Overview of Customized Employment and the Process of Discovery Part 1 Patty Cassidy, M.Ed. Senior Associate Griffin-Hammis Associates, Inc.

Transcription

1 Overview of Customized Employment and the Process of Discovery Part 1 Patty Cassidy, M.Ed. Senior Associate Griffin-Hammis Associates, Inc. THE CHALLENGE Creating lasting satisfying, persondirected, employment beyond the confines of conventional employment development practices. 1

2 WHAT IS EMPLOYMENT? WHAT IS EMPLOYMENT FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES? 2

3 COMPETITIVE EMPLOYMENT Work in the competitive labor market that is performed on a full-time or part-time basis in an integrated setting and for which the individual is compensated at or above minimum wage, but not less than the customary wage and levels of benefits paid by the employer for the same or similar work performed by individuals who are not disabled. SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT In 1986, Supported Employment came into practice: Supported employment was defined as competitive work in integrated settings for individuals with severe handicaps for whom competitive employment has not traditionally occurred. (Supported Competitive Employment) 3

4 SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT Real Work/ Real Pay Integrated On-going Support EMPLOYMENT FROM SE into the Federal Rehab. Act Systems Change $ for SE (Ramping Up) ADA Natural Supports Job Carving PresumpEon of Eligibility Tens of Thousands Employed though SE Consumer Choice Self DeterminaEon ExpectaEon of Growth in Employment Numbers AND YET... 4

5 WHAT WE SAW WAS Slowed Growth in Employment Percentage of People in Integrated Employment Down WHAT HAPPENED? 1. Increase in Facility-Based (sheltered workshops) and Non-Work Services (day activity centers) programs. 2. Percentage of People with disabilities receiving services in Integrated Employment went Down 5

6 EMPLOYMENT FIRST: A NATIONAL MOVEMENT Under the Employment First approach, communitybased, integrated employment is the first option for employment services for youth and adults with significant disabilities. Vocational Rehabilitation Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Services and Medicaid Workforce/Career Centers (America s Job Centers) Social Security Special Education WHAT IS CUSTOMIZED EMPLOYMENT? Customized employment means individualizing the employment relationship between employees and employers in ways that meet the needs of both. -- The United States Department of Labor, Office of Disability and Employment Policy 6

7 9/16/16 CUSTOMIZED EMPLOYMENT (CE) A set of tools and strategies, that result in positive employment opportunities by matching a job seeker s interests, skills, and ideal conditions of employment with an identified employer s or a community s needs. What is Customized Employment? o Individualization required: must be one person at a time o Requires negotiation of job duties and/or employer expectations o Employment development is determined by the individual, not openings or market demand o Identifies the Ideal Conditions of Employment using Discovery 7

8 CUSTOMIZED EMPLOYMENT May include employment developed through job carving, self-employment or entrepreneurial initiatives, or other job development or restructuring strategies that result in job responsibilities being customized and individually negotiated to fit the needs of individuals with a disability. Federal Register, June 26, 2002, Vol. 67. No. 123 pp ) WHAT ARE NOT CUSTOMIZED EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES: Vocational Assessments, Interest Inventories, Paper and Pencil Tests Resume Writing Filling Out Applications Interview Skills Training Group Employment Market-Based Job Development Placement Services 8

9 CHALLENGES WITH TRADITIONAL/ CONVENTIONAL APPROACHES Starts with employment demand; reacts to labor market; Includes group employment options; Allows for sub-minimum wage; Selects the most skilled applicants, leaving behind those with more complex lives; Frequently results in entry-level, minimumwage, high-turnover trap. CE CIRCUMVENTS A COMPARATIVE APPROACH Traditional job development strategies: Vocational Evaluation Resume development Interview practice Respond to posted jobs Applications and Interviews A Customized Approach: Discovery Profiles. May include portfolios, picture or video resumes Informational Interviews/ connections Match skills and employer needs Employment Proposals 9

10 THE PHASES OF CUSTOMIZED EMPLOYMENT IV. Ongoing Support and Career Development I. Discovering Personal Genius III. Engaging Employment Supports II. Cultivating Employment Opportunities PROMOTES BROADER RANGE OF OUTCOMES Negotiated Jobs Created, carved, restructured, or unbundled Resource Ownership Self-Employment/MicroEnterprise To be customized, employment must be: Paid, competitive work Integrated settings Ongoing support 10

11 NEGOTIATED JOBS Identifies needs of employers that match the skills and interest of a job seeker. Job creation removes the job seeker from the comparative process by focusing on tasks could benefit the business. Proposal developed to address how job seeker can meet need of employer. JOB CREATION 11

12 Resource Ownership o Job seeker brings a resource to the job that allows the business to increase profit; o Examples: a piece of equipment, tools, a vehicle, a college degree; o Creates work; o Creates workplace prestige; o Improves productivity; o Creates community economic development. SCOTT S ICE CREAM Relationship with local restaurant Job opportunities limited Scott purchased industrial ice cream machine: PASS K-Fund 12

13 RESOURCE OWNERSHIP RESOURCE OWNERSHIP 13

14 CHRISTIAN CATFISH HOLE Resources Digital Scale Table/shelf construction Shed retrofitting Knives Machinery Funding Sources State CE Grant Vocational Rehabilitation MICROENTERPRISE Businesses employing 1-5 workers Requires less than $35,000 in start-up costs Across the US, significant increase in opportunities for individuals with disabilities to become self-employed 14

15 Jamie s Custom Cutting, of Coshocton, OH Steven s Woodshop 15

16 Business within a Business Korey s Amusements VIDEO ARCADE OWNER Ecological Match Great owner Around people who like video games Highlights gaming & repair skills Economic Opportunity AddiSonal opsons for customers Quality service for customers Increased income as result of added machines Mutual Benefit: Skill development, Enhanced Income & Work Status; Increased Profits 16

17 VIDEO ARCADE OWNER Resources Repair skills training from supplier Knowledge of games New machines added to inventory Funding Sources State CE Project VocaSonal RehabilitaSon CRP POSSIBLE CUSTOMIZED EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES: Wage Employment: Job Carving Job Creation Resource Ownership Microenterprise / Self Employment Business-within-a-Business 17

18 QUESTIONS? COMMENTS??? Patty Cassidy Senior Associate Griffin-Hammis Associates, Inc