Through a specialized job training approach known as supported employment, people with severe disabilities are working in East Tennessee. Supported employment means ongoing job support so that people with mild, moderate, and severe disabilities can find and maintain employment in the competitive labor force.
Individual Employment is funded through Vocational Rehabilitation, which is funded by DIDD and ECF choices with temporary Support Staff who will help with initial training and provide ongoing follow-up support.
The range of occupations and job types is very broad. There are as many jobs as there are people.
Employment specialists from community agencies work with employers to match prospective employees with jobs that best suit their abilities and preferences.
With training and support, people with severe disabilities are working in the hospitality industry, manufacturing, health care, retail trades, banking, and insurance, to name a few.
Employment First means employment is the preferred option for every person getting disability services. Before, people with disabilities did not have the same opportunities to work as people without disabilities. In Tennessee, we can be proud that an Employment First Task Force meets regularly. The Task Force includes professionals and citizens who all work on growing employment options for people with disabilities.
Supported Employment shall be the preferred option for all persons supported that are not of retirement age, based on each person’s needs and preferences, and shall be provided in accordance with the following requirements:
A job coach shall be on-site at the work location and shall support the person.
Our Employment Department shall oversee the person’s supported employment services, including on-site supervisors. The Department shall have contact on the work site and a job coach employed by ACT who is available on-call if needed to go to the work site. Through a specialized job training approach known as supported employment, people with severe disabilities are working in East Tennessee. Supported employment means ongoing job support so that people with disabilities can find and maintain employment in the competitive labor force.
Residents helped with these services.
Reggie has worked at his current job (Ingles Market) for approximately 25 years in some capacity. He has worked bagging groceries, stocking shelves, and performing maintenance tasks in the past. He now works in the Deli department washing dishes. Reggie enjoys his job and his coworkers.
"We are thankful for the good honest people from ACT that work with us. They help us stay employed and enjoy our lives".
