A Win/Win for Brett and Ernie

Twenty one year old Brett Lantz was referred to the Ties to Employment project (through a Developmental Disabilities Council grant) by the agency that provides waiver services to him.  When Brett lived at home, he had spent time working with his dad on a small self-employment business of taking apart old fire extinguishers and selling the parts to recycling establishments. He had an interest in similar work and some skills and experience using tools and machinery.  During the Discovery process, themes that emerged for Brett included working outdoors, working with tools and machinery, and working with vehicles. 

When Ernie Richards at Mountaineer Automotive in Clarksburg was contacted, he agreed to have Brett come in for a paid work experience.  There was an instant bond between Brett and Ernie. 

Ernie turned out to be an excellent mentor for Brett,  teaching him the skills needed for a variety of jobs at his garage including detailing vehicles, checking and changing oil, checking tire pressure and filling tires, charging batteries, and taking an engine apart for replacement of various parts. 

        

When asked about needs he had for his business, Ernie told us that he was turning away a lot of business because he did not have the ability to provide new tires for his customers.  He was interested in purchasing a tire changing machine and tire balancer.  After working for several weeks with Brett, he felt sure that this was a task that Brett could learn to do.  Using the concept of Resource Ownership, Brett purchased the machines for the business through a Compensating Balance Loan with CWVTEL Credit Union and Job Squad, Inc.  Brett will own the equipment which will be used to bring increased business to Mountaineer Automotive, allowing Ernie to hire Brett.  Starting the third week in October, Brett will be on the Mountaineer Automotive payroll starting at 12 hours per week at minimum wage. As business increases with the new machinery and Brett gains skill in using it, Ernie has agreed to gradually increase Brett’s hours up to 32 hours per week.

A follow-up post will focus on Brett’s success in using the new equipment and his integration as a new employee at Mountaineer Automotive.

Go West Rendezvous 2013

Griffin-Hammis Associates  

Denton, Idaho

 Staff at Job Squad attended the “invitation only” Go West Rendezvous again this year.  An amazing group of folks worked around the clock sharing ideas on leveraging Social Capital, refining Customized Employment, improving job development, understanding financial aspects of self & wage employment, detailing the use of Discovery and Vocational Themes, and finding the metaphors from diverse people and places that help us move to new solutions.  In honor of Dave Hammis, who passed away last year shortly after the 2012 Rendezvous, we lifted our thoughts and cups in his memory. 

 

 

 

"Discovery to Employment"

 

The training covered "Discovery to Employment". Over 30 people attended, where they learned how the discovery process moves to discovering personal genius to developing vocational themed tracts. Pat Cassidy reinforced that we may not be concentrating on a person's dream job, but on a job that makes sense to the person. This training she also shed light on how to approach businesses and develop relationships with individuals and employers. In this field we spend time getting to know the individual, but are we spending enough time getting to know the employer? Are we doing those informational interviews?  (Griffin-Hammis Associates – Facebook).

 

Information on Ethics, Politics and Nuances of Medicaid

 

Dr. Steve Hall, former community agency CEO and state Developmental Disability and Mental Health system director for 2 states, challenged the Rendezvous group regarding the ethics, politics, and nuances of Medicaid and the disability industry Steve's knowledge and commitment to justice are staggering. (Griffin-Hammis Associates – Facebook).

 Finding the metaphors from diverse people and places that help us move to new solutions.

 

This year’s guest speaker was Kate Davis, founder of Raptors of the Rockies.  Kate began early in life with a love of animals, and by her junior year in high school, she was rehabilitating injured and orphaned mammals and raptors with the Cincinnati Zoo Junior Zoologists Club. Right away, she began providing educational programs at the zoo and in the community.  Later, after locating to Missoula, Kate received a degree in Zoology from the University of Montana.  She moved to a ranch outside of Missoula and obtained the required federal rehabilitation, possession, eagle exhibition and falconry permits. Kate currently cares for fifteen species of permanently disabled raptors and falconry birds.  Her “teaching team” consists of eagles, falcons, hawks and owls - making up the Raptors of the Rockies.  Throughout Kate’s life, she has developed her love of animals into various ventures including art - metal sculptures, photography, and has authored several books about raptors.  To find out more information about Kate’s work, visit her website at:  http://www.raptorsoftherockies.org/

 

Connie’s Story Continues…..

The Looking Glass Consignment Shop had to generate additional income in order to hire Connie as their first employee.  They recently opened up the new store in Clarksburg, West Virginia, and needed additional racks, hangers, displays and software for their computer to display and tag the merchandise that was being brought in for consignment. 

Through a service known as Resource Ownership, Job Squad sponsored a grant which was given to Connie, allowing her to purchase the needed equipment for their business.  Connie owns the equipment, which generates additional revenue and, in turn, affords The Looking Glass the opportunity to offer Connie employment, working 25 hours a week to start. 

 

 

We are also negotiating with the business owners for Connie to open her own business within their business.  It will be known as “Connie’s Corner”.  We are in the process of planning for this next adventure with Connie and The Looking Glass.  Through this opportunity, Connie will be able to increase her hours of work per week at the store.

