Webinar: Paving the way to employment

Guided Group Discovery (GGD) is a universal design approach used within workforce development systems to enable youth and adults with disabilities, and others who faces barriers to employment, to secure and maintain employment.

These strategies serve as an alternative assessment tool that identifies the strengths and ideal conditions of employment for job seekers with and without disabilities, resulting in a “blueprint” to guide job development.

A webinar hosted by the LEAD Center is set for 3 p.m. Monday, June 26. Click here for details and registration information.

Participants will learn about Guided Group Discovery pilot projects and how to implement these practices through cross-system partnerships.

Joining passion and community with a job he loves

Today is National Beer Day (yes, that’s a thing), and it’s the perfect day to share this new video from MadTree Brewing and Starfire.

It features Michael, who loves beer, and has been working at MadTree since 2013. He’s a vital part of the company and considered part of the family. Watch part one and part two of the video series below.

Love of Beer Builds Community

A Seat at the Table for Everyone

A different approach to finding a job

For people with disabilities, the unemployment rate is more than double that of people without disabilities. And statistics show people with disabilities participate in the labor force at a much lower rate than the general population.

But for many in Cincinnati, the goal of working in the community is becoming a reality, thanks to Starfire’s approach that rethinks how people get jobs.

Starfire is … building people’s social connections. Landing a job often comes down to “who you know,” but the average person with developmental disabilities only has a network of 2 community relationships (unpaid, non-family, people without disabilities). At Starfire, 92% of the jobs attained with our support come directly from social connections, so we know our approach is working, even though it makes us a little different. We don’t invest people’s time and efforts on repetitive “job training readiness” such as mock interviews, resume building, or piecemeal work. Instead, we help people be “known” for their gifts and passions, so that when they apply for a job, their proven abilities are at the forefront of employer’s minds.

Becky at SAF Holland

That’s led to many success stories like Becky, who works at SAF Holland. She turned to Starfire to help her build confidence and get out in the workforce. It includes people like Molly, who works at Neyra. Her supervisor has said Molly is “always so considerate and she always remembers little tidbits about people. She’s able to help get a lot of the administrative duties out of the way. So it’s helped free up a lot of their time to make our process in finances more efficient.”

Starfire’s approach has also helped Mike, who works at Contemporary Cabinetry East, and Craig, who works at Kinetic Vision. Learn more on Starfire’s Cincibility blog. 

Guest post: Setting goals and taking on more responsibility

Contributed by Easterseals Serving Greater Cincinnati

Ask him about his childhood or his time in school, and Eddie is tight-lipped. He remembers very little of his childhood, and in his own guarded words, “School was school.” But ask him about Easter Seals TriState, and bursts of laughter punctuate his stories.

Eddie exemplifies the path to employment for many young people with disabilities. After graduating high school, he was attracted to the structure and training offered in Easter Seals’ packaging facility, and he enjoyed the variety of tasks and the people there. After three years, Eddie was ready for the next challenge. With his energetic personality and experience, he was offered a position in Easter Seals’ Work and Grow program, a blend of paid work and recreational activities in a community setting.

Eddie was assigned to the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati, where he performed facility maintenance and inventory. He worked there for five years and laughs as he declares, “I ruled that place. That place was my kingdom.”

With eight years of experience in increasingly responsible positions, Eddie was ready to pursue community employment. He was hired as a Courtesy Clerk at a local Kroger in November 2015, just before the Thanksgiving rush. “It was chaos,” he says, “but it’s really awesome.”

It’s been a great fit—the coworkers, the environment, and seeing room for advancement. He has big dreams: not only does he have his eyes on being a cashier, but he is working on two novels and a book of poetry. “I love it,” he smiles. “I just love working.”

This story was part of an Easterseals series for National Disability Employment Awareness Month, which is celebrated every October.

His job helps him thrive in the community

John Roach will proudly tell you he has been working with a lot of ‘great people’ since 1981, when he stopped spending his days in a workshop and began his employment at the family-owned George H. Rohde & Son Funeral Home in Mt. Lookout.

