We strive to give power to people with disabilities and assist them in achieving the American dream of independence and economic self-sufficiency. We make this possible through numerous employment and training programs and exploration providing strategies to successfully become employed in the community thru direct placement or customized work environments matching jobs opportunity with skill development and on job coaching. Employment Services do not include: Volunteering, apprenticeships, or internships unless it is part of the discovery process and time limited. Our Vocation programs start with Individual assessment, skill training, enhancing work experience, job search and individual case management.

Assessment

Assessment begins with exploration with each individual about the kind of work and interest; completing a positive personal profile; developing an employment plan; exploring job possibilities in the community with the individual for the right job match and assessing job skills in a competitive work environment. Extended periods of assessment should be avoided in order to shorten the amount of time a person is unemployed.

Skills Training

Skills Training focuses on pre-employment skills which includes individuals without jobs and offers support through social interactions and activities which include discussions, job exploration, role playing, career explorations, networking, working cooperatively with other people, techniques to reduce being distracted, paying attention to detail and the quality of work and recreation.

Work Experience Group

The Work Experience Discovery Group at Inclusion Services is a time limited program designed to provide work experiences within the community for individuals with disabilities with the goal that he/she will obtain competitive employment or maintain their skills for those in seasonal employment. People in this program will volunteer or intern at various organizations in the greater Maryland/DC metro area in the following business areas: food service, custodial, business services, animal care and warehousing areas. Each person in the Work Experience Discovery group is given support to help develop methods for overcoming potential barriers to competitive employment. Positive work behaviors, the development of quality work skills and the development of acceptable attendance and punctuality are issues that are continually reinforced.

Job Discovery/Development

Job discovery is individualized and based on individuals’ job interests, skills and preferences. The job search begins soon after entering the employment program with individuals given a career interest questionnaire. Case Managers will establish relationships with local companies to build understanding of what supports, and employment opportunities are available within the community. The interdisciplinary team members will focus on the individual’s desires within a person-centered approach. The supports are provided on a one-on-one support basis to the individual in the process of finding a job. Activities such as career exploration, resume writing, interviewing preparations, conducting a job search, travel training and other job seeking skills are developed and a schedule is set based on the individual’s needs The level of training required will be set at the time of the team and plan development. This support provides individualized preparation to address challenges specific to the targeted job to meet the person’s employment goal.

Job Supports job coaching facilitates success in competitive employment. Examples: working with individuals on the job site to help them learn job skills weekly; providing guidance and support to employers; advocating for a change in the work environment, hours and expanding skills/duties. Interventions (such as arranging transportation) can be focused on the individual, supervisor, co-workers, family members and/or support teams. These efforts are considered natural supports.

Case Management/Follow Along Supports

Once a job has been obtained, ongoing communication at least two face to face interactions monthly is maintained with the individual. Also, employer, family members, interdisciplinary team, etc. communication occurs to support the individual in his or her work. When problems are identified and responded to early, unnecessary job terminations may be averted. Person Centered Plan facilitation is also a task for the Case Manager who will be trained in discovery and has successfully completed the Certified Employment Support Professional (CESP) Exam.

(Scope)

Employment Services provides the individual with a variety of flexible supports to help the individual to identify career and employment interest, find and keep a job including:

*Discovery – a process to assist the individual in finding out who they are, what they want to do, and what they have to offer; Discovery is a time limited comprehensive, person-centered, and community-based employment planning support service to assist the individual to identify the individual’s abilities, conditions, and interests.

Discovery includes:
A visit to an individual’s home, a review of community employers, job trials, interest inventory to create a profile and picture resume; and Discovery services are limited to once every two years unless otherwise authorized by the DDA.
The development of a Discovery Profile. Discovery includes three distinct milestones. It is expected that milestones would be completed within 90 days of service approval. The completion of each milestone is flexible and will be considered in conjunction with the

individual’s unique circumstances. Each discovery milestone must be completed as per DDA regulations and policy with evidence of completion of the required activities before being paid.

Discovery activities shall be reimbursed based on the following milestones:
Milestone #1 – includes home visit, survey of the community near the individual’s home, record reviews for pertinent job experience, education, and assessments.

Milestone #2 – includes observation of the job seeker in a minimum of three (3) community-based situations in order to identify skills, interest, and learning style.

Milestone #3 – includes discovery profile, picture and/or written resume, and job development plan from discovery meeting.

*Development – supports finding a job including customized employment and self-employment; Job Development is support for an individual to obtain an individual job in a competitive integrated employment limited to eight (8) hours per day and total maximum of 90 hours unless otherwise authorized by DDA setting in the general workforce, including:

  • Customized employment – a flexible process designed to personalize the employment relationship between a job candidate and an employer in a way that meets the needs of both. It is based on an individualized match between the strengths, conditions, and interests of a job candidate and the identified business needs of an employer; and
  • Self-employment – including exploration of how an individual’s interests, skills and abilities might be suited for the development of business ownership.

