How We Help

Contributions to Melwood help individuals with disabilities to earn their own way. Each year, Melwood provides job training, employment, housing and recreation for more than 2,100 people with disabilities.

Trained, professional staff that provide supervision and on-the-job training are the key to our success. Also, we have specific training methodologies for varied levels of disability, function and capabilities.

Our quality control programs are different for our various service areas.  Paramount to all programs is a multi-tiered level of supervision and inspection, written policies and guidelines for staff to follow, and rewards and recognition for a job well-done.

We must follow good business practices, bid with fair market prices, and provide satisfaction to the customer - the same as any other business.  The fact that approximately 75% of our work force consists of persons with disabilities is just an added dimension to our company.

We must consolidate our energies on our main service functions and on the mission of employing persons with disabilities. Diversification to ancillary areas is a difficult business decision for any company. We believe in strong partnerships with the commercial industries and other rehabilitation programs that may serve persons with different disabilities. The proper selection, management, and maintenance of these partnerships add depth and value to our endeavors.

Melwood's size, in terms of qualified workers and financial stability, allow for timely response to our customer's needs. Projects in the area of assembly, sorting, packaging, handwork, etc. can be scheduled into our routine production schedules quite easily.  Melwood can be competitive with commercial companies, in terms of responses to RFPs and solicitations for work in the community. The set-aside process for the Federal Government is dictated by regulations and more information regarding the process can be found on the NISH web site.

The Retreat Center , where Access Adventure operates, is located in Nanjemoy, Maryland . We have five sleeping lodges, a dining hall, activity building, pavilion, outdoor chapel, conference building, office, greenhouse, and barn. Our lodges are fully accessible, have central air and heat, kitchenettes, fireplaces and skylights. Activities include a nature trail, softball field, volleyball court, basketball court and pond and Ropes Course.

The recreation program began over 25 years ago. We currently run a year round program. Vacations are run weekly during the summer and twice a month the remainder of the year.

Two types of programs are offered:

Travel Programs are trips where we stay in hotels and either fly or drive to the destination. These trips include places such as Disney World, Florida, Bahamas Cruise, Virginia Beach, Ocean City , Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and Busch Gardens . Prices range from $350 to $1200 depending on the type of vacation.

Access Adventures serves over 600 vacationers each year.

Individuals who attend our vacations generally come from the tri-state area: Maryland, Virginia, and Washington D.C.

Call the office to check availability for a program.

An application & physical must be returned to the office before anyone can attend a vacation.

Yes, the cost will vary depending on the type of vacation. A person who needs assistance with mobility, feeding, and personal hygiene, or a person with challenging behavioral or social issues, will require 1:1 care.

Our ratio is 1:4. Each staff person is responsible for up to four individuals. Staff who support a vacationer who requires 1:1 care are only responsible for that one individual.

Payment for vacations is the responsibility of the individual who signs up the participant. Most participants have jobs and pay for their own vacations. Others may get some assistance from parents, guardians, friends, or an agency that provides support.

Our vacations are all inclusive. The cost of the vacation includes staff support, transportation, three meals a day, accommodations and activity fees. Participants only need money for souvenirs and snacks.

Vacationers can make arrangements to be picked up and dropped off at the following locations:

• Landover Mall in Landover, Maryland

   

• Security Mall in Baltimore

   

• Little River Turnpike in Virginia

   

• Shopper’s World Center in Waldorf

   

• Melwood office in Upper Marlboro

Staff is required to complete training provided by Melwood, which includes: CPR, First Aid, Driver’s Training, Medication Administration, Managing Disruptive Behavior, Overview of Developmental Disabilities, and Seizure Management. Additional training is provided for Access Adventure staff, which includes: disability awareness, therapeutic recreation and program activities and adaptations.

For a full refund cancellation must be received in writing 30 days prior to the scheduled vacation. If a person needs to cancel due to a medical emergency, a doctor’s statement is needed and monies can be transferred to another trip. If a person cancels less than 30 days prior to a trip without a medical emergency, a $75 cancellation fee is charged or they can transfer to another trip and pay a $50 transfer fee.

Currently the facility is used on weekends to host a variety of rental groups including church groups, families and youth groups. The boy scout troops use our facility to camp out and conduct service projects on site.