Creative Employment Strategies

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Creative EmploymentStrategies

• Wendy Parent
• Kansas University Center on Developmental
  Disabilities
• [phone]
• wparent_at_ku.edu

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What are Supported and Customized Employment?

• Competitive Employment
• In Integrated Businesses
• With Individualized Support
• Basic idea behind both is
• Knowing what the potential employee wants and
  needs
• Knowing what the employer wants and needs
• Supporting or negotiating any differences between
  the two

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Meet Luke

• Lived in an institution
• Spent ten years in a sheltered workshop
• Worked as a grocery store bagger and received
  supported employment services
• Currently owns Abercrombie Arcade, a customized
  and supported self-employment venture

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What Outcomes Can Be Achieved Using These
Approaches?

• Created Jobs
• Carved Jobs
• Resource Ownership
• Self-Employment
• Combination Employment

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Meet Sally Created Job
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Meet Gary Carved Job

• Interested in working with kids, helping others,
  and writing books
• Active member of the community
• Author of a book My Two Good Feet
• Habersham Public Schools expressed need and
  contributions Gary would make, Habersham Electric
  Co-op offered to fund a position with the schools
• Carved job as a Special Education Aide for
  Habersham Public Schools

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Meet Jill Carved Job

• Interested in becoming a paralegal
• Completed CASA Training (Court Appointed Special
  Advocate)
• Assistive technology assessment and purchase of
  communication device
• Member of team had a connection with a judge
• Carved job with courts in judges office
• Friend on team offered to support education

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Meet Michael Resource Ownership

• Interested in washing cars
• Resource ownership with small business, All Star
  Detailing
• ITA Purchases
• Detailer
• Trailer
• Total ITA Expenditures 6,153
• Natural Supports
• Transportation provided by business owner
• Co-workers provide training

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Meet Mary - Resource Ownership

• Brain Spinal cord injury, attends segregated
  school program, has never worked.
• Loves animals, enjoys writing, wants to advocate
  for others
• Resource ownership with local MADD Chapter and
  Humane Society
• ITA Expenditures
• Communication System
• LCD Projector
• Assistive Technology Assessment, Training, and
  Follow-up
• TOTAL ITA Expenditures 9,200

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Meet Robert Self-Employment

• Self employed in laundry business
• Keep It Kleen
• Sterilizes towels for hair salons
• ITA Purchases
• High-tech washer and dryer
• Magnetic advertising panels for delivery Jeep
• Business License
• Jeep Repair
• Total ITA expenditures - 4,200
• Thanks to Nancy Brooks-Lane Doug Crandell, Cobb
  County CSB, Georgia
• [phone], [phone]

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Meet Linda Self Employment

• Lived life in an institution, attended segregated
  programs
• Artist, writer, very interested in clothes and
  make-up
• Self-employed as a freelance artist, advocate
• Pastel acrylic drawings, presentations
• Were proud to have Lindas studio in the city
  of Pine Lake. She has become a part of the
  community both for her joyful personality and
  poignant artwork. Mayor, Pine Lake, GA.

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Meet Chris Combination Employment

• Dream Job Video Recording
• Resource Ownership/Created Job
• Manages Glow Bowl segment within Rose Lane
  Bowling Alley
• ITA Purchases
• Video Systems
• Dance Revolution game
• Total ITA Expenditures 17,000
• Outcomes
• 12 hours per week
• ½ the profits of the Glow Bowl which average 100
  - 150 per week
• Receives 100 of revenues from the Dance Machine,
  which are being reinvested for additional
  machines

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Meet Crystal CombinationEmployment

• Interested in books, magazines and reading
• Resource Ownership / Self-Employment
• Java Hut / Crystals Book Nook
• ITA Purchases
• Magazine Racks
• Books
• Magazines
• Total ITA expenditures - 2,114
• Natural Supports
• Friend who manages books
• Coffee shop owner rings up Crystals sales on his
  register for a small administration fee
• Co-workers provide assistance on the job

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What is the First Step?The Employment Team
Meeting

• Organize
• Invite participants
• Schedule initial meeting
• Energize
• Attitude of optimism employment as the intended
  outcome
• Guided by an individuals passion made a reality
  by the creative energy resources of the group

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The Employment Team Meeting (continued)

• Individualize
• - Employment plan translates the teams work
  into action steps with timelines, persons
  responsible, and expected outcomes provides
  a blue print
• - Leverage creative funding and support
  resources
• Materialize
• - Follow-up meeting additional participants
  with
• specific expertise brainstorming and
  discussion accountability
• - Shared contributions of the group
  collaborative effort
• - Employment situation becomes clearer ideas
  emerge
• - Facilitator oversees implementation of the
  plan

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What are Some of the Advantages of this Approach?

• Offers us a different way of thinking about
  employment
• Doesnt depend on knowing it all or solving all
  the problems facing transition and employment
  services
• Shares responsibility and builds on expertise and
  contributions of all
• Relies on disability, generic, and natural
  support resources
• Taps into new and different funding sources
• Leads to nontraditional, creative employment
  outcomes
• Provides opportunities for individuals to be in
  the drivers seat
• Expands options, particularly to those with
  limited or none
• By passes many of the issues impacting service
  delivery systems

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Meet Charles Illustrating the Process

• Dream Job Related to Music
• ITA Purchases
• Sound Equipment
• Assistive technology
• Computer
• Consultant with a music mentor
• Total ITA Expenditures 5,939
• Self Employment
• Anticipated monthly business costs 75.00
• Anticipated monthly revenue 1,680 (first four
  months)

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Supporting or Negotiating What the Employer
Wants and Needs

• Charles brought a stereo and recording equipment
  to the owner of The Wandering Mug Coffee Shop and
  presented a self employment venture.
• Owner offered his shop as a recording studio and
  did not charge a fee.
• Coffee Shops business increased as customers came
  to listen to music.
• The musical act got exposure and did not have to
  pay the costs of a typical recording studio.
• The Music Man had a regular venue for recording
  requiring no upkeep on his part.
• Charles edited and created a finished product to
  sell to the musical acts
• It is expected that Charles will expand to record
  musical acts in other local venues.

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Supporting or Negotiating What the Individual
Wants and Needs

• Member of team had a friend who owned a coffee
  shop that occasionally brought in musical
  entertainment
• Another member knew of a professional consultant
  in the music industry
• Received training from employer on music and
  audio equipment
• Father offered to provide job coach support and
  manage the business
• Knew acquaintance with local college student
  union who could link with student musicians
• Friends at church willing to share music
  resources and recording opportunities
• Employer marketed to others in the music industry
• Team identified leads for other business sponsors

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What Strategies are Helpful to Achieve Employment
Outcomes?

• Someone take the lead
• Arrange initial team meeting
• Individuals passion sparks ideas
• Enthusiasm fosters creativity/productivity
• Assign homework
• Develop a blue print
• Explore and share among the team
• Meet again, review, revise, and get specific

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Strategies (continued)

• Establish plan with action steps, persons
  responsible, expected outcomes, and timelines
• Target alternative funding and support resources
• Decide on business arrangement (contact specific
  employers or develop a business plan)
• Complete a functional assessment (Consumer
  Situational Assessment Summary Form)
• Conduct a job analysis
• Finalize the competitive employment outcome
• Make any negotiations and/or support arrangements
• Put an on-going support system in place (On-Going
  Support Plan)