Employment is Empowerment

Mat Rice Administrative Support Assistant

Edward WillardDillon Haug

Mat’s Work History

• Qualifications:• Excellent verbal skills/good with

people/outgoing and amiable

• Quick learner, works hard to meet deadlines, well motivated and adapts to new environments efficiently.

• Strongly determined to complete whatever task may be at hand, and has the time to devote to the task at hand.

• Extensive experience with computers and various software such as voice recognition software, Dragon 10.0, JAWS 9.0, Microsoft Office, J-Say Pro, OCR software, and adaptive knowledge in working with these systems.

• As an employer, knows what qualities are expected and hoped for in a potential employee, and has experience in staff management. Also holds own circle meetings for this staff.

• Through personal experience in living with a disability, is able to empathize well with potential shared support clients. Also, because of this, would bring insight to shared support staff to optimize people who receive support their quality of life.

• Recently spoke at Maryland Coalition of Inclusive Education conference on October 17, 2010, awarded honorarium for speech.

• At present, Administrative Support Assistant for Shared Support Maryland Inc.

Mat’s ResuméEducation:

• Currently Enrolled in the Community College of Baltimore County in Essex, Essex, MD

• Senior High School Diploma from Maryland School for the Blind and Parkville High School , Parkville, MD 2007

Previous Employment:

• Shared Support Maryland Inc.– Event planning, quality

assurance– Fundraising and marketing

• Office Assistant at Maryland School for the Blind 2006-2007– Acted as receptionist;

answered and transferred calls, took notes, etc

– Took care of office documents.

Edwards Resumé• Peer-to-Peer Outreach Project

Director• Maryland Department of Disabilities• Was responsible for outreach of

people living in nursing facilities to inform them of their option to move back into their communities

• Support initiative for Medicaid funding to follow the person into their perspective communities in the state of MD

• Supervise team of eight interns• Hiring, supervision, and conducting

staff meetings• Travel to nursing facilities to

supervise interns and meet with residents

• Co-Director• My Life Going Far Project with TASH• Hired and managed a statewide

network of peer-mentors to provide training & support to people with disabilities enrolling in the New Directions Waiver

• Developed and facilitated training related to the waiver

Edwards resumé• Edward’s history• In the disability field• • • Co-founder of Council On Independent Living COIL• San Antonio Texas 1986• • • Co-founder of Everychild Inc. Of Texas• 2001• • • • Served on The National Home Of Your Own Alliance

Representing • Texas• • Six year Board Member to Advocacy Incorporated • Texas’s protection and advocacy agency • • • Served on several Boards of Directors• In Texas

Dillon’s Work History• Pursued job tasting

experiences in high school thru Project Skills and internship programs

• Completed a required variety of workplace experiences to graduate in degree program

• Worked with Voc Rehab to secure a position that was successful for 7 years

• Pursued a Career Development Team approach to secure employment in his desired field of work

• Continues to maintain his quality of life through volunteer work with several groups and organizations that are aligned with his interests and beliefs .

Dillon’s resumé

• Graduate of Ridgewater College Occupational Skills Program

• Graduate of Partners In Policymaking Advocacy Training

• Graduate of BHSU Emerging Leaders program

• Has served on Governing Board of Directors for:

• Local Groups and Agencies

• State Advocacy and Protection Agencies

• National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities

Opportunities Employment Has Provided Mat

Speaking opportunities Mat has received through employment

– Several Broker trainings

– Arc National Conference of executives Aug. 5, 2011.

– Several Service Coordinations, and trainings of Self-Determination.

– Spoke at Maryland Coalition of Inclusive Education.

• Through my speakings I have been able to make greater connections which has naturally lead to more hours worked and greater financial independence

• Also I am able to represent Shared Support Md, Inc. on the Baltimore County Commission for people with disabilities.

Edward’s Opportunities through employment

Opportunities that were presented to Dillon through employment

• Connecting with his community of neighbors and friends

• Chances to learn about and get involved with activities of interest

• Nominated for Leadership awards that resulted in travel and new experiences

• Becoming a home owner and tax payer in his community

• Interaction with a new family/circle of co-workers

• Developing an understanding of job likes and dislikes while reinforcing a good work ethic

Unemployment and Underemployment

• In 2010, Unemployment of disabled people is about 71%

• This is largely due to the fact that most people with disabilities are taught that they cannot work; that they will lose their benefits– Such as:

• SSI• Subsidized Housing

• This is a myth. There are programs through the Social Security Administration that will allow you to work and keep your benefits.– Such as:

• The Employed Individuals with Disabilities Program (EID)

• Ticket to Work Program

Employment Individuals with Disabilities Program (EID)

• EID is designed to give those with disabilities and low income free(or affordable) health-care. – If you are receiving SSDI, are 18-64, and receive

less than $32,000 annually, you can qualify

Ticket to Work Program

• The Ticket to Work program is designed to give those with disabilities a wider range of opportunities to find employment– This is done by receiving a ticket (if eligible) and

giving it to an Employment Network, which in turn helps those with disabilities find a job

History of Employment for People With Disabilities

• Historically, people with disabilities have been undervalued as employees as demonstrated by the environment of the sheltered workshops.

• Most often, people are grouped together throughout the day given a menial task such as putting gumball machine toys together.

• For their work, the employee receives about 50% of the wage that a non-disabled person would. – i.e. if the said task pays $8 per hour, the employee would

receive $4 per hour. • Often times, the individual is not given the choice

about the job he or she will do.

Common Jobs for Disabled People Throughout History

• Historically, people with disabilities have been taught that they can only get certain types of jobs. Jobs such as housekeepers, janitors, store stockers, or relegated to the environment of the sheltered workshops

Setting New Trends• In order for people with disabilities to become

fully productive citizens, we must be employed and the concept behind that employment must be person centered

• The individual must decide what types of jobs he or she is interested in, and if there are no jobs available, a person must look to his or her strengths and try to create their own job opportunities

• Remember that a disability is a just an asset that you have yet to utilize.

Nat Caputi’s Perspective on assisting someone in obtaining employment and challenges he has

faced

Edward’s perspective on being valued as an employee

• People with disabilities are not joking we need to be taken to be taken seriously as employees

Working Allows You to Give Back!

• By doing something meaningful for both you and your community, it allows you to help others

• You also help by paying taxes• You will also be an example to all of those

around you!

Conclusion

In conclusion, when actively seeking employment remember these lessons.

Go forward with a positive attitude, Don’t be afraid to share your story, it is part of

you, And don’t just seek out opportunities, try to

create them The only one who can empower You is Yourself

Works Cited

• http://www.bls.gov/news.release/disabl.nr0.htm• http://www.dol.gov/• http://histclo.com/essay/misc/eug/eug-gen.html• http://www.bamaed.ua.edu/spe300/

History.html• http://www.qcc.cuny.edu/socialsciences/

ppecorino/MEDICAL_ETHICS_TEXT/Chapter_7_Human_Experimentation/Case_Study_Willowbrook_Experiments.htm