“I’m not sure if I interviewed anybody other than John – I might have – but it was the best thing that ever happened to me,” said Steve Rohde, the president and owner of the funeral home. “John was very nice – a happy guy. He’s taken a lot of pressure off things because of his reliability.”

The business recently won the Employer Excellence Award, which recognizes leaders who provide employment opportunities for the people Living Arrangements for the Developmentally Disabled (LADD) serves.

“I sweep, mop, wash cars and do everything the right way,” Roach said.

Faith Maynard, who has worked with Roach for years through LADD, has seen him thrive as a result of being part of the Rohde’s business.

In addition to providing Roach with steady work, Steve Rohde and his staff consider him a valued part of their lives. They include him in social functions, take care to remind him of his medical appointments, and even provided financial assistance during a challenging time.

“The funeral home has been a blessing to John in many ways in it has lent stability to his life, given him a stable source of income and it has helped bridge the gap between family members and care providers,” she said.

Over the years, Maynard has seen Roach lose many stakeholders in his life, but Rohde and his staff have stepped up as advocates. They have played a key role in educating the entire Mt. Lookout community about Roach’s strengths, and, as a result, other businesses have hired him for temporary needs.

“I am like a brother for him and Steve is like a brother for me,” Roach said. “I won’t quit my job for nothing. I like where I am now.”

Story adapted from LADD website recognizing the Taking Flight Awards ceremony recipients.

Upcoming events to build inclusive workplaces

The Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber of Commerce is hosting a new event as part of their Diverse By Design initiative. It begins at noon on Monday, Sept. 26.

Topics include:

• ROI of employing people with disabilities and veterans
• Understanding employer tax incentives
• Local business success stories
• Workplace accomodation and fostering a culture of openness and comfort

Paul Daughtery, an award-winning sports journalist and author, is the keynote speaker. His book, “An Uncomplicated Life,” is about his daughter Jillian, who has Down syndrome. Jillian has been successfully employed in the community for years and wrote a guest post for our blog earlier this year.

Registration and details on the Chamber’s website.

Also, on Sept. 27, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), in partnership with the National Disability Mentoring Coalition, is hosting a celebration to kick off National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM).

The celebration, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., highlights USDA’s new Disability Mentoring Model as a means to support increased employment and advancement of individuals with disabilities in the federal government and provides the framework for agencies and disability organizations to collaborate and share resources. Hear from top leaders about how the federal government is working to increase hiring, advancement, and retention of people with disabilities, and learn about a new multi-sector disability mentoring model.

#InclusionWorks: Mentoring to and through Employment is being held in Washington D.C., but can be watched live via the web. More information and registration details available online.

VIDEO: Encouraging employers to hire people with DD

Many organizations in Cincinnati are encouraging local businesses to consider hiring adults with developmental disabilities, and the Down Syndrome Association of Greater Cincinnati (DSAGC) is no different. A recently released video highlights the abilities people with DD make in the local workforce.

“We really want to see ourselves as catalysts to encourage employers … to open their minds to the possibility of hiring adults with Down syndrome and really give them a chance,” said Jim Hudson, executive director of DSAGC.

Case study: From workshops to workforce in Tennessee

What happens when you close sheltered workshops and move people with developmental disabilities into the community workforce? The prospect of this monumental task can seem daunting, even impossible, for many organizations.

When SRVS (pronounced “serves”) took an opportunity to transition people to integrated employment in Shelby County, Tennessee, some were skeptical and others pushed back against the proposal. So they started implementing strategies to focus on “soft skills” such as resume writing and navigating a professional environment.

“Our workshop was our face in the community,” said Tyler Hampton, SRVS’ Executive Director. “Everybody loved us. People were happy. When you walked through people would hug you.”

Eric Ryan, one of the people who left SVRS for community employment. Watch the video from Tennessee Works here.

