Business, government, and community agencies working together to enhance employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
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October 2009
Long Island Working Partnership gears up for National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM)
Long Island Working Partnership celebrates National Disability Employment Awareness Month, a flagship event for the Long Island and Queens region. The partnership is both a resources to business, community rehabilitation programs and vocational rehabilitation counselors in matters of employment and accommodations. It merges business needs, service provider agencies training, and vocational rehabilitation to improve and advance employment opportunities for qualified workers with disabilities.
“Expectation + Opportunity = Full Participation” is 2009 mission statement for this very important national event. Susan Summerville, Executive Director of North Shore/LIJ hospital will deliver the keynote address. Sixteen businesses will be recognized for their exemplary hiring practices.
Long Island’s NDEAM event annually features the creations of working artists with disabilities, seeking to expose their talents to a larger audience.
For registration information and how to join the Long Island Working Partnership please contact Ella Craanen at 516-227-6804.
Click here to view the Invitation
January 2007
Collaborative Efforts of Agencies Make Employment a Reality
Michael has a diagnosis of Asperger’s Syndrome. He is able to follow directions and stay on task. Michael is able to work exceptionally well when given detailed instructions. As a characteristic of this type of disability Michael does not do well in one-on-one and social interactions.
After completing a BOCES electronics assembly training program with excellent results he had difficulty finding employment. There were concerns about his interpersonal skills, his ability to get through an interview, and his ability to fit in. His BOCES instructor was not able to assist him beyond training. Michael’s instructor believed in his ability to do the job, but was not able to assist beyond that. Michael needed assistance to get through the job interview and support on the job to get him through the crucial first few weeks of the job.
A job lead was provided through BOCES. His VESID counselor arranged job coaching services from Abilities, Inc. They made the necessary contacts with the employer; coached Michael for the interview and provided few hours of job coaching on the job.
VESID can provide a “job coach”. A job coach accompanies the individual to work and assist him/her in acclimating into the work environment.
Michael is doing very well as an electronics assembler. He is works full time at $9.50/hour and receives benefits.
Through collaboration and coordination of services Michael was able to receive the assistance he needed to get him started on his career. Without the right contact at BOCES, VESID intervention, and job coaching services provided to him through Abilities, Inc. Michael would not have been able to get a job and succeed.
Job coaching services make it possible for an individual to get acclimated on the job at no cost, time, or effort on the part of the employer.
With a little understanding and patience this employer is able to benefit from a very hard working and committed employee.
Seamless Support
VESID Connects with Students Prior to Graduation
Allen attended a BOCES program for airplane mechanic training. A diagnosis of learning disability in the areas of written expression, math, organizational skills and attention made it possible for Allen to receive special education assistance from the school system. Two years prior to exit from the educational system, as required by law, Allen met with his VESID counselor. He needed one more year of training to get the power plant license and qualify for Airplane Mechanic training at SUNY Farmingdale University. A very focused young man Allen was able to achieve his goal in two years. Allen works on hydraulic airplane systems full time and earns $14.00/hr with full benefits.
Work Try Out Program
Work Try Out (WTO) is a job matching system that assists the employer in determining how well a new hire can perform a job, and if the person is well suited for the specific work environment. The employer receives reimbursement of the wages paid even if the employee is not returned at the conclusion of WTO. The WTO can be full or part time, and limited to 4 weeks or 160 hours of employment (whichever comes first).
Advantages:
- Benefits both employer and employee
- Focuses on abilities
- Promotes job matching
- Reduces personal cost
- Hires qualified workers
- Saves money on new hires
To learn more about how to arrange a WTO
contact VESID:
Lorie Boyd 516-277-6805
Susin Packert 631-952-6713
Workplace Accommodations for Individuals with Learning Disabilities as per Northeast ADA
www.ilr.cornell.edu/ped/northeastada/
- Instructions presented both in written and oral formats
- Allowing the employee to record important information
- Clearly defined job requirements, including the dates when projects assignments are due; advance notice of any changes
- Providing handouts and visual aids
- Using more than one way to demonstrate or explain information
- Breaking information into small steps when teaching many new tasks in one lesson (state objectives, review previous lesson, summarize periodically)
- Allowing time for clarification of directions and essential information
- Providing assistance with the proofreading of written work
- Allowing the use of spell check and grammar-assistive devices
- Alternative print formats
- Reduced-distraction work environments
- Computer technology for written work
- Reading materials presented in auditory formats
- Extended time to learn job tasks or to perform work
Cost of Accommodation
31% of accommodations cost nothing
50% cost less than $ 50.00
69% cost less than $ 500.00
88% cost less than $1,000.00
Job Accommodation Network—JAN/DOL