As we end National Disability Awareness Month, it’s important as always to spotlight the immense value that people with disabilities add to the labor market as well as the challenges that they still face in finding gainful employment.  

It’s well known that people with disabilities offer a wide range of talents and contributions. More and more employers are making a commitment to fostering diversity, ensuring equity, and promoting inclusion.  

There are several avenues that can help people with disabilities as they explore potential employment paths and increase readiness skills, and gain the support needed to be successful in the community. 

Transition planning is a process to help students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) decide what they want to do after high school. The purpose is to help students prepare to be independent young adults. 
 

When started by the time a student is 16, transition support has a high rate of success. Creation of SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timed) goals help best position students for both short-term and long-term success.  Hands-on activities such as working on a job site with a job coach help increase future-ready skills while helping students gain real-world experience. Collaboration among students, skills trainers, and prospective employers helps match students with rewarding jobs while serving the community’s interests.  

Small Group Employment through the Barber National Insititute offers a variety of work experiences and specialized training in several different industries, including landscaping, food service, janitorial work, and machine operation.  

Supported Employment matches individuals with highly trained job coaches who work side-by side with the adult while he or she develops a deeper understanding of the job and can independently maintain employment in the community. Once hired, many employees remain on the job for at least three years. Since the program began in 1986, more than 600 adults have been placed in jobs at approximately 400 business across Erie County.  

In Erie, we’re very fortunate to have so many employers committed to opening doors and building bridges so that more people with disabilities can develop the core skills needed to thrive and be able to execute those skills in a fulfilling job.  I am very proud to say that my son, Ryan, has been employed at Bello’s for the past 11 years.  He truly loves his work there.  I applaud Bello’s and all those employers who have hired persons with disabilities in their work force.  

For more information on any of these programs, please review the Barber National International web page or email me at maureenbc@barberni.org.