Allegan County Community Mental Health/Career Concepts

Individual Barrier to Competitive Employment

Many individuals with significant disabilities often do not have the capacity or interest to perform many traditional supported employment jobs, and most rehabilitation organizations have already helped those folks easy to place to find work. Although we have tried valiantly, we have not been able to facilitate NASA job carving for individuals who “I want to be a rock scientist.” I believe it was some nonsense about transportation problems from Michigan to Florida and back on a day to day basis. In today’s economy, employers are asking for more technical skills, broader task variety and higher levels of multi-tasking that makes general job carving more difficult.

Strategy to Address Barrier

Adding value to the individual’s employment contribution.

- Stay as close to the dream as possible, no matter how difficult it may seem at first to help someone attain income around what there interests are.

- Go to the business community and learn as much as you can about the specific interest area.

- Find out what new niche things are coming along or are marketable in the given interest area.

- Help the individual you represent to gain knowledge, equipment, capital - some type of added value that will make the work seeker a more attractive employee/business partner of some kind.

- Help attain needed resources through various sources, such as a well written self-determination individual budget, VR contribution, WIA moneys, Plan for Achieving Self Support (PASS) Plan, bank, revolving loan fund, family, etc..

- Approach possible employer/business partners known for creativity based on a common business interest with something more to bring to the table.

Case Example of Individual Change Strategy

An individual job seeker was afraid to leave the workshop and never left the house during the winter. Based on this individual’s interest in poetry, a business owner who sold inspirational T-shirts was approached. The business owner agreed to subcontract with the individual with a disability to sell T-shirts. The individual received supports in developing a business plan and taking out a small loan. The individual, with supports, began selling the shirts and repaying the loan. The individual developed her own brand of shirts and approached a local vendor to make the shirts. A relationship developed, and the vendor hired the individual as a wage employee and allows her to display her products and sell them at the store where she works.

The opportunity to sell more inspirational T-shirts, along with the individuals own products, has expanded and so has the business. Vocational Rehab is participating along with a PASS Plan to yet further expand these employment opportunities.

Strategies to address barriers: Organizational | Individual

Allegan County Community Mental Health
The Arc of Stanly County, Inc.
Career Design & Development Services
Career Support Systems, Inc.
The Cobb/Douglas Community Services Boards (CSBs)
HPS, Helping People Succeed, Inc.
KFI
Rise, Inc.
Via of Lehigh Valley