Easter Seals Disability Services

Community Employment Services

Supported Employment

Customized Employment

Job Development and Placement

Supported Employment

Supported employment facilitates competitive work in integrated work settings for individuals with severe disabilities (i.e. cognitive disabilities, mental health, learning disabilities, and traumatic brain injury). Supported employment is available for individuals as an alternative means of employment if competitive employment traditionally has not been available due to the nature and severity of their disability. Supported employment provides ongoing services via trained Easter Seals staff that support individuals in performing job responsibilities

Supported employment services often begin with an assessment of current strengths, individual barriers of work, and strategies to address these barriers.  Supported employment provides assistance through job coaches, means of transportation, assistive technology, specialized job training, and individual supervision supports.

Supported employment is facilitated with overall goals towards moving people from dependence on a service delivery system to independence through competitive employment. Supported employment further supports people not only towards working, but also in their communities through social interaction and integration.

Eligibility Criteria

• 16 years of age or older
• Documented disability or barrier to work
• Not harmful to self or others
• Independent of self cares
• Funding approval
• Identification of long-term support needs
• Independent in medication administration
• Ability to make informed choices

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Customized Employment

Customized Employment is a strategy that provides individuals with life complexities and significant barriers to employment, with an alternative to traditional, competitive jobs. According to a new definition used by the US Department of Labor, Customized Employment refers to:

Individualizing the employment relationship between employees and employers in ways that meet the needs of both. It is based on an individualized determination of the strengths, needs and interests of the person with a disability and is also designed to meet the specific needs of the employer. (Federal Register, June 26, 2002, Vol. 67. No. 123 pp43154-43149)

Customized Employment relies on a negotiated rather than competitive approach to employers; therefore, job developers assist applicants to develop personalized proposals for employers.  This approach to employment offers the promise of welcoming all persons with life complexities who wish to work into a job that fits their needs. It also defines the critical role of employment related services to support both the individual with a disability and the employer to make employment a viable option for persons once thought to be unemployable.

Customized Employment Includes:

• The Discovery Process of the individual which is concluded with three profiles to be used in plan development
• An Employment Plan that lays out the interest, conditions and contribution of the individuals to an employer
• A list of initial employer contacts
• A visual resume

Eligibility Criteria

• 16 years of age or older
• Documented disability or barrier to work
• Not Harmful to self or others
• Independent of self cares
• Funding Approval
• Independent in administering medication
• Able to make informed choices

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Job Development and Placement

In contrast to traditional job development and placement models in which staff develop jobs and then try to find people to match the jobs, the Employment Program staff seeks existing job opportunities that specifically match the employment needs of both the individual and the employer.

Staff works as a team to identify a variety of employment sites that are reflective of the current labor market which offer the potential for long-term community employment. As part of a systematic job development process, the team focuses on the following:

• Current employment positions
• Labor market surveys
• Initiation and maintenance regarding employer contact
• Job analyses
• Essential functions of each job
• Critical aspects of the work culture
• Potential reasonable accommodations that can be made with or without assistive technology
• Job seeker and employer training needs

Employment Staff provides job seekers potential leads consistent with individual strengths and interests based on the assessment and Employment Plan. Individualized support is provided during the application, selection, and hiring process. This can include facilitation of natural supports, implementation of accommodations or modifications, coordination of multiple services/supports and mobility training. All individuals are placed into jobs paid at minimum wage or greater. Staff ensure that individuals are provided orientation, training, and necessary supports in maintaining a successful job placement.

Services offered to the job seeker under Job Development and Placement:

• Work Experience  Temporary work that is used as an evaluation, career exploration, work hardening, work adjustment, skill enhancement, and reference development
• Job Coaching  Specialized on-site training to assist the employee with a disability in learning and performing the job while adjusting to the work environment
• Job Shadowing  Job site tours that enable an individual to receive an introduction to aspects of a job, including required skills and responsibilities, work environment and expectations of their employer

Technical assistance is provided to both employers and consumers, as needed, to inform them of wage and/or hour criteria, to establish and monitor benefits and to collaboratively address work-related issues. Counseling is available to families and all networks of support towards aiding each individual in utilizing general community activities.

Eligibility Criteria

• 16 years of age or older
• Documented disability or barrier to work
• Not harmful to self or others
• Independent of self cares
• Funding approval
• Identification of long-term support needs
• Independent in medication administration
• Ability to make informed choices

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