Employment Options & Services
Training and Development of Employable (Pre-Vocational and Vocational) Skills, Career Planning, Job Development & Job Retention Services
Criteria
- The person must have an established eligibility for OPWDD waiver services.
- The person must have expressed interest in obtaining a job in the future.
- The person must have an employment related goal in his/her Life Plan.
- The person must be willing to be trained to travel in the community using public transportation, Access A Ride, Car Service, etc. Or the person must have their own transportation to the community hub or job site where they will receive services.
- If the person takes medication during the day, the person needs to be able to take them independently or the person should not take medication during the times that they receive services.
- If the person is currently enrolled in Day Hab Services five days per week, the person must be willing to reduce some of the days in Day Hab Services to accommodate days for any employment related service(s).
SERVICES
Community BASED Pre-vocational Services
Community Based Pre-Vocational is a person centered service that prepares individuals for paid employment or unpaid meaningful activities in the community. It focuses on teaching pre-employment skills that will help the person to become as independent as possible in his/her path to become employed in the future. Individuals must provide their own transportation or be willing to be travel trained.
Pathways to Employment Service
Pathways to Employment is a one to one employment planning support service for one year. During this time, the person is exposed, trained and assessed in his/her career interests to determine the supports the person needs to meet the demands of these jobs. Individuals must provide their own transportation or be willing to be travel trained.
Supportive Employment Services- SEMP
ETP- Employment Training Program
Supportive Employment Services supports the individual to obtain and maintain employment in the community. Individuals who are ready for employment obtain support for job development and job retention. Individuals are supported on an ongoing basis to ensure they meet their employer’s expectations and learn additional skills to advance in employment. Individuals must provide their own transportation or be willing to be travel trained. During this time, Interns are temporary State Employees, are paid at minimum wage and are covered under the Workers’ Compensation and General Liability Insurance through New York State. People are supported by Lifestyles for the Disabled, as approved by OPWDD Regional Office- ETP Supervisor, in Career Discovery, Job Development and Intensive Job Coaching. Individuals that have been exposed to vocational training while in High School, have some work experience are ideal candidates for this service. An ETP application must be completed in collaboration with Lifestyles for the Disabled and must be submitted to and approved by the OPWDD Regional ETP Supervisor prior to starting services.
Job Coaching & Job Retention
Supportive Employment provides job coaching to individuals that are employed in the community. Job Coaches are there to assist the individuals in training, conflict resolution with employers and to help them maintain their employment. Also, additional training on skill development outside the job is provided to help the person to advance in their current job or explore other employment interests.
Enrollment Process:
Care Manager will reach out to Lifestyles stating his/her client’s interest and will provide the following documents:
- Copy of OPWDD Waiver Services Notice of Decision. (NOD)
- Annual Physical Exam with PPD and full blood panel within a year.
- Psychological Evaluation within three years.
- Psychosocial Evaluation within three years.
- Most Recent Life Plan
- LOC within a year.
- Copy of Social Security Card.
- Copy of Medicaid Card.
- Copy of Birth Certificate.