Connie totally enjoys her employment with The Looking Glass.  Not only does she see Shell and Beth Hoskinson, owners of The Looking Glass, at work, but she also sees them at church - all part of social networking. :o)

Eddie Works (and his PASS is approved)!

Eddie Arnio has been working 20-24 hours a week at Grafton Farm and Home Supply since late September 2012. Prior to this gig, Eddie’s work history comprised of 6 months at the local—now out of business—sheltered workshop.

Eddie has worked hard at finding a job in Grafton, applying at local corporate and big-box businesses like Wal-Mart and McDonalds every 4 months for the last 6 years. He was told that if he kept applying, kept keeping at it, his efforts would eventually be awarded with a job—using this approach, won’t employers eventually recognize his desire to work, his tenacity and persistence?

After meeting with WVDRS and being referred to Job Squad, Eddie engaged in some Discovery, a few short term work experiences, and a theme of technology or machinery emerged. During his work experiences, Eddie operated a car washing machine, spray washer, and a compactor. We also learned he was interested in automobiles, in part because his dad once drove a cab.

Conversations with others in the community led us to Grafton Farm and Home Supply, which, we learned, had a broken stone mill. The broken mill increased costs—feed that would typically be milled on site now had to be transported to a nearby mill and Grafton Farm and Home Supply had to pay for the feed to be milled, gas and transportation costs, and staff time to transport the feed. With this in mind, Eddie and Southern States began a conversation on how they could help each other. They agreed there would be mutual benefit if a new, negotiated part-time job were created where Eddie would complete numerous tasks, including milling, weighing and bagging feed; making sweet feed; assisting customers to gather orders and transport items to their cars (including straw, feed, barbed wire, and many other items); filling propane tanks, handling chickens (!), and various other tasks. Eddie would also assist with a getting the stone mill running, using a Compensating Balance Loan in partnership with Job Squad and CWVTEL.

Eddie began part-time work, but he wanted to work full-time. Grafton Farm and Home Supply couldn’t offer Eddie full-time work based on existing revenues. Discussions began about other ways Eddie could help the business and centered around a Hydraulic Sprayer that would help the business meet existing needs and also be used to offer additional services and generate new revenue. The owners of Grafton Farm and Home Supply felt they could offer Eddie full-time hours with the additional revenue generated by the sprayer services.

A PASS was submitted--which will enable Eddie to purchase the Hydraulic Sprayer (and a few other items)--at the end of September 2012 and was approved last month (July 2013). Once Eddie purchases the sprayer, his hours will increase.

A follow-up post will focus on Eddie’s PASS, the new services offered by the sprayer, and how the sprayer fits into Eddie’s automobile theme.

Check out this video of Eddie at work:

Give a shout for Elaine…..

Over a year ago, Job Squad began working with Elaine to find employment.  Through the “Discovery” process, we found that she likes keeping her immediate environment neat and clean.  She enjoys household tasks that many people take for granted.  After completing an Informational Interview at the Holiday Inn, Elaine was hired as a Laundry Assistant.  We did a Job Analysis of the laundry room position and determined which tasks Elaine was able to perform.  We were able to customize the position in areas where Elaine could do parts of tasks which ultimately assisted current staff to move on to other duties that were not getting completed.  


The middle of April 2013, Elaine was honored by the Management team and her co-workers at Holiday Inn for her one year of service.  She received a pin and recognition of her quality work.  Elaine stated that this is the first time she has worked this long in any position that she’s held. Her supervisors say that Elaine is a big help in the laundry room and because of her skills and interests in other areas of the hotel, she has begun to branch out in additional job duties. Over the past year, it has not always been an easy road for Elaine to maintain employment, but through the support of her employer, service providers, and family and friends, she has made this significant accomplishment. Elaine’s family and friends have confirmed that Elaine has developed self-confidence and independence because of her employment over the past year.  Elaine’s experience is proof that employment works for individuals with disabilities and can be a positive change in a person’s life. 
 

Social Networking…..

Part of utilizing the “Discovery” process is social networking.  When we become acquainted with a job seeker, we learn about who they are connected with in the community.  We find out where they shop, where they go to church, who were their teachers, who are their family members and friends, and what businesses are located in their neck of the woods.  We as Career Counselors also have our network of family and friends and through all these social connections we find businesses that provide services where our job seekers are interested in employment.  Once we do an informational interview, a decision is made as to whether the job seeker might be interested in doing a work trial experience at the business. 

 

Connie is a woman who enjoys shopping for earrings, watches, and necklaces, along with purses and shoes.  She pretty much enjoys anything to do with clothing and jewelry!  We found a local high end consignment shop that sales clothing, jewelry, purses, and shoes – right up Connie’s alley!!  Connie has been doing a work trial experience with the shop for a couple of months now.  Every day when she leaves the business, she says “I love my job”.  

As Connie’s work progresses, we will keep you updated on some other services that are being considered in order for Connie to obtain full time employment with this business.  Stay tuned…….

