Merrick, Inc.

If anyone deserves a new website, it's Merrick. A top-notch organization deserves a website that will reflect its superior service--that's Merrick. I'd love to see a new website that showcases all the current and innovative things that Merrick has to offer its clients so that the general public will know how amazing it is. I also would love to see a website that is interactive and user friendly for clients, staff and caregivers so that everyone can become more involved with Merrick. PICK MERRICK FOR A NEW WEBSITE!!!!!

Merrick is the "premier" DT&H in the Twin Cities area. They deserve to have a website that really highlights everything Merrick has to offer. Merrick not only provides internal jobs for adults with disabilities in their state of the art facility, but they also provide businesses an opportunity to hire adults with disabilities at a competitive wage. More importantly these new employees are some of the most productive personnel as well as a joy to work with. Merrick staff truly lives their mission on a daily basis, and everything they do revolves around adults with disabilities being afforded better opportunities in the community. Please strongly consider Merrick for an upgraded website as the time and energy put into it, will come back to your community 100 fold.

You almost need to see our programs and services to believe it!! I don't view Merrick as a day training program--I view it an an integral support and service system for individuals with disabilities--the vision and mission statement of the organization do a good job in presenting one picture but I think a new website that can visually show all of the different programs and opportunities would be a huge benefit to the community and to individuals who are seeking a solution that Merrick can provide. In addition to the search/referral benefits of a new website, there would also be a greater opportunity to meet the dreams of the clients, employees, and volunteers with greater donations--there is no shortage of great ideas; only a shortage of funding to fulfill them.

- today all volunteers, board members, committee members and staff of Merrick reference the website when sharing information about this organization. It is the easiest way to reach large masses or to direct an interested person to learn more about this company. - my husband and I funded the computer room at Merrick. It was our belief that if clients and staff had access to more resources they could improve their skills and capabilities. We were surprised that some of these computers have been used to send emails encouraging usage of the website to learn about volunteer needs. - our son who is a client of Merrick's is also called upon to be on panels to talk about Autism. We typically have a line of interested people after each conference asking us detailed questions about Merrick. Again we direct them to the website to attain information to make healthy decisions on whether or not it is a fit for their loved one. We believe this medium of communication is what will help Merrick grow as an organization and help those seeking out support systems find their answers quicker.

With todays technology, the internet is a main means of communication. Merrick deserves the opporturnity to let others know what it is about and what it can offer adults with disabilities and offer potential employers. Their are many job opportunities; stuffing envelopes, cleaning, and copying, to name a few, that can bring self esteem to the clients. Merrick will provide transportation to and from home and work. There are fund raising events to participate in, donations needed and what a great way to see a happy smiling face on one of the clients because they were able to meet a new friend today and work like everyone else and earn some money.

We have a very knowledgeable and talented staff at Dodge Nature Center, but we would never be able to accomplish all that we do without help from others. Instead of focusing solely on our individual agendas, we formed a collaborative partnership with Merrick, Inc. in 2002 to address each organization's challenges - Dodge, keeping up witht he growing maintenance of buildings, grounds and programs; and Merrick, to empower adults with disabilities through vocational and social opportunities and guide them toward realizing their goals and dreams. We knew that together, the whole would be greater than the sum of our parts. The seven-person reliable, loyal and enthusiastic work crew has provided an invaluable service to Dodge, doing tasks that include cleaning buildings, pulling weeds, sutffing envelopes, and mucking stalls in our barn. They have found meaningful, enjoyable employment at a place where they feel like an integral part of the organization. What can be better than that? No one is more deserving than Merrick to be selected for this. Updating their website will ultimately bring more people together into a win-win situation.

Passion is a word you hear and feel a lot at Merrick,Inc. They have a passion for their mission and a passion to enable their clients to be the best they can be. As an employee of one of Merrick's client's employers I have had two occasions to tour the facility and see their passion at work. I don't know how anyone can leave the building and not have a passion for what they do. The committment of the staff and the atmosphere that engulfs you there is remarkable. The enthusiasm of the clients at Merrick is infectious. Everyone should be lucky enough to feel such passion in their lives at least once. At Merrick it is their every day.

