Massachusetts Department of
Developmental Services
Employment First!
Overview of Employment & Day Services
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T R A N S I T I O N TO A D U LT L I F E
C R E AT I N G A V I S I O N F O R T H E
FUTURE
SEPTEMBER 20, 2014
WORCESTER, MA
Goals of Presentation
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• What is Employment First?
• Review of Blueprint for
Success
• Overview of Employment &
Day Services for Adults
• Important Areas for
Consideration
• Questions and Discussion
WHAT IS EMPLOYMENT FIRST?
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Supports Department’s mission of supporting people to
live and work and enjoy fully integrated lives in the
community
 The belief that everyone can work and gives everyone a
chance to get a job
 Starts with the presumption that employment should be
the first and preferred goal and service option for
working age adults
 More job opportunities in the community:
 Real
Jobs for Real Pay- hired at a business earning same
pay as other workers

More opportunities for meaningful involvement in
inclusive community activities and experiences
Why This New Direction?
People with Disabilities Are Asking for Real Jobs…
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 Having a job is an
important and valued
role in people’s lives
 Everyone has the right
to have a job
 Everyone has the right to
get paid fairly for the
work they do
Why is Having A Job So Important
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•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Way to Earn Money - $
Feel proud of accomplishments
Builds confidence
Meet new people and make new friends
Chance to learn new things & develop skills
Way to be helpful and productive
Status: People respect you for the work
you do
Blueprint for Success:
Employing Individuals with Intellectual
Disabilities
November 2013
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Department of
Developmental
Services (DDS)
A Plan for Jobs and Community Inclusion
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• Commissioner Howe asked a team of
people to develop a 4 year plan
called the Blueprint for Success.
Goals are:
• More job opportunities
• Individual planning of service options
for every person
• Community-based day activities, in
addition to job training
• Phase out use of sheltered workshop
services
Recommendations and Resources To Make
This Plan Successful
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 More Funding to support expanded services
 Training for provider staff on job development and job
coaching
 Assistance for Providers to
develop new services
 Ways to reach more businesses
to find more jobs
 Training on Social Security
Work Incentives
Other Supports and Activities
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 Information and training
for individuals
 Explore, Prepare, Act
training from MASS by
self-advocates
 Information and training
on Social Security
Benefits
 Sharing success stories
It all starts with Person Centered Planning…
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More focus on strengths and supports for work and
community inclusion for people with disabilities
Developing A Positive Personal Profile
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 Dreams and Goals
 Your Learning Style
 Interests
 Positive personality traits
 Talents/skills and knowledge
 Dislikes
 What you value-what is important  Your Support System
to you
 Settings/places you prefer
 Work and Life Experiences
 Specific challenges you need help
with
 Solutions and supports to help
you be successful
What Supports are Helpful to Get on the
Road to Employment:
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 Ways to explore and discover interests- through volunteer
work, job tours and try-outs
 Developing a career plan that is right for each person: based
on each person’s interests, skills, and settings where you
will be successful
 Job developer who finds the right job match for you
 Job coach who provides training and follow-up support on
the job site
 Help with transportation and other things to help achieve
success
What Are the Service Options
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1-Individual Supported
Employment
2- Group Supported
Employment
3- Community
Based Day Supports
Or a combination of
these 3 services
Individual Supported Employment
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 Getting a regular job hired and paid by a business: can be
part-time or full-time


Same pay and benefits as other workers
Examples: bank, hospital, supermarket, department store
 A Job Developer who helps you find the right job
 A Job Coach who helps with:
 Training on the job to learn skills
 Making friends and getting involved socially on the job
 Transportation
 Communicating with your boss to make sure everything is going well
 Follow-Up Support: solving problems that come up
 Sometimes people choose to get help to start their own
business if that is what is right for them
Group Supported Employment
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A
small group of people (2 up to 8) work at a
business with staff from a provider agency
 People
work for the business at their location
 Examples include: packaging, mailings, housekeeping
 Job
coach always there for training and support
 Usually paid by the provider – may be less than
minimum wage, but goal is for everyone to earn
minimum wage or higher
 Some providers develop their own businesses with a
group of workers- such as landscaping or cleaning
Community Based Day Support Programs
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Variety of community and center-based activities to
develop skills based on person’s interests and needs
 Career exploration and planning


Job try-outs; discovery of interests
Develop “soft skills” needed on jobs; How to apply for jobs
 Volunteer Opportunities: nursing homes; animal shelters
 Internships: greenhouses, hospitals, colleges
 Community experiences: libraries; adult education
 Skills training: transportation; money; computer; art
 A place to see your friends
Community Based Day Supports May Be…
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 Social Skills
 Travel Training
 Computer time
 Exercise/Yoga
 Sign language
 Cooking class
 Money Skills
 Group Meeting
 Animal Shelter
 Meals on Wheels
 Nursing Home
 Salvation Army
 Volunteer at office
 Food Bank
 Redemption-Recycle Centers
 Ride to Job Site
DAY HABILITATION PROGRAMS
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 Funded by MassHealth not DDS
 Medical Model of services- meet medical necessity
 Therapeutic Focus- Includes specialized services
such as PT, OT, speech, nursing
 Active Treatment/Habilitation Focus:
Developmental skills training; Improve level of
independence; Socialization
 Cannot provide vocational, prevocational or any
other employment related service
It is important to work closely with your
Transition Service Coordinator
and
Area
Office
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 Discuss ideas, explore




possibilities & develop a plan
Address questions and
concerns
Explore service options
Be clear about your “nonnegotiables” – but also be
flexible
It is a partnership –everyone
has a role and can contribute
toward the desired outcome
Why Work is Important to Me…
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 “Work makes me feel good, it’s freedom… I meet
new people every day.”
 “ I like it because I’m getting paid
and it makes me feel independent.”
 “It gives you a sense of respect.”
{Quotes from adults with an
Intellectual Disability who are working}
Thank You for coming today!
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For more information:
Margaret Van Gelder, DDS
Margaret.van.gelder@state.ma.us
617.624.7764