So when Tennessee state leaders asked him to apply for technical assistance funded through the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) Employment First State Leadership Mentoring Program (EFSLMP), Hampton said “no” because he knew it would mean closing the workshop. After a second call from the Tennessee Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, SRVS committed to assisting 20 beneficiaries transition to integrated employment in the fall of 2012.

SRVS began receiving technical assistance from subject matter experts in early 2013. During a presentation at SRVS on customized employment, a technical expert described the benefits of working in the community for people with disabilities, including the opportunity to develop friendships and natural supports in ways that would be more realistic than in workshops. Another technical expert with experience in transforming sheltered workshops led a walk-through of the SRVS workshop.

These experiences opened Hampton’s eyes to what he characterized as “the inequities that were happening within our workshop.” “I didn’t realize it,” he added, “I knew we had to close.”

In August 2013 the SRVS board formally agreed to close the sheltered workshop and on June 30, 2015, after more than 50 years, the workshop closed. Of the 110 beneficiaries who had participated in the workshop, 42 are now successfully employed and 62 are receiving supports as they seek employment.

Story adapted and includes parts of an article originally posted on an Administration for Community Living (ACL) blog, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

National employment conference coming to Cincinnati June 21-23

The National Conference for the Association of People Supporting Employment First (APSE) is coming to Cincinnati June 21-23.

It brings together businesses, individuals with disabilities and community leaders from across the country and around the world to network and discuss state-of-the-art strategies to ensure equitable employment for citizens with disabilities.

The 2016 National APSE Conference – Soaring to EmploymentFirst – features two days of high quality, interactive breakout sessions.  Featured sessions will focus on state-of-the-art practices in integrated employment in the areas of:

• Innovative Practices in Integrated Employment
• Leadership for the Future
• Public Policy and Funding
• Transition from School to Adult Life
• Family & Self Advocacy and more

Through advocacy and education, APSE’s mission aims to advance employment and self-sufficiency for all people with disabilities. Click here for more details on the conference and registration information.

Column: The Power of Peer Influence

Have you ever felt the influence of your peers? Maybe it was going skydiving after your friends convinced you to try it. Maybe it was volunteering with your colleagues in your community. Or perhaps it was signing up for a benefit walk to help a cause your peers also support.

Recently, I read an article that discussed the power of peer influence on one’s decision-making process. It made me think about how this concept could be applied more broadly to employment people with developmental disabilities. Why not use this potential power of peer influence to promote positive interactions among individuals thinking about working in the community?

Merely 19 percent of people with disabilities are actively participating in the workforce, according to U.S. Department of Labor statistics. Competitive employment results in many positive outcomes, so why aren’t more people participating? From my experience in the field, lack of exposure to the possibilities of employment can be a hindering factor. Also, individual choice is a factor and some people may not have a desire to work in the community.

Stepping out into the workforce can come with risks, and often it may seem that the risks far outweigh the benefits. However, offering forums to talk about employment possibilities can help others seek out opportunities of interest, or, at the very least, provide information. These forums also offer support in an informal, non-threatening and relaxed environment.

At Hamilton County DD Services, we recently put this concept into action. Latasha Walker has worked at Beckman Adult Center for many years, and this summer she made the decision to find a community job. She was hired by LaRosa’s Pizzeria and shared her story with her peers who attend Kidd Adult Center.

Latasha Walker talked to her peers at Kidd Adult Center about community employment.

The conversation was thought-provoking and many who listened to Latasha’s story asked her questions about transportation, wages and other topics related to work. This shows her peers were engaged and interested in learning more about having a job outside of the adult center environment.

Positive encouragement and the opportunity to hear a successful employment story may elicit more interest and help someone understand the benefits of working in the community. And maybe this forum, like others, motivated someone to seek out potential opportunities.

Making the choice to join the workforce is a personal decision based on that person’s interest in employment. Ohio’s Employment First initiative has changed the expectations for individuals with disabilities of working age, placing employment as the preferred and expected outcome. Our agency and others in Ohio have many great resources to assist individuals in their quest for employment. Hamilton County DD Services is committed to making employment a reality for individuals who have a desire to work.