Disability is not inability, and doesnít have to be an insurmountable roadblock to an individualís desire to work.
Employment Support
For a person with a disability, finding a job may seem like an overwhelming task: How do I get started? Who should I contact? How do I fill out an application? What do I wear to an interview? Disability is not inability and doesn't have to be an insurmountable roadblock to an individual's desire to work. Supported employment can provide the help a person needs to seek and secure a job.
Siffrin Employment Support Services (ESS) program provides employment assistance by looking at a person's strengths and building upon those abilities. Its goal is to match qualified employees with employer needs, as well as promote awareness in business communities about the benefits of tapping into the large labor pool of employees with disabilities. Services include:
Job Assessment
An opportunity for a person to gain experience in many different job settings. Several different job experiences are set up in area businesses, and support staff accompany the individual 100% of the time through each job experience and assist the person in preparing for each work try-out. After the job assessment, a person will have experience in several different types of jobs and a better idea of what type of work he or she is interested in.
Job Development
Appoints a support staff person to work with an individual to secure community employment. The Job Developer establishes relationships with area businesses and matches skills and abilities of the person to the needs of the employer. This service also provides pre-employment training in areas such as interviewing skills and application completion.
Job Coaching
Assists a person in maintaining his or her new employment. The Job Coach can help arrange transportation, introduce co-workers and supervisors, teach tasks in a way best suited to how the person learns, and provide on-the-job support. How long a coach works along side an individual depends upon one's abilities and situation. Coaching can fade out as the person works independently and feels confident on the job, or as the employer is satisfied with job performance.
To learn more either as an interested employer or a person seeking job assistance, please contact Manager of Employment Services Jan Dougherty.