High School Transition: 

Can a PASS & Your Ticket-to-Work 

Help You Pay For College?

High School graduation, one of the most exciting and most discouraging times in life! Most exciting, because after twelve years you are finally finished with school and ready to go out into the world and pursue your dreams. And one of the most discouraging times, because we are in the midst of the worst unemployment crisis since the Great Depression. For every job out there, statistically, there are 4 people standing in line to get it. 
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But if you have a disability, or special needs, there may as well be twenty people in front of you. That’s because for persons with disabilities almost 79 percent are unemployed, according to the federal Department of Labor.
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More Education

One way to improve the odds of landing a job is getting additional education or vocational training after High School. How can a person who receives SSI or SSDI, and can barely make ends meet, afford to pay for these education options?

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) pays a monthly income to students with disabilities who face financial hardships. Eligible students may also qualify for a Plan for Achieving Self-Support (PASS) in which a student is able to set aside income and resources that are being used toward a specific vocational goal (such as college tuition) and still receive SSI payments.

The PASS must specify when it will begin and end. If the PASS is to pay for college or another training program, the objective is ordinarily achieved when the degree or certificate is received. The ideal time to write a PASS for college is in your freshman or sophomore year in high school, not your senior year. This way you don’t waste three or four years that savings for college could have been accumulating. By graduation day you may be well along toward paying for your degree.

Funds set aside in a PASS plan are not counted in determining the amount of SSI benefits you are entitled to each month (the funds are not counted against the SSI income limit or the asset limit). As a result, you can set aside substantial amounts of income and still receive the full SSI benefit amount.

Under SSI rules, a person can have no more than $2,000 in non-exempt resources.Resources above $2,000 can be put into the PASS to ensure eligibility for SSI. So a person who is awarded $25,000 in a personal injury
settlement, for example, could place this money into an approved PASS to save toward the expense of college studies, making this resource exempt for SSI purposes.

How does PASS work if you receive SSDI and/or SSI?

If your income from SSDI is $700 a month, and you want to use that money to go back to school, PASS allows you to "set aside" the benefit for tuition, fees, etc. That's $8,400 per year. Once Social Security agrees to the "set aside," they will then replace your income with SSI up to $710 per month, as long as you are eligible for SSI (no more than $2,000 in assets, and the ability to live on SSI income).

For people on SSDI in the right income range, PASS is a gold mine. You trade your benefit for SSI, and finance your education with your SSDI income. You can also "slide" some of your normal expense (for example, transportation, meals eaten away from home and incidentals) into your PASS plan. Although PASS can work at even very high levels of SSDI (for instance $1,200 a month), at some point trading your monthly benefit and living on SSI income becomes difficult if not impossible.

The lengthy, but fairly straightforward PASS application amounts to a simplified business plan. Application forms are available from Social Security or a SSA Ticket-to-Work Employment Network (EN) member. In the application, you must outline your goals, steps and expenses along the way.

PASS plans must be submitted through local offices, but very few local Social Security personnel understand PASS. Instead, completed PASS plans are forwarded to a special unit or “cadre”. PASS proposals are reviewed by a “cadre” of PASS specialists, specially-trained SSA personnel whose primary job it is to review PASS proposals. There are now PASS specialists assigned to every region in the country.

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 I Need Help Completing My PASS plan!

This is where your Ticket-to-Work may come in handy. All SSDI and SSI beneficiaries in cash status between the ages of 18 and 64 are eligible for a ticket. The Ticket to Work Program can help arrange for tuition costs for college, and even transportation. Also, the Ticket to Work Program can provide much of the assistive technology and equipment needed to pursue your college degree. 

Employment Networks (EN) are SSA-approved organizations that provide job training and other employment services and supports to Ticket holders who want to work. ENs may be single organizations, agencies or partnerships of organizations or agencies collaborating to combine resources to serve Ticket holders.

An individual's Ticket serves as proof of SSA's agreement to pay an EN for needed services, and payments are structured to encourage ENs to provide the best possible assistance. This assistance may, but not always, include assistance with writing a PASS.

The billboard at the top of this post is part of the College Foundation of West Virginia’s outreach to help you find the needed cash to go to college. You will find information on many sources of financial aid at their website. But FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is the key that opens the door to financial aid, such as Pell Grants. Tuition waivers are another important piece of the college funding puzzle.

Job Squad, Inc. is a Ticket-to-Work EN member with qualified benefits counselors who can help you write your PASS plan. Below are a couple links to examples of folks in West Virginia who braided, or combined, funding to pay for most if not all of their expenses for obtaining a four year bachelors degree. Ron is taking his college courses online from a nationally ranked university.
http://jobsquadinc.blogspot.com/2010/04/looking-for-new-job-been-thinking-about.html
http://jobsquadinc.blogspot.com/2012/08/jaimes-pass-approved.html
Yes, with your Ticket-to-Work you can get the help you need to use a PASS that, combined with other financial resources, can give you the cash to fulfill your college dream.