The Arc of New Jersey

The Arc of New Jersey. Project HIRE.

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[Audio] What is Project HIRE?. What is Project HIRE?.

[Audio] Project HIRE is the Arc of New Jersey's CARF-accredited, statewide, employment placement and training program for adults with intellectual and related developmental disabilities. Established in 1985, Project HIRE allows Employment Training Specialists ( ETS) to provide on-the-job support that includes both intensive training and long-term follow-along learning to get to and from work, and coworker socialization..

[Audio] Project HIRE is designed to connect people with disabilities to integrated employment opportunities in their community..

[Audio] The program is funded by the New Jersey Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services ( DVRS) and the New Jersey Division of Developmental Disabilities ( DDD)..

[Audio] Promote skills through full-time & part time integrated employment. Develop & sustain a natural on-the-job support network for the employee. Help employees to reach their full potential through career counseling. Assist employers to diversity their workforce. Assist the employer in minimizing their cost of hiring and retraining employees..

[Audio] Project HIRE provides: Vocational assessments Job matching Job sampling On-site job training Travel training Follow along services.

[Audio] The services provided by The Arc of New Jersey's include: Skills & training, daily life skills, skills assessment, help finding work, job placement. The served populations are: adults, young adults, teens, students, unemployed, and people diagnosed with any disability..

[Audio] Since the program serves both adults and students, the services provided to each population is a bit different. For ancillary school services the program provides: Behavioral, hygiene, task prompting needs are provided by school aids. Behavior modifications & IEPs can be implemented at worksites. Work environment allows many supports Transportation provided For adult services the program provides: Job coaches are not funded to monitor behaviors, complete hygiene functions or prompt tasks for the long term. Employers consider accommodations. Competitive work setting does not allow for multiple supports. Transportation individual responsibility.

[Audio] Job coaches who serve both students and adults in the program also provide different types of services to these populations:.

[Audio] Some employers hesitate to hire applicants with disabilities because they are convinced that they can't handle regular employment. However studies show that employees with disabilities rate average or better in job performance as compared to employees without disabilities. Americans with Disabilities Act ( ADA) requires both private and public employers in the U.S to make reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities provided those accommodations do not result in undue hardship to the employer. It is a common misconception that accommodations are costly in terms of money, time and effort. However according to the U.S department of Labor two-thirds of accommodations cost less than $ 500, with nearly a quarter costing nothing at all. However, with such accommodations, the employer can make a return on investment of about $ 5000 or more..

[Audio] Yes! Your child can work despite his/her disability. Project HIRE employment initiative presumes that people with disabilities can, and should work. Thus, it creates the expectations the people with disabilities, like everyone else, will need to opt out of employment rather than opt in. Furthermore, the initiative helps to define the primary service that people living with disabilities utilize when obtaining and maintaining competitive employment (Supported Employment)..

[Audio] Preparing students for the world of employment is one of the most important components of the transition plan..

[Audio] Preparing students helps them better acclimate to adult vocational services after graduation. Adult services are much different than the services students receive in school. Graduates are moving from an entitlement to eligibility based system. This impacts the services models under each system..

[Audio] What are the benefits of Project HIRE Transition program?.

[Audio] Students and their families are actively involved in the transition process. Students can make informed decisions about future vocational goals and objectives. Students will have a realistic picture of the world of employment and all its resposibilities Project HIRE Transition Specialists are available to attend t IEP meetings and make recommendations on a student's transition plan..

[Audio] Benefits to Employers Dependable, punctual employees who will stay on the Job. Free screening, interviewing, and training. Federal Targeted Jobs Tax Credit Publicity about employer participation. Benefits to Participants Opportunity to hold a real job and earn competitive wages. Careful matching of the individual to the job. Lifelong access to an employment training specialist. Opportunity to make new friends. Increased self-esteem.

References. The Arc of New Jersey: Project HIRE . Arcnj.org. (2022). Retrieved 26 July 2022, from https://www.arcnj.org/programs/project-hire/project_hire.html#:~:text=The%20Arc%20of%20New%20Jersey's,finding%20and%20maintaining%20competitive%20employment . Spexarth , A. (2021). SETWorks Case Study - Project HIRE - The Arc of New Jersey . SETWorks . Retrieved 26 July 2022, from https://www.set-works.com/project-hire-case-study/..

THANKS!. Any questions?. 20.