Employment for All Assuring all really means All

Employment for All Assuring “all” really means All People Michael Callahan 4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102 Gautier, MS 39553 (228) 497 -6999

A brief history of the problem… Marc Gold could’ve told us so 35 years ago. 4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102 Gautier, MS 39553 (228) 497 -6999

A Journey of Discovery “Discovery consists of looking at the same thing as everyone else and thinking something different” Albert Szent-Gyorgyi (Nobel Prize winner who discovered Vitamin C) Marc Gold & Associates© 3 4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102 Gautier, MS 39553 (228) 497 -6999

Putting a human face on the challenge – is a working life for Jenni? Marc Gold & Associates© 4 4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102 Gautier, MS 39553 (228) 497 -6999

She was employed at a logistics company for a year and a half… Marc Gold & Associates© 5 4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102 Gautier, MS 39553 (228) 497 -6999

Jenni now works at a local gas company using customized supported employment – 13 years on the job Marc Gold & Associates© 6 4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102 Gautier, MS 39553 (228) 497 -6999

Customized Employment According to US/DOL: Customized employment means individualizing the employment relationship between employees and employers in ways that meet the needs of both. It is based on an individualized determination of the strengths, needs, and interests of the person with a disability, and is also designed to meet the specific needs of the employer. Marc Gold & Associates© 7 4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102 Gautier, MS 39553 (228) 497 -6999

Unbundling demand Employers have typically met needs by bundling demands into job descriptions. Job seekers with complex lives often don’t have the “whole package” to offer. Customized Employment allows employers to “unbundle” demand to take advantage of discrete competencies. Marc Gold & Associates© 8 4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102 Gautier, MS 39553 (228) 497 -6999

Employer Needs/Benefits Analysis Unmet Workplace Needs: This area focuses on tasks that need to get done but are not getting done in the way the employer would like. It also can include tasks that have not been performed but need to be. Marc Gold & Associates© Tasks better performed by others: This area focuses on aspects of jobs that might better be performed by others at a lower pay grade. This option can directly save money for employers. 9 Specific Benefit/ Productivity: This area focuses on workplace needs for additional productivity in specific tasks. It must be matched with job seeker’s specific competencies. 4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102 Gautier, MS 39553 (228) 497 -6999

The Employment Matrix Competitive Employment Customized Employment Natural Supports and Reasonable Accommodation only There are job seekers who will not need either SE or CE to become employed and to stay employed There are job seekers who will need CE to become employed but will not need SE to stay employed Supported Employment and Natural Supports There are job seekers who will not need CE to become employed but who will need SE to stay employed There are job seekers who will need both CE to become employed and SE to stay employed Marc Gold & Associates© 10 4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102 Gautier, MS 39553 (228) 497 -6999

Customized Process • • • Discovery Capturing discovery through profiles Customized, person-centered planning Portfolio/visual resume development Job development and negotiation Here, CE dovetails with Supported Employment • Job site analysis, accommodations, support Marc Gold & Associates© 11 4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102 Gautier, MS 39553 (228) 497 -6999

Features of Customized Employment • Based on discovery of the applicant more than on evaluative/comparative processes • Driven by a customized plan developed by the applicant’s strengths, needs and interests • Focuses on tasks rather than job titles to negotiate essential responsibilities Marc Gold & Associates© 12 4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102 Gautier, MS 39553 (228) 497 -6999

Features of Customized Employment • Specific job duties are negotiated with employers, voluntarily, to customize the job • Occurs in regular community workplaces or in self-owned businesses • Involves pay of at least the minimum wage up to prevailing wage Marc Gold & Associates© 13 4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102 Gautier, MS 39553 (228) 497 -6999

Features of Customized Employment • Applicable to all users of workforce system • Includes on-going supports and reasonable accommodations, as appropriate • Starts with the individual as the source of information and direction to labor force Marc Gold & Associates© 14 4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102 Gautier, MS 39553 (228) 497 -6999

Building Consensus • Expecting Employment! • Accepting the importance of employment in true citizenship • Believing the feasibility of “employment for all” • Understanding the Customized Process 4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102 Gautier, MS 39553 (228) 497 -6999

Building Consensus • Seeing how the money works • Dealing with fears and uncertainties • Promoting person-driven, selfdetermined outcomes • Admitting “This is new. ” and “We’ve not done this before. ” 4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102 Gautier, MS 39553 (228) 497 -6999

Building Skills • Getting around comparison and competition = Discovery • Getting beyond job titles as goals = Customized Plan for Employment • Using innovative tools for representation = Visual Resume • Identifying employer benefit = Employer Needs Analysis 4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102 Gautier, MS 39553 (228) 497 -6999

Building Skills • Avoiding the “cattle call line” at personnel = Negotiated Job Development for Customized Emp. • Understanding the unique culture of various businesses = Job Analysis • Building capacity within businesses to work effectively with employees with disabilities = Naturally-referenced supports 4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102 Gautier, MS 39553 (228) 497 -6999

Building Skills • Moving beyond poverty = Asset Development and savings strategies • Avoiding the traditional disincentives = Benefits Analysis • Assisting each employee to contribute his/her best = Systematic Instruction • Providing adequate and clear funding = Payment for Outcomes 4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102 Gautier, MS 39553 (228) 497 -6999

Developing a Business Model for Services • Getting clear on the end game: Job development is “Job One” • Blending human values with business practices • Making the money work: Achieve outcomes and bill • Embracing evidence-based strategies • Training, supervising, training • Incentivizing staff performance 4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102 Gautier, MS 39553 (228) 497 -6999

Hiring Effective Staff • Look for people willing to learn and change • Look for people connected in their communities who know others • Look for people willing to step outside their comfort level • Look for people who value the input of others • Look for people with optimism who are satisfied with their lives 4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102 Gautier, MS 39553 (228) 497 -6999

Accepting the Challenge • This is hard, but it is doable • People with disabilities are complex, we have to understand the complexities • We have to do different things, we’ve not done this work before • We have to do this together, no one part of the system can go it alone • This is the good work, the right thing to do 4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102 Gautier, MS 39553 (228) 497 -6999

Waiting for us to decide to accept the challenge 4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102 Gautier, MS 39553 (228) 497 -6999

Efrain Juarez and Support Team 4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102 Gautier, MS 39553 (228) 497 -6999

What about employment for Marci? Marc Gold & Associates© 25 4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102 Gautier, MS 39553 (228) 497 -6999

Job Development calls were made to a local newspaper in Marci’s home town… Marc Gold & Associates© 26 4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102 Gautier, MS 39553 (228) 497 -6999

Customized Employment makes employment possible for all people: Marci provides “specialty stapling” as a contribution Marc Gold & Associates© 27 4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102 Gautier, MS 39553 (228) 497 -6999

And custom shredding of confidential documents for her employer Marc Gold & Associates© 28 4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102 Gautier, MS 39553 (228) 497 -6999

Marci’s current support team: Personal assistant and supervisor Marc Gold & Associates© 29 4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102 Gautier, MS 39553 (228) 497 -6999