Niki Stevenson & Carol Blessing

“ Improving Diversity through

Supported Employment ”

Working on Purpose: Six Steps to Employment

and a Framework for Planning

Niki Stevenson and Carol Blessing

hosted by:

In association with:

Excerpted from the Citizen-Centered Leadership Community of Practice learning series

www.cclds.org

See how 15 weeks can make a world of difference!

2013 Disability Employment Data

United States• 26% working age adults

are unemployed; 69% of persons with cognitive disabilities are not in the labor force

• 34% (compared to 19% people w/o disability) likely to be employed only part time

Canada• Over 55% working age

adults w/disabilities & 70% w/intellectual disabilities are unemployed or out of the labour market

• Women w/disabilities unemployment rate is 70%

www.disabilitystatistics.org Canadian Association for Community Living

2013 Disability Employment Data

United States• Unemployment rate for

people w/disabilities 13.2% compared to 7.1%

• Poverty level of people with cognitive disabilities 34.4% in 2012

Canada• Over 75% of adults with

intellectual disabilities not living with family members live in poverty

Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S Department of Labor

Canadian Association for Community Living

Why Person’s with Disability Are Not Working• Lack of needed disability support and assistance

• Real and perceived disincentives in social insurance schemes

• Stigma and discrimination

• Belief in lack of potential

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Our power comes from intentional decisions about our own attitudes and behaviors. Where have we become complacent in our expectations about people with disabilities and citizenship? - Connie Ferrell

You are a You are a citizen citizen where you where you are defined by what youare defined by what youcontribute,contribute, not by what not by what you consumeyou consume ~ Mike Green

From Capacity to Contribution

Using a Framework for Planning© as a means for exploring, discovering and surfacing gifts, potential, interests, strengths and highest purpose

How do you invite another’s How do you invite another’s higher purpose higher purpose to show up to show up and find and find expressionexpression? ? ~John O’Brien

Action Planning TemplatePlaces to explore

Potential Roles What needs to happen now?

People who can/will help

By when?

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Introducing Working on Purpose: Six Steps to Employment!

1.Develop a Positive Profile

2.Define the Purpose Work Will Address

3.Explore the Opportunity Field

4.Select the best Employment Model

5.Identify Networks and Market Strategies

6.Plan and Take Action

Step 1: Develop a Positive Profile

• Values & Ideals• Environmental

Preferences• Life & Work

Experiences• Interests• Vision of Contribution

& Valued Social Roles

• Dreams, Goals, Purpose

• Talents• Skills• Learning Style• Support System• Immediate Priorities• Positive Traits

In addition, be aware of preferences & priorities regarding:

• Work Conditions# of supervisors/co-

workersLevel of physical

activityPay scale

• Geographic LocationTransportation

availability

• Environment Inside/OutsideBusy/QuietFormal/Casual

• Hours/DaysAM/PMWeekdays/Weekends/

Holidays

Step 2: Define the Purpose (for work)

• Get secure?• Get balance?• Build skill?• Build experience?

• Get ahead?• Get by?• Skills• Get feet wet?• Trying wings?• A “calling”?

Step 3: Explore the Opportunities

•Develop a community mapping asset inventory plan including the preference/priority detail

•Establish the geographic boundary for research

•Conduct a community-mapping inventory (ABCD building blocks)

• Association Asset Assessment• Geographic Asset Assessment• Economic Asset Inventory• Institutional Asset Inventory• Cultural

Step 4: Select the Best Support Model

• For getting, learning and keeping a job

• “Behind the Scenes”• Individual Placement• Straight Competitive• Self-Employment

• For providing appropriate assistance (type, frequency, delivery)

• Assistive technology• Environmental &/or Social

Assistance• Learning style/preference• Who, What, When,

Where, How

Step 5: Identify and Leverage Networks & Marketing Strategies

Prioritize the list that was developed out of the community mapping effort

Use personal and professional contacts (yours, theirs) to generate a list of people who are directly and indirectly linked to those areas

Step 6. Take Action!

Places to explore

Potential Roles What needs to happen now?

People who can/will help

By when?

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Merging TogetherSix Steps and a Framework for Planning

Working on Purpose Toolkit

•A sample of field-based activities with instructions to get you started

•Information gathered in these activities correlates to sections in the Framework as numbered

•Avoid limiting the experience to these few exercises. Add your own! Be creative! Have fun!

Action Planning TemplatePlaces to explore

Potential Roles What needs to happen now?

People who can/will help

By when?

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Join Us in August!

www.cclds.org

Thank You!

Carol Blessing, LMSW

Employment & Disability Institute

Ithaca, New York

[email protected]

Niki Stevenson, MSW

RSW

Extend-A-Family

Waterloo Region

Ontario, Canada

[email protected]