Washington State has one of the most successful and cost-effective supported employment programs in the nation. As an example, King County delivers on average almost $2 in wages for every $1 spent on individual employment programs. People with developmental and other disabilities rely on supported employment services for the training, guidance and follow-along support they need to stay employed.

Employers have been promised the sustained delivery of these services as a critical component of hiring decisions. Without ongoing job supports, an important trust held with community employers is broken.

Future new hires will be in jeopardy. Many people with disabilities have been employed at long-term jobs because of the supports they receive funded by State only dollars. These people have done everything right—followed the school to work transition model and become successful working adults through supported employment. Now, because they are not on the Federal waiver and its guarantee of funding, they are in jeopardy of losing the very supports that have led to their long-term successful employment.

In support of people with developmental disabilities gainfully employed, but limited to "State only" dollars, we ask our Washington State Legislators to:
· Please safeguard supported employment services for those who do not qualify for Federal waivers.
· Please allow for the continued process of moving additional people to the waiver.

To learn more visit the website of the Community Employment Alliance.

Labels: employment, State-only, waiver

Jerry has been working since he left high school, but there have been several positions and he’s had difficulty retaining employment. Many times he left a job with little notice. As a consequence he did not have good references. His departures were so abrupt, they were a negative. Jerry needed help to make sound decisions in seeking a rewarding position that offered longer term opportunity.

He interviewed at Fred Meyer in Issaquah, along with Dennis Wajda, his AtWork! Employment Consultant, and was hired immediately. Now the challenge was job retention. He adapted very well to his job environment and is happy there.

Jerry is a Front End Cart Attendant with a schedule totaling 35 hours per week. He patrols the parking lot, along with a crew of four, retrieving shopping carts, returning them to the store, fishing out trash and store circulars to recycle or throw away, and keeping the stock of empty carts available for customers.

AtWork! will provide the support that will help Jerry retain his Fred Meyer job and have a successful career. Regular check-ins from Dennis and retraining when needed, open communication with store management and Jerry’s supervisor, will all contribute to success on the job.

Labels: employment, Fred Meyer, Jerry