Making Employment the Priority
February 2015
Mission....to create opportunities that
support people with disabilities to reach,
grow, and achieve.
A bit about our story...
Providing quality services for more than 60 years and
finding real employment opportunities for people for
more than 30 years!
Longtime partner with DRS!
Closed our sheltered workshop in 2003.
Created a Community Learning Center (CLC) model.
Expanded view of employment, such as microbusinesses and opportunities throughout our CLCs.
Innovative models... menu program, customized
employment, Monarch Services. BIP IPS model.
Some exciting stats!
January 2014-Jaunary 2015
We have supported 193 people to find
employment.
We have 62 new employers on board.
People work on average 20 hours per week at
$10.15 per hour.
Employment = Power!
The #1 question adults are asked... What do you
do? (We all know that does not mean what you
do in your free time.)
Have high expectations!
Employment raises our confidence, self esteem,
and gives us a sense of pride!
A little money in the pocket makes everyone
happy!
Employment First
Illinois has join over 20 other states!
Our system will be rebalanced to place greater
coordinated emphasis on employment.
For adults, regardless of abilities, employment
supports will be the first option (not the only
option).
This will take awhile...so let’s talk about now!
HB2591- Employment First
IDEA...
A thought, plan, or suggestion about what to do;
An opinion or belief;
Something that you imagine or picture in your
mind.
ADA
Americans with Disabilities Act
Broadly addresses discrimination as it relates to
the recruitment of QUALIFIED applicants,
regardless of a disability.
"Reasonable Accommodation" really becomes
the issue.
Basically means to adjust or modify the
application process or way in which the work is
completed to the extent that it is "reasonable".
EEOC
Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission
The governmental body that provides oversight
and due process to discrimination, as is applies
to the ADA and/or the Civil Rights Act.
It is never a good idea to begin a partnership with
the employer by twisting their arm with the ADA
or EEOC.
Partnership
At Ray Graham Association we look to
have productive and positive
partnership with families throughout
the job search and process to ensure
stability and success.
How do people find
employment?
"I get by with a little help
from my friends, …., I am
going to try with a little help
from my friends." --- The
Beatles
Start building your
child’s social capital
sooner rather than
later!
Networking…it works.
41% of job seekers found employment through
networking! - Source: Right Management 2010 survey of 59,000 clients
Families must be willing to use their own connections,
whether or not there is a partnership with DRS and/or
an organization like RGA.
Who knows you? (not necessarily who you know)
Who is in your network?
Friends
Relatives
Co-workers
Teachers
Classmates
Friends of Friends
Just because you are
connected with an
organization like RGA, it
does not meant that you will
not be asked to use your
network. This is how
people find jobs, regardless
of the fact that they have a
disability.
Networking should happen
everywhere!
Who knows me in my neighborhood?
Who knows me through school (my kid’s school or my school(s))?
Who knows me because of my travels to and from work?
Who knows me where I shop, get my hair cut, and other places where
I am a customer?
Who knows me at my work?
Who knows me through my service work, church, or hobbies that I
have?
Creating a Network
Home
Relatives
Uncle Bob
CEO
Company X
Friends
Sally Sue
Works for the
Lisle Chamber
Co-Workers
Leaders
Teachers
Work
Community
School
Laura Reynolds
PTA President
Builta
Marky Mark
Sister is
Volunteer Coord
at Good Sam
Mike Michael
Pres of Naper
Rotary
Mrs. Smith
Good
connection at
the YMCA
Other
How does it all come
together?
DRS
School
or ISC
Job
Seeker
RGA
DDD
Classic Cinemas