR, in conjunction with National Disability Employment Awareness Month in October. Read more >
Darcy Meagher Receives 2017 MOHR Greater MN Enrichment Focus Award
July 30, 2017 — Direct support professional Darcy Meagher of Functional Industries, Buffalo, has received a statewide Direct Support Professionals Award for exceptional performance in serving people with disabilities from the Minnesota Organization for Habilitation and Rehabilitation. Meagher, who works as a program coach for people with high medical needs, is the winner for the Enrichment Focus category for greater Minnesota. Read more >
The Job Club
March 14, 2017 — Functional Industries has been providing an array of services for individuals with disabilities for 44 years. As the need for new specific services has presented itself, Functional Industries has collaborated with a number of different entities such as the Department of Human Services, Wright County Human Services, local school districts and Vocational Rehabilitation Services to develop and implement appropriate cutting edge services for individuals with disabilities. Read more >
CARF Surveyors to Visit Functional Industries in March
February 1, 2017 — A survey team from CARF International will be visiting Functional Industries’ campus March 15-17th, 2017. We invited the surveyors to evaluate how well we meet the international standards for quality. The survey will tell us what we are doing well and ways we might improve. Read more >
July All-Stars
July 6, 2016 — Finding a job in the community when one has a disability can be very difficult and frustrating. Employers often do not look past the disability to see the person underneath or the work skills they bring to the table. Vocational Rehabilitation Services assist individuals with disabilities to find and maintain employment in the community. Read more >
Ashley Nordlie Receives 2016 MOHR Greater MN Employment Service Award
June 1, 2016 — Please join the Functional Industries’ team in congratulating Ashley Nordlie for being selected as the recipient of the 2016 Minnesota Organizations for Habilitation and Rehabilitation (MOHR) Direct Support Professionals Employment Service Award in Greater Minnesota (outside the 7 County Metro Area). Holly Sunderman, Director of Vocational Rehabilitation Services at Functional Industries, nominated Ashley for this prestigious award. Read more >
May is Mental Health Month!
May 1, 2016 — Approximately 1 in 5 adults in the United States—43.8 million, or 18.5%—experiences mental illness in a given year.1 Mental Health Awareness Month has been observed in the U.S. since 1949 – millions of veterans had recently returned from war, the baby boom had just begun, and the Mental Health America (MHA) organization was seeing the enormous toll mental illnesses took on individuals and the people who loved them. Read more >
Dan Bayerl: Gold Medal Olympian
April 1, 2015 — Congratulations to Dan for being awarded a Gold medal in the 2014 State Bowling Tournament for the Minnesota Special Olympics! Read more >
Functional Industries Earns Highest CARF Accreditation
March 27, 2015 — Functional Industries proudly announces that we have been accredited by CARF for a period of three years for the following Employment and Community Services:
- Community Employment Services: Job Development
- Community Employment Services: Employment Supports
- Employee Development Services
- Employment Planning Services
- Organizational Employment Services
CARF Surveyors to visit Functional Industries in April
March 20, 2014 — A survey team from CARF International will be visiting Functional Industries’ campus April 7–9, 2014. We invited the surveyors to evaluate how well we meet the international standards for quality. The survey will tell us what we are doing well and ways we might improve. Read more >
Inclement Weather: How Does Functional Industries Decide When to Close?
January 27, 2014 — Four times already this month consumers at Functional Industries, Inc. have been at home, rather than participating in work and programming, due to the extreme cold! How and when does Functional Industries decide to start late or close? Read more >
Dan Bayerl: Bronze Medal Bowling Champion
January 1, 2014 — Congratulations to Dan Bayerl for being awarded a bronze medal in the State Bowling Tournament for the Minnesota Special Olympics! Dan has been working at Functional Industries since November 2012 and has participated in Special Olympics on and off for over 20 years, competing in bowling, track and field, and swimming. Read more >
Functional Industries Participates in Give to the Max Day on November 14
November 1, 2013 — Functional Industries, Inc. is one of many nonprofit organizations throughout the state that will ask Minnesotans to display their record-breaking generosity by donating to their favorite causes and schools online at www.GiveMN.org during the fifth annual “Give to the Max Day” on November 14, 2013. Read more >
October Is National Disability Employment Awareness Month
October 1, 2013 — Functional Industries, Inc. fully supports National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), an annual campaign that takes place each October. The purpose of NDEAM is to raise awareness and educate individuals about disability employment issues and celebrate the many and varied contributions of America's workers with disabilities. Read more >
True Success
August 24, 2013 — What defines a man is not what he has but where he has come from and where he is going. Every Journey begins with a single step, and not every path leads to success. Not every journey is clear sometimes one must step out in faith and let go of what they know to embrace new ideas and face the truth that is not always clear. One thing is clear it cannot be done alone neither can it be done with a closed mind. Read more >
Functional Industries Receives Grant from Otto Bremer Foundation
February 28, 2013 — Functional Industries, Inc. received a $49,000 grant from the Otto Bremer Foundation to support their Enduring Vision to secure additional community employment opportunities for individuals they serve, thus eliminating sheltered employment and the payment of special minimum wage rates. For over 40 years, Functional Industries has provided vocational services to people with barriers to employment. Read more >
Functional Industries Participates in Give to the Max Day on November 15
November 14, 2012— Functional Industries, Inc. is one of many nonprofit organizations throughout the state that will ask Minnesotans to display their record-breaking generosity by donating to their favorite charities and schools online at www.GiveMN.org during the fourth annual “Give to the Max Day” on Nov. 15. Read more >
October Is National Disability Employment Awareness Month
October 1, 2012 — Functional Industries, Inc. today announced its participation in National Disability Employment Awareness Month, an annual awareness campaign that takes place each October. Read more >
Rachael Praught Accepts Position as Vocational Rehabilitation Services Director
July 13, 2012 — Functional Industries, Inc. is pleased to announce the promotion of a key member to our management team. Read more >
Functional Industries Earns Highest CARF Accreditation
May 28, 2011 — Functional Industries proudly announces that we have been accredited by CARF for a period of three years... Read more >
2011 CARF Survey Results
May 28, 2011 — In their survey report, CARF surveyors Rick Phelps and Todd Seifert stated that Functional Industries has significant strengths in many areas... Read more >
Work Etc. Receives Annual Community Mental Health Award
November 29, 2010 — The Minnesota Association of Community Mental Health Programs, Inc. is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2010 awards. These annual awards spotlight excellence, express our core values, and publicly say “thank you” to those that make substantial contributions to the field... Read more >
Functional Industries Receives 2010 J&J Dartmouth Achievement Award
September 23, 2010 — Functional Industries has been participating in the Johnson & Johnson Dartmouth Community Mental Health Program since 2006. This program uses the model of Individual Placement and Support to assist persons experiencing mental health issues... Read more >
Chairman of the Board Retires
January 26, 2009 — Where do I begin… how can I ever find just the right words to convey the mixed emotions that I’m feeling as I face the reality that after 35 years of dedicated service, Ruben is retiring as Chairman of Functional Industries’ Board of Directors... Read More >