Our Places &
Faces of 2008
Employment
Services
During 2008, a total of 154 adults with intellectual disabilities and their families were served through the Employment Services program.
Three unique components of this program were offered to adults with intellectual disabilities:
First, a Work Activity Center provided basic prevocational skills training to adults who wished to one day enter the work world. Skills taught included counting money, pedestrian skills, and safety skills. Adults enrolled also learned about assembly, packaging, and collating materials. Those enrolled earned paychecks for much of the work they performed.
Arc-Way Industries, the second component of Employment Services, is a graduation from the Work Activity Center. This more intense industrialtype setting prepared adults for the work world by introducing them to assembly line, collating, and packaging projects. Paychecks were earned by those enrolled.
Finally, when individuals mastered the skills offered through Arc-Way Industries, they progressed on to the third and final component of the program, Supported Employment. In this setting, adults were assisted with completing employment applications, learning appropriate interview skills, and obtaining communitybased jobs. On-the-job training was offered with an ultimate goal of long-term job retention.
Consumers served and employers were asked to participate in a Consumer Satisfaction Survey on the program. Results were analyzed and compiled to ensure that quality services were delivered and to make changes and adjustments if deemed necessary. Results on the 2008 Surveys for Employment Services averaged 6.18 on a scale of 1-7, with seven representing excellence. This score fell into the “very good to excellent” range on the scale.
Specific examples of feedback from consumers and employers included the following comments:
“What I like best about the workshop is making my own money!”
“I would recommend Arc-Way to others because the caring and concern the supervisors demonstrate is excellent.”
“Having a job in the community makes me feel like I can do anything!”
“Our company likes working with this program; it is mutually beneficial.”
Did You Know?
* 12% of adults served during 2008 made so much progress that they were promoted to other components of the program.
* 4 individuals became employed during the year at local businesses, including Little Caesar’s Pizza, TJ Maxx, and Trinity Medical Center.
* 94% of adults employed retained their jobs during the year.