Your Path to Employment: Finding the Right Support with Ability Specialists
We understand that finding the perfect job can be a challenge, and the journey to meaningful employment often requires dedicated support. When a client expresses the desire for a job, the traditional path often leads to a referral to the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR).
While DVR is a valuable resource funded by the Departments of Labor and Education, we know that many potential employees face significant hurdles, including waitlists, which can delay their entry into the workforce.
A Viable Alternative: Supported Employment Through Ability Specialists
At Ability Specialists (ABS), we are proud to offer a robust and immediate alternative for supported employment, funded by Medicaid. When clients are ready to work now, instead of waiting, case managers and families can refer directly to us!
We believe that cookie-cutter solutions are not always the best option for finding long-term success. Our approach focuses on peer-powered support and services tailored to the individual.
Nathan's Story: The Power of Personalized Support
The journey of our client, Nathan, perfectly illustrates the difference a personalized approach can make.
Nathan had a job with an ARC location and initially received successful job coaching support through a different program. However, following the typical "natural fade out" process, Nathan's case manager and family observed evolving and returning behaviors that negatively impacted his employment situation. They realized he needed a different kind of support to ensure his long-term success.
Seeking a solution, an RFP (Request for Proposal) was put out, and Nathan joined the ABS group. Today, Nathan is a success story! He is gainfully fully employed at a new ARC location and he continues to work one day a week with his previous employer. This combined success is a testament to the effectiveness of our specialized peer-powered support and intensive supported employment services. With daily coaching and a work curriculum, Nathan is seeing strong benefits. Julie reports Nathan “absolutely loves it,” loves the group dynamic, and says the program has been beyond her expectations.
(Note: While our typical process at ABS involves clients starting with volunteering before moving to paid work crew, Nathan was an exception—he was ready to work immediately! For him, job preparation was the primary goal, with volunteering being secondary.)
Are You Ready to Work?
We've seen how quickly clients can lose momentum when stuck in a waiting period or when traditional support doesn't fully meet their needs.
Do you know anyone stuck in this loop?
If you or a loved one is ready to bypass the waitlist and access high-quality, customized supported employment services right now, Ability Specialists is here for you. We are ready to help individuals like Nathan find meaningful, long-term careers.
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