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Now Mr. Riddle, who has Autism, mild Intellectual Disability and Schizophrenia, is working a 40-hour week, has health insurance through the company, a 401(k) savings plan, and profit sharing.
It was during a 2007 conference in Wichita on entrepreneurship for people with developmental disabilities that the idea for a laundry service for beauty salons began to take shape.
Mrs. Schneider says the goal of transition is to prepare students for life outside school. This is not something emphasized in the past.
“Circle of Friends” has been key to Justin White’s tremendous growth over the last couple of years.
Now 21, David works full-time as a medication aide in a senior center, has his own apartment, car, and computer, and plans to gain additional education to continue a career in health care.
LaDena Hempken works daily with severely disabled adults, many of whom have multiple disabilities and for the most part are non-verbal.. She said the job -- the first paying job she has held in 12 years -- gives a purpose to her life.
“I always want to learn more,“ said Employment Specialist Tammy Carrell, who works for KETCH in Wichita.. “But a lot of stuff you learn along the way. Each client is a different person.”
It wasn’t until she went to Valeo Behavioral Health Care in Topeka that Katherine Carpenter’s life made a major change for the better. The culmination of the improvement: a job at Brighton Place, brought on by help provided by Ms. Carpenter’s Employment Support Specialists at Valeo.
As a Job Coach, or Employment Consultant, she finds employment for persons with developmental disabilities -- some with severe physical and mental limitations -- and then trains the newly-hired employees until they master the job.
The first step in the process of finding employment for people with disabilities assigned to the agency is getting to know the client and the client’s preferences for employment, said Tish Gutierrez, and Employment Specialist for Johnson County Developmental Supports.
Kristen Farley, Employment Specialist Supervisor at Valeo in Topeka, said one of the joys of the job is to watch clients who find work change for the better. "They become more outgoing," she said.
It was during many discussions about Angela’s future employment possibilities that they came up with the idea of raising calves.
Employment1st.org is funded by the Kansas Council on Developmental Disabilities (KCDD). Design by Lawson Phillips Associates. Stories by Tim Hoyt. Photography by Lawson Phillips. Publication design by Arthur McCash and Lawson Phillips.
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Resources/Training/Tools for Employment Support PersonnelFor Employment Support Personnel, highly recommended training sites are available. Some of these websites specialize in providing information and training for Employment Specialists or Job Coaches working with people with developmental disabilities. Other websites below specialize in providing information and training for Employment Specialists working with people with mental illness.
APSE: The Network on Employment APSE is the only national organization with an exclusive focus on integrated employment and career advancement opportunities for individuals with disabilities. APSE is a growing national non-profit membership organization, founded in 1988 as the Association for Persons in Supported Employment, now known as APSE.
Educating a workforce of Direct Support Professionals to support individuals with disabilities is what we do – “Building Careers, Supporting Lives.” Our curriculum, values and mission are based on the premise that all people should live life to its fullest in community-based settings.
Cornell, Employment and Disability Institute (EDI) The EDI website has useful information on disability employment research (right side of the page) and the Ticket to Work program (left side of the page.) Employer practices under Disability Employment Research Publications has practical information about employment for youth, supported employment and employment policy.
Dartmouth IPS Supported Employment Center Core Principles of IPS Supported Employment Research has helped to identify the core principles of Evidence-Based Supported Employment. These principles include: 1. Every person with severe mental illness who wants to work is eligible for IPS supported employment. 2. Employment services are integrated with mental health treatment services. 3. Competitive employment is the goal. 4. Personalized benefits counseling is provided. 5. The job search starts soon after a person expresses interest in working. 6. Employment specialists systematically develop relationships with employers based upon their client’s work preferences. 7. Job supports are continuous. 8. Client preferences are honored.
GHA specializes in community rehabilitation improvement, job creation and job site training, employer development, Social Security benefits analysis and work incentives, self-employment feasibility and refinement, management-leadership mentoring, and civic entrepreneurship. Our customers are wide ranging and include businesses, community rehabilitation programs, state and local governments, universities, individuals, and others from the public and private sectors.
The Institute for Community Inclusion Promoting the inclusion of people with disabilities ICI offers training, clinical, and employment services, conducts research, and provides assistance to organizations to promote inclusion of people with disabilities in school, work, and community activities.
KU School of Social Welfare - Mental Health Research and Training Since 1988, the Office of Mental Health Research and Training has improved the lives of people with psychiatric disabilities through the design and testing of new mental health practices and the dissemination of information through training, workshops, conference presentations, consultation and technical assistance and articles in scholarly journals.
