ENABLE assists people with disabilities to find and maintain jobs in the community through a network of support services. Support is tailored to meet the individual needs of each participant and is offered through every phase of the job search. Our staff helps facilitate career goals, decided by the client and their DVR counselor. Staff assists with completing job application forms, providing escort for job interviews, travel instruction and helping to orient clients to the workplace and supervisory expectations. Enable also provides Individualized training at the job site and long-term follow-up.
Benefits counseling is offered to individuals receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Income (SSDI or SSA.) We help clients and their families understand how their benefits will be affected by working.
Placement Specialists work with clients to develop a career plan, search for job leads, assist with job applications, interview preparation and provide escorts to job interviews. The Placement Specialist may also provide guidance with work attire, grooming, and interview skills. The amount of time it takes to conduct a job search varies, depending on the type of job, amount of work experience, schedule and transportation restrictions, and applicant flexibility.
Employment Specialists work with clients on how to use and navigate public transportation. For those clients that drive, the Employment Specialist will assist in mapping out the best route.
The Employment Specialist orients and trains the client on-site or off-site, depending on the clients' situation.
Clients receiving supported employment services, will be contacted monthly for as long as they remain working.
(Supported Employment Only) Placement Specialists assist clients who lose their jobs, and are still eligible for services, to find another job. When a new job is obtained, the Employment Specialists provide job coaching for a new assignment or promotion.
High school students with disabilities between the ages of 14-21 who are registered with the DVR work one-on-one with an ENABLE Placement or Employment Specialist in job exploration, workplace readiness, self-advocacy, and/or a work-based learning opportunity.
CBWE is designed for individuals looking to sample jobs. Funded through the DVR, ENABLE provides opportunities and job coaching in the community for individuals to learn new skills and better determine what type of career path they will take. A Community Based Work Evaluation is an assessment to determine an individual’s work related skills, behaviors, interests, abilities, strengths, aptitudes and barriers to determine level of support needs for competitive, integrated employment.
The CBWE is done in an employment setting with the highest level of integration possible, and is a tool to assist in identifying vocational goals. THE CBWE will determine if a particular type of job is appropriate and if the individual has the academic, physical, cognitive ability, interpersonal skills social skills and motivation to do the job. The CBWE is particularly valuable when the person has never worked, never worked outside of a sheltered environment, evidence of significant impairments and youth, those 24 and under. A CBWE takes place over the course of six days utilizing three sites, the ENABLE employee and client work at each site for 2 days. ENABLE currently has a variety of sites to sample jobs within the clerical, warehouse, and arts fields.
