Easter Seals Disability Services

Easter Seals Maine Vocational Services

Click here to read how Easter Seals Vocational Services helped Parker find the perfect job “I basically like everything about the job,” Parker says with a smile of the job he found with the help of Easter Seals Maine Job Placement Specialist Debbie Berry. Finding the perfect job for Parker required a little extra help and Easter Seals provided the support necessary.

Employment provides the opportunity to participate as a member of a community. Easter Seals job training and employment services help people with disabilities learn skills to successfully enter the workforce, or to return to work after an illness or injury. Not only do employees benefit from the satisfaction of having a job, but businesses also gain from their contributions.

Easter Seals Maine makes it possible for employees with disabilities to enjoy and contribute to their workplace.

Employment provides the opportunity for individuals with disabilities to participate as members of their communities. Easter Seals Vocational Rehabilitation helps people learn the skills they need to enter the workforce, or to return to work after an illness or injury. Not only do individuals benefit from the satisfaction of having a job, but businesses also gain from their contributions.

Like all Easter Seals services, Easter Seals Vocational Rehabilitation Services are comprehensive and individualized to meet each client's needs, family-focused to meet each family member's concerns, outcome-oriented with a goal of enhanced independence, and cost-effective benefiting from public support.

Vocational Evaluation & Assessment Services

Through Easter Seals vocational evaluation and assessment services, individuals receive guidance regarding vocational options and employment goals and objectives. Services may be provided at a community center, in the home, or at school. Assessments range from a general assessment of skill and ability to a specific evaluation of a job site for modification of tasks and/or methods. Services include:

• interest inventories
• personal interviews
• standardized tests
• work samples
• observations of work-related behaviors

Work Adjustment/Employee Development Services

Work adjustment provides comprehensive, individualized skills training to help people develop or reestablish skills, attitudes, work behaviors and functional capacities to meet their employment goals. Areas typically addressed include:

• attendance
• punctuality
• work pace
• quality of work
• initiative
• social and interpersonal skills
• personal appearance
  

Easter Seals' job skills training programs teach the skills necessary to perform specific jobs (e.g., computer entry, computer programming) or skills that are essential to a vocation (e.g., entry-level clerical, manufacturing production skills, basic English literacy training). These services can be provided directly to the individual seeking employment or indirectly through corporate support programs. Skills training services may be provided on the job in the form of apprenticeships, training or volunteer situations; in a training and educational setting; or at a local Easter Seals.

Employment Services /
Job Placement Competitive Employment

Easter Seals competitive employment services are geared toward helping individuals achieve and keep employment consistent with their employment goals. Vocational counseling, job seeking skills, adaptive needs assessments, case management services, independent living, or other services may be involved in order to help an individual locate and sustain employment. Competitive employment may include some initial supports.

Supported Employment

Easter Seals job placement and supported employment services help individuals and businesses. Enthusiastic, qualified candidates choose, obtain and retain jobs they enjoy while helping local businesses recruit people with disabilities, strengthening workforce diversity. Services include:

• employee screening
• employee training
• Americans with Disabilities Act information and assistance
• follow-up support services

Work Services

Easter Seals work services are designed to provide paid employment, with the persons served on the payroll of the organization. Flexible services may include:

• organization-based employment centers
• retail stores
• restaurants
• shops
• affirmative enterprises
• personnel employment agencies
• contracted work groups
• mobile crews
• sheltered workshop/work center
  

Occupational Skills Training

Easter Seals provides organized, formal training services that assist an individual seeking competitive employment to acquire and market the skills necessary for specific jobs. Skills training services may be provided on the job in the form of apprenticeships, training or volunteer situations; in a training and educational setting; or at a local Easter Seals.

School-to-Work 

Easter Seals provides school-to-work services to help young adults with disabilities prepare a smooth, productive transition from school to the workforce. Guidance include planning for desired outcomes before a student leaves the school system. The main structure of the school-to-work service is:

• School-based learning -- Instruction and experiences based on academic and occupational skill standards.
• Work-based learning -- Workplace experience, structured training, mentoring, and apprenticeships at job sites.
• Connecting activities -- A variety of activities that build and maintain bridges between school, work, and other adult environments.
  

Employment Planning

Employment planning services assist job-seekers with career exploration and development, information about employment opportunities within a community, and the skills, education and training needed to meet individual employment objectives.

 Easter Seals' approach may include:

• career counseling
• situation assessments
• review and use of vocational evaluation results
• paid work trials
• work samples at community or organizational sites
• personal interviews
• behavioral observations
• medical reviews
• psychological and/or educational testing
• psychometric testing
• analysis of transferable skills from previous employment
  

Industry-Based Program

Through arrangements with business and industry, Easter Seals provides workers for time-specific projects. Participants have an opportunity to build work readiness and stamina, while establishing a mutually-rewarding relationship in a real work environment.

AgrAbility

Millions of Americans earn their living in agricultural production and related occupations. AgrAbility makes it possible for agricultural and agribusiness workers who have mental or physical disabilities such as amputation, arthritis, spinal cord injury, deafness, and hearing impairments, maintain their way of life. Assistance is provided by:

• assessing work sites and suggesting modifications
• suggesting how equipment may be adapted
• facilitating rural independent living
• stressing agricultural safety and prevention of secondary injury

For more information contact http://www.agrabilityproject.org/

Support Services

Personal, social and community support can enhance an individual's career experience and community participation. Easter Seals supports participation in a variety of life experiences they might otherwise miss. Examples include:

• leisure, religious and cultural activities
• vocational pursuits
• maintenance of health
• activities related to entertainment, communication, education, work attitudes and skills exploration
  

Assistive Technology/Job Accommodations

Assistive technology includes any piece of equipment that reduces or eliminates the barriers imposed by a disability. Tools or modifications can help turn employment opportunities into realities for individuals with visual impairments, blindness, learning disabilities or mobility impairments.

Some examples are:

• elevating a work station a few inches so a wheelchair would fit under the desk
• providing special software to enlarge images on the monitor providing a Braille printer
   

 
 To learn more about Easter Seals Vocational Services, contact us here!