The Kansas Commission on Disability Concerns (KCDC) KCDC provides information on resources and services that make living in the community by people with disabilities easier. The "Work" tab has information for the job seekers on services, discrimination rights and self-employment. The Disability Service Maps show the locations of a variety of service offices along with contact information.
Kansas University Center on Developmental Disabilities (KUCDD) The mission of the Kansas University Center on Developmental Disabilities is, through research, training, technical assistance, and community service activities, to enhance the quality of life, self-determination, and inclusion of Kansans with developmental disabilities and their families.
The NTAR Leadership Center seeks to build capacity and leadership across workforce development and disability-specific systems that will increase the employment and economic self-sufficiency of adults with disabilities.
National Center on Workforce and Disability Universal Design for the Workforce Development System is an innovative collection of tools and resources, designed to assist workforce development professionals in creating services to meet the diverse needs of all customers of the workforce development system.
National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth NCWD/Youth is your source for information about employment and youth with disabilities. Our partners — experts in disability, education, employment, and workforce development — strive to ensure you will be provided with the highest quality, most relevant information available.
Region VII TACE - Technical Assistance and Continuing Education In 2008 the Rehabilitation Service Administration (RSA) created a network of Technical Assistance and Continuing Education (TACE) Centers to support the public vocational rehabilitation system. These TACE Centers provide advice, support, and training to the state VR agencies and their community partners. There are 10 TACE Centers nationally, one in each RSA region. The MU TACE serves Region 7 - Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, and Kansas.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) SAMHSA’S mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America’s communities. In order to achieve this mission, SAMHSA has identified 8 Strategic Initiatives to focus the Agency’s work on improving lives and capitalizing on emerging opportunities.
A certificate of completion for 18 in-service hours is awarded to those who successfully complete a course. You can log on at any time from any internet connected computer during the course access period.
TransCen Inc. Career and Workforce Development TransCen, Inc. is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to improving educational and employment outcomes for people with disabilities. Our work is driven by the belief that there is a job for everyone who wants one, regardless of the nature of their disability, or other barriers to employment, their need for workplace support and accommodation, or economic circumstance. Our associates develop, implement, and research innovative practices regarding school-to-adult life transition, career and workforce development, and inclusive community participation.
United States Department of Labor - Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) The Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) seeks to increase employment opportunities for people with disabilities by expanding access to training, education, employment supports, assistive technology, integrated employment, entrepreneurial development, and small-business opportunities. The agency also builds partnerships with employers and state and local agencies to increase awareness of the benefits of hiring people with disabilities, and to facilitate the use of effective strategies. ODEP does not enforce any laws.
University of Montana - Rural Institute Welcome to the Rural Institute website. On our website we strive to provide useful resources and information on a variety of topics related to disabilities that we have explored through a multitude of projects. Please look through our Project Areas and Major Programs drop down menus to find more information about current and past projects and explore the resources available. Since 1979, the Rural Institute, Montana’s Center of Excellence in Disabilities, has sought to enhance the quality of life for people with disabilities, especially those individuals living in Montana and other rural areas across the country. Our objective is to increase the independence, productivity, community integration, and inclusion of those with disabilities through education, research, and demonstration services.
Virginia Commonwealth University RRTC Established in 1983, VCU-RRTC serves as a center of national excellence, providing resources for professionals, individuals with disabilities, and their representatives. For over 27 years, we have been at the forefront of the supported employment and workplace supports movements.
The Washington Initiative for Supported Employment (WISE) WISE is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to expanding employment opportunities for people with developmental disabilities.
This site is dedicated to serving the Employment Networks that operate under the Ticket to Work Program. You may use the navigation on the left-hand side of the screen to view the different pages in this site. If you are having trouble with this site, or you are unable to find exactly the information you need, please contact us using the contact information provided under navigation buttons.
General Resources:There are agencies to help in the process of matching people with disabilities looking for work with employers. Each of the following links will take you to an external website in a new browser window.
- Community Developmental Disability Organizations (CDDO’s)
- Transition Planning / IEP - The Kansas Department of Education
- Rehabilitation Services - Kansas SRS
- Kansas Council on Developmental Disabilities (KCDD)
- Kansas Department of Commerce
- Kansas Social and Rehabilitation Services - Community Supports and Services
Advocacy Groups & AgenciesThe links below provide comprehensive lists of advocacy groups and agencies that can provide useful services and information for people with disabilities across Kansas.
- Disability Resources for Kansas
- Self Advocates Becoming Empowered (SABE)
- Self Advocate Coalition of Kansas (SACK)
- Kansas Youth Empowerment Academy
- Statewide Independent Living Council of Kansas
- Alliance for Full Participation
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