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| Employment Support |
There are many employment supports available to help people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities move to a competitive employment situation. Recent studies indicate that the provision of support for people with disabilities significantly increases their rates for employment retention. Supported employment encourages people to work within their communities and encourages work, social interaction and integration.
What types of support are available?
Supported employment is a program to assist people to become and remain successfully and competitively employed in integrated work settings. Supported employment programs not only develop jobs for people but also provide a qualified labor source for the business sector. (See supported employment models below.)
The most effective employment outcomes are achieved initially by using natural workplace supports in conjunction with agency-provided supports. Many of the agency supports can eventually be replaced by natural supports in the work environment, similar to the ones that all employees receive.
Natural supports are support from supervisors and co-workers, such as mentoring, friendships, feedback on performance and learning a new skill together. Natural supports are effective because they enhance the social integration between the employee with a disability and his/her co-workers and supervisor. Natural supports may be more permanent, consistent and readily available, thereby facilitating long-term job-retention.
Mentoring is an on the job educational process that provides opportunities for professional development, growth and support for both the mentor, or teacher, and the mentee, or student. Individuals receive information, encouragement and advice from their mentors. Mentors get a first hand look at the mentee's abilities while serving as trusted counselors or teachers. Employees in the work place benefit from the positive dynamic created by all individuals involved in the mentoring process.
A job coach is a person who is hired by the placement agency to provide specialized on-site training to assist the employee with a disability in learning and performing the job and adjusting to the work environment.
Supported Employment Models:
Individual Placement offers a person with a disability a job in a community business which best suits his/her abilities and preferences.
An Enclave consists of a small group of people working as a team at a work site in a community business. The enclave usually works among non-disabled workers. In some service industry enclaves such as hotels and restaurants, workers are dispersed throughout the company.
A mobile work crew is a small group of people who work in a distinct unit and operate as a self-contained business, usually janitorial or grounds keeping. A mobile work crew works at several locations in the community. |
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