Supported Employment

Supported Employment helps adults with disabilities find and maintain employment at locations throughout the community.

Program Description

The Supported Employment program helps adults with disabilities find jobs in businesses throughout the community and provides training, in the form of job coaching, to learn and become independent at those jobs.

Staff help men and women carefully assess the type of job they would enjoy, looking at a range of factors such as skill levels, work environment, transportation needs, etc. Each person is then assisted in finding a job that suits their interests and abilities.

Once the individual has been hired, staff of Little Friends provide training to employers so that they can comfortably and efficiently train an employee with a developmental disability.

Men and women in the Supported Employment program work in a wide variety of settings, including restaurants, hotels, retail stores, manufacturing plants, offices and more.

Geographic Area Served

Supported Employment serves individuals in DuPage County, Illinois, and other nearby communities.

Eligibility

Individuals interested in receiving Supported Employment services must:

• be at least 16 years of age
• have a diagnosed disability
• possess a state-issued identification card and a social security card
• be legally eligible to work in the United States
• behave in a manner that does not endanger the safety of others or disrupt the work environment
• be independent enough that one-on-one staff assistance is not required
• be eligible for third party funding or accept responsibility for program fees
• complete all requirements of Spectrum's intake process
• be able to benefit from the services offered

Fees

To apply for services through Supported Employment, contact your local Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) office or visit www.dhs.state.il.us/ors.

  FAQ's

• What services are provided by Spectrum's Supported Employment program?
  
  1. Job development - to identify potential job leads, including assistance with applications, interviews and follow through 
  2. Job coaching - to help the individual and employer establish a good working relationship, and identify strategies that will help the employee be more successful at their job
  3. Vocational counseling - for various work-related issues
  4. Transportation training - to teach the individual how to use public and private transportation to get to work
     
     
• How long are the services provided?

The length of services vary, based on the needs of the individual as well as their funding.

• Is transportation provided? 

No, but we do provide training to help individuals learn the skills needed to access public and private transportation. For DuPage County residents, there is a subsidized taxi program available to help offset the cost of traveling to and from work.

• What is expected of program participants?

At Spectrum, participants are not "placed" into jobs, but are assisted in finding their own job. Individuals are expected to actively participate in their job search, i.e. look through classified ads, network with family and friends, fill out applications, and keep appointments with staff. When employed, participants are expected to abide by their employer's policies and procedures. Spectrum staff can help individuals understand their employer's expectations, but staff do not assume a supervisory role.

For more information...

For more information or a free brochure, please call the Supported Employment office at (630) 852-7526 or e-mail Gale Kowal at gkowal@lilfriends.com.