While an up-to-date web presence is vital to the health and growth of any organization in today's society and marketplace, this requirement takes on an added sense of urgency when attempting to reach those who may not be sufficiently knowledgeable to understand the scope of opportunities available to them. Merrick's mission --- to empower individuals with disabilities through opportunities in the workplace and social arenas --- will be refined and enhanced by updating its website. The site needs to be a better portal for individuals to obtain information and then take action in their own lives. Narrowing the gaps that currently exist between those of differing abilities in society can only improve everyone's quality of living. Eliminating obstacles to information access and more comprehensive information is integral to this goal. Merrick currently achieves heady results in assisting individuals, as you have read in previous testimonials. Selecting Merrick to be the recipient of a website re-design will explode and complement its exceptional capabilities and valuable services.

Merrick's growth and success in recent years necessitates a stronger education and communication program. As with any company in this day and age, including non-profits, the Web is the most efficient and effective opportunity for Merrick to market its services to clients, families, and area businesses. A well designed website, one tailored to the needs of a non-profit like Merrick, requires resources. Being a non-profit focused on DT&H activities; we do not have the right resources at Merrick to design the website we know we need. Please select Merrick as a recipient. We know what we need, Sierra Bravos’ F1 website challenge can get us there!

Hello, My name is Sovanny Mao .. I have been with merrick about 5 yrs .. I would like to help merrick with support for myself and other people.. As i have a disability.. Why i like Merrick supporting me in my disabilitys- Pace Center library for people disability merrick take me ... Merrick helps Me looking for the Reseach at the Century College School .. Why? Because , I am dream become get a hairstyles color and the haircut.. I am supported with Diabetes.. i had found ways to work indepence ... The merrick coorditiors from Connie she makes sure the stuff with my blood sugar is listed case .. I forget things I am supported with Rocco Altobelli.. I am best a person myself .. I am good speed time a work .. "Called the Time Study work " I could help a team Co- Worker from the Rocco Altobelli.. I am one a person.. why I want a better web site? I am dream become get a school , jobs , help find better a hearing aids, helping use a computer, help find out what's going on Merrick snow day? new job what's acctive going on ? i want a social with my friends and co worker. .. i like a concerts, movies

Dear review committee: It is important for Self-Advocates to have their voices heard in order for everyone else to better understand as regular people. Having used the Web I have learned more precisely what services are available for people with disabilities. In addition, a Web site will contribute enormously to our voices being heard with clarity. Work is a common value held by many world wide as it is important for persons to have productive jobs to earn money so they can buy what they want; pay bills, have a sense of accomplishment and well-being which makes us better people. The same is true for persons with disabilities. I ask that you consider my testimonial in awarding a Web site to a business. Sincerely, Dorie Skrypeck

Merrick believes that everyone, including adults with developmental disabilities, should have an opportunity to have a balanced life that includes meaningful employment. They also believe employment is important to everyone because it increases self-sufficiency; provides an improved sense of self worth; allows people to make decisions to purchase what is important to them in their quality of life; and it is a major branch in their social and support network. However; Merrick strives to go beyond just employment by providing a forum for the individuals served to express concerns about their world and community. Merrick is a leader in facilitating self-advocacy groups for clients in their program. They know from their experiences that self-advocacy is every-bit as important for an individual’s self-sufficiency as are wages. Their Web site will differentiate itself from the competition by being the voice for client’s self-advocacy. They believe that a new site can be the foundation to allow Merrick to build and automate collaborative processes via the Internet to reduce support costs by enabling more self service as well as saving time. As the main volunteer for the Merrick Web site strategy, I believe the site needs to be a simple yet sophisticated and well designed site that at the same time, is in keeping with the latest trends in user interface design without being too flashy or over done. The site should showcase Merrick programs with photos that reflect the people and services of Merrick, Inc. and utilize features to persuade visitors to come back, or even better, request services. The key to their Website strategy will be combining a well designed front end, with a back end capable of recording leads and requests. These models could benefit from giving case managers and employers the capability to interact with Merrick in a self service model by entering data that returns services or costs associated with their request.