Your online newsletter of resources for people with Disabilites
	Edited by: Rosemary Musachio

"In Business"

CCAR Gears Folks With Disabilities For Work

    There are several employment agencies that help find jobs for us. Yet the jobs aren’t readily available since the agencies depend on outside sources for leads. Wouldn’t it be convenient if work positions were already within an employment service?

    A truly innovative program in Green Cove Springs (Clay County) in NE Florida does just that. CCAR Services has provided meaningful employment to good people with a wide variety of physical and intellectual disabilities. CCAR Services workers sort recyclables, enter data in computers, plant trees, stick labels, and size bolts. They appreciate the opportunity to earn a fair wage, but most of all they feel valuable because they have a job!

    Among the numerous projects underway, CCAR Services employees perform large-scale custodial services, solid waste recycling, tree planting and volume nursery services. In addition, its First Coast InfoServices (FCI) brings disabled workers the cutting edge of technology. FCI employees perform data entry, disk and CD replication, document conversion to digital archives, document scanning and imaging, word processing, and WWW page design and maintenance. Some of our information services clients include the US Navy, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Florida Citrus Commission.

    CCAR not only puts persons with disabilities to work but it further serves disabled children and trains adults through its Lighthouse Learning Center. Along with its pre-school and developmental nm screenings, the center provides occupational, physical, and speech therapies. Other related services include nursing, family case management, referrals to medical and community resources, therapeutic equipment loan bank, parent education and training, and summer recreational programs.

    CCAR can steer you into the right path towards employment as well as educational and rehabilitation needs. For more information on these services, contact:

CCAR Services
28 Stiles Avenue
Orange Park, Florida 32073
Tel. (904) 264-7392 or (904)284-8500
Fax (904) 264-1241
E-mail: ccar@ccar.org
URL  www.ccar.org/

Operation ABLE - Put People With Disabilities To Work

       Seldom do we find an employment service for people with disabilities that conducts job training, offers job placement, fosters job search skills, and holds job-related events.  But there is such an employment program that does all that and more.  It's called Operation ABLE.

        In 1977 Operation ABLE was launched by the Chicago Job Community Trust to provide an avenue for re-employing the vast natural employee resource of older workers.  ABLE initiated job search skills training, a Job Hot Line, and temp service.  By joining with major media, industry, and government, it received public awareness for its job services and special events such as Job Fairs.  ABLE duplicated its efforts when it was then called upon to lend its resources and expertise to dislocated workers and those with disabilities, again collaborating with media and industry to publicize services and job fairs.

        To fully serve the unemployed requires job services with easy local access. ABLE set up 5 electronically-connected field sites and a Metro-area-wide job service network of 30 organizations to bring these vital services to the job-seeker.   Since getting a job means much more than just finding one, it has become costly in time and money for job seekers, along with government and private-sector service providers. To respond to this need, ABLE has maintained a model One-Stop Career Center since 1993.   There the job seeker can assistance in resume writing, interviewing skills, career goals, job search skills, and job placement.

        To meet the needs of an ever-growing clientele and provide them with the ability to enter a rapidly-evolving technological workplace, ABLE developed the MaxiMatch job-matching computer program by which it links job seekers with the most employment for them.  It also provides hands-on computer training for those interested in computer work.

        To further meet its clients' technological needs, ABLE has created a web site at ht.//members.aol.com/Operable/OAm.html for its network organizations and for general public access.  When fully implemented, Bale&rsquos World Wide Web home page will allow job seekers who do not have easy access to one of the many ABLE offices or network sites to help themselves to scan ABLE job listings, sign up for a job, or obtain information on ABLE employment programs from their personal computer or a close-by library with access to the Internet.  Employers will also be able to list job openings and employee qualifications in detail by simply uploading a text file and further learn of the latest employer services available through ABLE.

        ABLE has helped thousands of employers and nearly 50,000 job-seekers in all aspects of employment and today provides over 24 employment service programs on a not-for-profit basis.  When called upon by groups in other major metro areas who had heard of ABLE programs to help them establish similar programs in their areas, ABLE joined them in building eight national ABLE-like agencies.  These agencies are located in Arkansas, California, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nebraska, and Washington, D.C.  To take advantage of these services or for more information, contact: Operation ABLE Headquarters, 180 N. Wabash, Chicago IL 60601.  Or call 312/782-3335.

Helping Industry Recruit People with Disabilities

        There are many services that provides employment assistance to persons with disabilities.  But most of these services are one-sided, neglecting to help employers learn how to manage disabled applicants and employees.  One service located in Silicon Valley, however, addresses the needs of both sides.

        Project HIRED (Helping Industries Recruit Employees with Disabilities) is committed to developing resources which open doors for individuals with disabilities and their future bosses. For job applicants, Project HIRED provides pre-employment services and referrals designed to assist people with disabilities to find positions appropriate to their skills and qualifications. For employers, Project HIRED refers skilled, qualified applicants matched to current job openings.
Pre-employment and referral services are always free of charge to both applicants and employers.

        In addition to linking the right person to the right job, Project HIRED further provides training.  Through the Corporate Training Partners Project, job seekers using Project HIRED services attend short-term training programs at local corporations to upgrade their skills strategically for the current job market. Companies donate empty spaces in their employee or customer classes, which are then made available free of charge to qualified Project HIRED clients.

        To bypass the catch-22 scenario of needing experience before getting a job but having to work before you get experience, Project HIRED provides temporary employment services through HIRE TEMPS, a division which creates opportunities for individuals with disabilities to enter or re-enter the workforce through temporary jobs at local companies.  Through HIRE TEMPS, job applicants have the opportunity to gain current references and work experience with major Bay Area companies. Employers gain access to skilled temporary workers with a 91% retention rate and can always convert those workers on short notice at no charge.

        Finally, here&rsquos where Project HIRED differs with other specialized employment programs: it offers employers a broad range of consulting, educational seminars, and support services designed to help Human Resource professionals and line managers feel more comfortable interviewing, hiring, and working with a person with a disability.  Many companies have joined Project HIRED's Corporate Membership program to gain access to free consulting and discounted on-site seminars on all issues relating to disabilities in the workplace.

        Project HIRED envisions its role in the community to be a significant force for employment of individuals with disabilities and positioned to respond to emerging needs and opportunities with services and businesses which support its vision.  To take advantage of or learn more about the program, write or call

Project HIRED
P.O. Box 3453 M/S 31
Sunnyvale, CA 94088-3453
Voice/TDD: 408-730-0880
Fax: 408-730-1064</P>
Email: prohired@ix.netcom.com

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