Supported Employment

"Our business is meeting your employment needs"
 

Murray Ridge Employment services provides qualified workers and employment assistance to Lorain County businesses in areas such as:

Pre-screening and hiring
Financial incentives for diversifying workforce
Assistance with meeting diversification goals
Access to skilled/knowledgeable labor pool
On-the-job training for new hires
Job analysis

Job modification assistance/Technical assistance/Reasonable accommodations

Employer Education and Training available on topics including:
Disability Awareness
Americans with Disabilities Act
Diversification
Training
 

Our Community Employment Program provides services to more than 250 people with disabilities. These services assist individuals to choose, obtain, and maintain integrated employment in the community using the following models:

Individual Placement Model

The individual is placed in a regular community job, where training is provided as needed for the person to learn and perform the job. The individual is employed by the company, paid competitive wages, and provided with benefits (if applicable). Support services are provided to the employer and employee on an ongoing basis.

Enclave Model

A group of individuals trained and supervised in a regular industry or business. A specially trained supervisor oversees and assists approximately eight workers. Enclave employees perform their tasks alongside others doing the same work, unless grouping them is needed to enhance training and supervision.

Our services consist of the following areas:

ASSESSMENT

Assessment includes a work evaluation, situational assessments, and a consumer profile.

Work evaluation consists of gathering, interpreting, analyzing, and synthesizing of all vocationally significant data. Medical, social, psychological, and work histories are collected regarding an individual and related to occupational requirements and opportunities.

The vocational evaluation utilizes job analysis, psychometric testing, work simulation including work samples, and situational assessments (on-the-job tryouts) to determine an individual’s vocational strengths and needs. Short term situational assessments of one to two weeks provide information concerning the individual’s interests, aptitudes, and abilities for a given job.

A consumer profile consists of gathering information about an individual’s career interest and providing services designed to aid in the exploration of a variety of work environments to determine a career direction. This career interest is also determined through job shadowing (visits to community based work sites) and situational assessments.

JOB DEVELOPMENT AND PLACEMENT

The program goal is to maximize the employability, independence, integration, and participation of people with disabilities in the workplace and in the community.

The referral process emphasizes the development of a vocational plan, which explores the individual’s employment preferences and areas of concern (schedules, desired wages, transportation, etc.). This information is compiled and used in conjunction with assessment information. This information is considered the foundation for Job Development.

A two-fold approach is utilized to accomplish this goal. The first being client-centered placement. This approach aids persons in finding their own jobs. Emphasis on how to complete a job application, conduct him/herself during an interview, follow-up on job leads and other supports necessary to help him/her obtain employment.

The second approach is selective placement. This approach stresses direct intervention by the counselor within the labor market on behalf of the person with a disability. This approach is more directive. The counselor assesses the work skills of an individual with the demands of the work environment and carefully matches the individual to the job.

JOB COACHING

Individualized service is a major feature of the Murray Ridge Community Employment Services. Our services are tailored to meet the needs of the particular individuals being served, the employer, the community and the community’s economic base.

The individualized placement model is considered by many professionals to be the least restrictive supported employment model. The Job Coaches provide individualized instruction at the targeted job site. This instruction could encompass mobility training, social skills training, personal hygiene, and job training. Additionally, the Job Coach serves as a support consultant to the employers by training supervisors and co-workers to be more effective in their interactions with employees who have disabilities. As a support consultant, the Job Coach is able to engineer the social and physical environment so that the worker with the disability is not always the target of the change.

Systematic fading of Job Coach supervision will begin as soon as possible without jeopardizing the job placement.

FOLLOW-UP SERVICES

These services are designed to enhance the quality and increase the longevity of each placement. These services include the following:

Maintaining contact with the employer and individual to ensure both are satisfied

Initiating corrective action to address problems in job restructuring and additional training

Career planning and development of the Individual Plan (IP) using a person-centered approach

YOU’LL FIND US WORKING AT....

Contact Information 

Lorain County Board of  Developmental Disabilities

Community Employment Services

Jodi Denes, Director of Community Employment

1095 Infirmary Road

Elyria, OH 44035

Telephone: 440-324-4993

Fax: 440-322-7659

jdenes@murrayridgecenter.org