Program Description

Introduction: Community-based employment services are an important and integral part of Ability Building Center’s vocational rehabilitation programs. The goal of Competitive Placement Services is to assist job-ready individuals to achieve their desired vocational goals by securing and retaining competitive employment in their community.

Those Served: Individuals referred from the following: Workers’ Compensation, Long Term Employment, Work Adjustment Training, Vocational Evaluation, Supported Employment, or sponsoring agencies.

ADMISSION CRITERIA:

1. The individual must be referred by another professional source that is knowledgeable of the individual’s potential to perform competitive employment.
2. The Individual must demonstrate and/or express a willingness to participate in developing and carrying out an Individual Work Plan.
3. The individual must have interest and adequate work skills to perform competitive employment.
4. The individual must be able to work independently.

Services Offered to Participants:

• Develop an Individualized Work Plan
• Assistance identifying support needs and job accommodations
• Counseling and/or assistance with job seeking skills, job interviews and labor market trends
• Assistance in developing job leads and completing job applications
• Assistance in developing customized resumes and cover letters
• Job tryouts with potential job at conclusion with participating employers
• Provide job coaching to assist with on the job training
• Provide assistance identifying natural supports and developing positive relationships with co-worker(s) and supervisor(s)
• Provide short-term job retention and/or career advancement support
• Provide bus training to use public transportation
• Provide community advocacy resources

Benefits to Employers: Ability Building Center is a non-profit organization that provides vocational services to individuals with physical, cognitive, cultural or life-skill barriers. Individualized service plans allow each person to choose their own path towards becoming a more productive, integrated and empowered member of our community.

To help ensure long-term employment success, Ability Building Center provides the following services to support employers who hire individuals who possess vocational barriers:

• No hiring costs or fees
• Voluntary job tryouts with potential job at conclusion
• Pre-screening of candidate to match skills with job openings
• Assistance applying for the Work Opportunity Tax Credit for eligible hires
• ADA accommodation assistance (if needed)
• Job coaching available to assist with on-the-job training
• Assistance identifying natural supports and developing positive relationships with co-worker(s) and supervisor(s)
• Retention and follow up services to ensure the job match is a good fit

Contact

Stacey Boysen
Placement Coordinator
Ability Building Center

Phone: (507) 535-7123
Fax: (507) 281-6270
Email: staceyb@abcinc.org