Customized Wage & Self Employment Molly Sullivan, Associate Griffin-Hammis Associates START-UP USA

Customized Employment What is customized employment What are the steps of customized employment

What the Numbers tell us about Employment

Evolution of Employment Services Old way of thinking: – People with disabilities can’t work, don’t have viable skills to contribute in a job Sheltered Workshops/Day Activity Centers New way of thinking: – People with disabilities have skills and abilities to contribute in a job that is beneficial to the employer Supported Employment Customized Employment

What is Customized Employment? Basic Concept: Individualizing employment relationship Individualized determination of interests, strengths & needs of the person Individualized determination of employer’s needs Matching the two to create a mutually beneficial relationship

What is Customized Employment? ADDITIONAL CHARACTERISTICS: Starts with information about job seekers Methods may include; job carving, entrepreneurship, other job development techniques Negotiations with employer

What is Customized Employment? ADDITIONAL CHARACTERISTICS: Occurs in integrated environments Results in pay at least prevailing wage (no subminimum wage) Utilizing multiple funding sources to provide supports

What are the steps of Customized Employment? 1.Create a blueprint for employment – Assistance, not assessment – Discover interests, strengths & conditions for employment – Summarize findings and identify task list and environment, wage or self-employment

What are the steps of Customized Employment? 2.Job/Business development – Network—(wage employment) get to know business community to identify possibilities, (self- employment) get to know market, customers and competition to develop business plan – Negotiate—(wage employment) once a potential match is identified, negotiate with employer to determine if, (self employment) for business plan development negotiate location, suppliers, contracts, etc

What are the steps of Customized Employment 3.Job Training Plan and Resource Plan Identify training supports, tools/equipment/start-up expenses, other supports person will need and costs associated Identify funding possibilities and who to seek help for what with

What are the steps of Customized Employment 4.Secure funding and Implement Submit requests for funding Receive funding Implement

Resources on Customized Employment Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy – Self-Employment Technical Assistance, Resource and Training (START-UP USA) – National Center on Workforce and Disability –

Resources on Customized Employment University of Montana, Rural Institute Transition Projects – Griffin-Hammis Associates – Training and Technical Assistance for Provider –