Page 10 - Work Force January 2020

CSEA members help individuals find Pathway to Employment
ROME — CSEA Central New York DDSO Local members are among the state Office of People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) employees championing a a a a a a a pilot program that they believe is is is a a a a a a a vision of the the future for our members employed in in direct care: Pathway Pathway to to Employment
Employment
The Pathway Pathway to to Employment
Employment
program program is one of of several types of of OPWDD Care Pilot programs established in 2015 The Pathway program program is is a a a a a a person-centered one-on-one 12-month program program designed to help individuals with developmental disabilities develop develop pre-employment skills needed for successful employment employment In addition to Central New York DDSO the Pathway program is also in in place at at Capital Finger Lakes Taconic and Western New New York York DDSOs Our Central New New York York DDSO DDSO Local members are determined to to make Pathway to to Employment
a a a a a a success in in the community CSEA members have worked tirelessly to establish community connections with local business owners and managers to pitch the program “They stop in places where they don’t even know anyone and say ‘we got someone who is willing to come in in I I stay with them one-on-one I I provide the the the the transportation they do the the the the job everything is great you you can do do other work that needs to be done for your business ’” said CSEA Central New York DDSO Local 5th Vice President Patti Beer who works in the Pathway to Employment
program Community locations working with Pathway include local churches the City of Sherrill Whitesboro Frame and and Body Hope House Rome Rome Memorial Hospital local farms and and Rome Rome Polish Home “There’s a a a a lot of of [types of of jobs] out there ” Beer said “I’ve never worked on a a a a a a a a a a farm farm for example but I I I I I still want to to go go to to that farm farm and see what it’s like like I I I I I think I I I I I won’t like like it it unless I I I I I got really high rubber boots and gloves on on but then again I I I I might love it ” Like anyone else in the the the workforce if an an individual is is is dissatisfied with the the the job they are not obligated to stay If [the [the individual] doesn’t like [the [the job] they don’t have to go back ” Beer said “It’s all about the person person and this program is is definitely person-centered ” CSEA members who work on on the Pathway program are willing to to try to to make any individual’s dreams for working a a a a a reality “I think one of the most important things for for for this program is is that it’s OK if you fail ” said former Central New York DDSO Local 3rd Vice President Matt Spellicy “If you you you tried tried something but you you you didn’t like doing it hey you you tried tried ” Shawn P P left shows off his Pathway to Employment
drawing with Central New York DDSO local member Dawn Larsen Many OPWDD staff believe the the more work individuals are able to do in in the the the the community the the the the more they feel valued “I think before [Pathway] [individuals] felt they they didn’t have much value in in in fin the the the community ” said Derek Coffin a a a a a a a a direct support assistant “Now they they they go out and they’re seeing how much they they they have to to to give to to to it it They’re needed people people are excited to to to see them they’re making a a a a a a a difference in in people’s lives and they they are a a a a a a part of the the the the community ” Countless success stories
While the the the point of the the the program isn’t to to secure
a a a a a a job for an an individual individual it can sometimes be the the the the result One of the the the individuals who worked through the the the program is now employed at at Walgreens Pathway staff enjoy stopping in in the the store after work to say hello One individual in in in in the Pathway program wanted to become involved after hearing about it from other program participants The individual volunteers at a a a a a a a a historic site in in in the the mornings and and then comes to to work with Dawn Larsen a a a a a a a a a a direct support assistant and and Pathway in in the afternoon “I’ve been able to to work with Dawn at the the the the flower shop and I’ve I’ve had other opportunities too” the the the individual said “But I I I I like working with Dawn at the the flower shop It’s It’s a a a a a a a lot of fun there It’s It’s a a a a a a a place where you you feel like you you belong ” The individual helped sort flowers and moved
Jade T shucks clams for clam clam chowder at at the Stanwix Mens Club She enjoys food preparation 10 The Work Force
Donald H washes cars at at his internship at at the Whitesboro Frame and Body Shop January 2020