1. Whatever It Takes (WIT) Project Funded under a Customized Employment Grant supported by the Office of Disability Employment Policy of the U.S. Department of Labor

2. 2 Grant Information Funded by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2001 Administered by the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy One year grant, with option for four additional single year extensions

3. 3 Grant Recipient/Fiscal Agent/Subcontractor Grant Recipient: Town of Hempstead Department of Occupational Resources on behalf of the Town of Hempstead Workforce Investment Board Subcontractor: Abilities, Inc. of the National Center for Disability Services

4. 4 Consortium Partners Abilities, Inc. New York State Education Department Office of Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID) Town of Hempstead Department of Occupational Resources

5. 5 Goal To develop a comprehensive model of service delivery, within the context of the One- Stop setting, for persons with disabilities who face the greatest barriers to employment.

6. 6 Objectives Establish a Strategic Planning Team to provide program guidance and evaluation Review, refine and implement a comprehensive service delivery model Design and execute a targeted marketing and outreach campaign Conduct on-going training, education and technical assistance to facilitate customized employment in the context of the One-Stop setting

7. 7 Objectives (continued) Establish and maintain Employment Support Networking Groups for jobseekers in the program Maintain and expand business development to assess employer needs and increase employment opportunities Expand linkages with public and private providers to leverage funds, utilize programs and coordinate services

8. 8 Objectives (continued) Research and develop performance measures to assess participant outcomes and evaluate project activities Document increased use of new programs (Ticket-to- Work, benefits planning) and resources by system partners Develop and disseminate a Guidebook comprised of exemplary strategies and best practices Implement local and statewide initiatives for the integration of successful strategies into the policy and practice of the One-Stop

9. 9 Target Population Nassau County residents who meet one of the following criteria: 1.Receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and/or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI); or 2.Participating in day programs (such as day habilitation, day activity or day health programs) or facility-based or community employment and earning less than minimum wage; or

10. 10 Target Population (continued) 3.Participating in segregated employment and choosing to move to integrated, competitive employment; or 4.Awaiting employment services and supports following a move from a residential facility, or as part of a plan to move into a community; or

11. 11 Target Population (continued) 5.Transitioning from, or preparing to transition from, secondary school under a transition plan under part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and who, without access to customized employment strategies, would likely be referred to one of the environments identified in (2), (3) or (4) above, but who prefers integrated, competitive employment or self-employment.

12. 12 Services Offered Person-Centered Planning Service Mobilization and Coordination Pre-Employment Services Work Try-outs/Job Shadowing Adapted Driver Education Customer-Family Cooperative Job Carving Employment Development Travel/Mobility Training On-The-Job Training Follow-Along Workplace Mentoring

13. 13 Accomplishments Number of CEG eligible customers served (10/01/02 through 09/30/04): 93 Number of CEG eligible customers to enter employment (10/01/02 through 09/30/04): 33 Customer Satisfaction Rate for CEG eligible customers to enter employment (10/01/02 through 09/30/04): 93%

14. 14 Increase in Number Individuals with Disabilities Served Number served in the two-year period prior to implementation of the WIT Project (10/01/00 through 09/30/02): 647 Number served after implementation (10/01/00 through 09/30/02): 977 Percentage Increase: 33.8%

15. 15 Increase in Number of Individuals with Disabilities that Entered Employment Number that entered employment in the two- year prior implementation (10/01/00 through 09/30/02): 196 Number that entered employment after implementation (10/01/00 through 09/30/02): 366 Percentage Increase: 46.5%

16. 16 Customer Satisfaction Customer satisfaction rate of CEG eligible customers (10/01/02 through 09/30/04): 93.0% Customer satisfaction rate of individuals with disabilities during the period prior to implementation of the WIT Project (10/01/00) through 09/30/02): 89.3% Customer satisfaction rate of individuals with disabilities after implementation (10/01/02) through 09/30/04): 93.0% Customer satisfaction percentage increase: 3.7%

17. 17 Funding Plan Over Six Years Year One (10/02 – 9/03):$714,742 Year Two (10/03 – 9/04):$736,587 Year Three (10/04 – 9/05):$745,587 Year Four (10/05 – 9/06):$557,254 Year Five (10/06 – 9/07):$447,340 Year Six (10/07 – 9/08):$0

18. 18 For More Information www.hempsteadworks.com www.abilitiesinc.org www.onestops.info/ www.workforcenewyork.org

19. 19 Contacts Joann Lukas Von Stein, HempsteadWorks, (516) 485-5000, ext. 1135 jlukas@hempsteadworks.com Karen Richter, Abilities, Inc., (516) 465-1405 krichter@abilitiesinc.org