* Ongoing Job Supports – various supports an individual may need to successfully maintain their job; Ongoing Job Supports are supports in learning and completing job tasks either when beginning a new job, after a promotion, or after a significant change in duties or circumstances and individualized supports an individual may need to successfully maintain their job.

Ongoing Job Supports include:

  1. Job coaching (e.g. job tasks analysis and adaptations, self-management strategies, natural and workplace supports facilitation, and fading assistance), needed to complete job tasks like setting up workstations; limited of up to 10 hours per day
  2. The facilitation of natural supports in the workplace;
  3. Systematic instruction and other learning strategies based on the individual’s learning style and needs;
  4. Travel training to independently get to the job; and Transportation to and from and within the activities will be provided or arranged by the provider and funded through the rate system except for follow along supports. The provider shall use the mode of transportation which achieves the least costly, and most appropriate, means of transportation for the individual with priority given to the use of public transportation when appropriate.
  5. Personal care assistance, behavioral supports, transportation, and delegated nursing tasks to support the employment activity. Ongoing Job Supports is reimbursed based on an hourly basis and includes a “fading plan”, when appropriate, that notes the anticipated number of support hours needed.

* Follow Along Supports – periodic supports after an individual has transitioned into their job; Follow Along Supports:

  1. Occurs after the individual has transitioned into their job.
  2. Ensure the individual has the assistance necessary to maintain their jobs; and
  3. Include at least two face to face contacts with the individual in the course of the month.

* Self-Employment Development Supports – supports to assist an individual whose discovery activities and profile indicate a specific skill or interest that would benefit from resource ownership or small business operation; Self-Employment Development Supports include assistance in the development of a business and marketing plan, including potential sources of business financing and other assistance in developing and launching a business.

* Co-Worker Employment Support – supports in a situation when an employer has identified that an onsite job coach would not be optimal, yet the individual could still benefit from additional supports; Co-Worker Employment Supports are time-limited supports provided by the employer to assist the individual, upon employment, with extended orientation and training beyond what is typically provided for an employee. Co-Worker Employment Supports are not intended to replace the support provider’s work, rather, it is an additional mentoring/support role for which coworkers could receive additional compensation above what they receive in the course of their typical job responsibilities. The payment of this compensation is at the discretion of the employer. limited to the first three months of employment unless otherwise authorized by the DDA.

(Setting and Location)

Employment Services Administrative staffing are at our headquarters in Laurel however services can be provided in a variety of settings in the community and thru partnering with businesses and individuals to learn skill development examples but not limited to customer services, hospitality and administrative tasks.

(Staff and Training)

Staff working for or contracted with the agency as well as volunteers utilized in providing any direct support services or spend any time alone with an individual must meet the following minimum standard:

  1. Be at least 18 years old;
  2. Have DDA approved certification in employment to provide discovery services
  3. Have required credentials, license, or certification as noted below;
  4. Possess current First Aid and CPR certification;
  5. Pass a criminal background investigation and any other required background checks and credentials verification.
  6. Complete necessary pre/in-service training based on the Person-Centered Plan;
  7. To ensure all direct care staff are appropriately trained on best practices and standards. All new hires must complete the DDA required training prior to independent service delivery, and at least every three years;
  8. Unlicensed staff paid to administer medication and/or perform treatments must be certified by the Maryland Board of Nursing (MBON) as Medication Technicians;
  9. Possess a valid driver’s license, if the operation of a vehicle is necessary to provide services;
  10. Have automobile insurance for all automobiles that are owned, leased, and/or hired and used in the provision of services.

Inclusion Services requires the very best qualities in direct care staff. Direct Care Staff in all of our service areas, whether full or part-time are trained in all aspects listed below. In addition to the required DDA training, in order to be hired by the Agency a person must pass an initial drug screening and random drug tests throughout their period of employment. They also must pass a criminal records check, driving records check, and provide three work references which are scrupulously checked.
As part of the pre-employment process, prospective staff are required to take basic skills testing for math, reading, healthy food menu building, computer skills knowledge, and a writing sample. If a person fails to meet any of these requirements, he/she will not be hired by the company.
Inclusion Services believes in making sure our workers are extremely well trained. Workers receive training in the following areas:

Aging CPR Incident Reporting
Blood-borne Pathogens Defensive Driving Individual Plans (IDOOPI)
Behavior Principles and Strategies (BPS Units 1-4) Fire Safety Medication Administration (Residential Staff)
Communicable Disease First Aid OSHA
Communication Skills Fundamental Rights Seizure Disorders
Community Integration General Characteristics & Needs Supporting Individuals in Making Choices

Additional trainings are provided based on the individual needs of the person receiving services.

A number of staff are Certified Medication Technicians and would be able to administer medications off site, as needed. Special needs for some individuals may include blood glucose checks, dietary needs, toileting, etc. and will be accommodated for during the day. Staffing will be coordinated by the respective Program Manager in the Day and Vocational programs.