HPS, Helping People Succeed, Inc.

Individual Barrier to Competitive Employment

In most cases, individuals who have significant disabilities do not have any measurable or actual experience in the job market. In addition, most individuals who have significant disabilities do not have high school diplomas or skills training that translates to the competitive work force.

Strategy to Address Barrier

Developing strategies to market the individual’s ability, potential and worth can be accomplished by:

Developing functional resumes that present the person’s abilities in a quantifiable format.

Developing relationships with Cambers of Commerce, civic clubs and business groups to develop a trust and dependence on the organization.

Assisting business with job carving and restructuring so that jobs can be created/customized for individuals who have a disability.

Case Example of Individual Change Strategy

A law firm called to see if we had a person who could do microfilming. The staff identified Ruth as the perfect candidate. Ruth grew up in an institution, spent many years in our sheltered workshop, had no education, and had significant mobility issues that caused her to use a walker. She was also beginning to become a behavior problem at the workshop because she wanted a job.

The microfilming position has a number of related tasks including alphabetizing, record retention, and copying and delivering copies between departments. The job coach worked to reorganize the job. The microfilming had been performed primarily by high school students who paid little attention to detail, and one actually disclosed information to another high school student regarding their parent’s divorce settlement.

A scooter was purchased through Vocational Rehabilitation so that Ruth could maneuver in the workplace at a faster pace; a “back scratcher” was purchased to turn the light off and on; and the parts of the job that required reading, copying or delivering were assigned to other positions. Ruth became their head microfilmer — not reading was a plus, not a problem. Files were kept in perfect order and she became a valued part of the law firm. She shared in all of the fringe benefits of the firm including profit sharing. She was included in luncheons and parties, and she purchased her own home with a roommate with the assistance of the firm’s real estate section

Not only is Ruth a valued employee - The law firm is now one of our strongest supporters and they encourage employers through out our catchment area to consider employing someone with a significant disability for all of the right reasons.
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