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Disability
and Employment - Vocational Rehabilitation: Where Partners Create
Careers - Strategies provided on the following topic:
Strategy: Pittsburgh
Disability Employment Project for Freedom: A Partnership between VR and
Employers to Create a Competitive Employment
Presenters: Joyce A. Bender, President
and Chief Executive Office, Bender Consulting Services, Inc; S. Tyrone
Alexander, Senior Vice President of Human Resources and
Administration Services, Highmark,
Inc
Contact: Penn Center West 3, Suite 223,
Pittsburgh, PA 15276
Phone: (412) 787 8597
Fax: (412) 787 7178
jbender@benderconsult.com
Facilitator: Kathy West-Evans
The Pennsylvania Office of Vocational
Rehabilitation partnered with Pittsburgh, P.A. area large and small
employers, to create a training program that would lead to competitive
employment for people with disabilities. Too many dollars today are
spent on training programs that do not lead to competitive employment,
with the opportunity to advance. Joyce Bender, CEO of Bender Consulting
Services, Inc., in conjunction with Highmark, Inc., and Bayer
Corporation, founded a training program, where business would not only
invest dollars, but would develop the curriculum for the program.
In 1998, the Pittsburgh Disability
employment Project for Freedom was founded. This is an 8 to 15 week
training program that trains entry-level people with disabilities in the
areas of helpdesk administration and web authoring. Graduates for the
Project for Freedom training program earn initial starting salaries in
the $26,000 to $35,0000 range.
This program's focus is to put people
with disabilities to work in the private sector and break down
attitudinal barriers to employment that exist today. The training
program includes not only technical training but it includes "work
ethics" training in areas such as: attendance, punctuality, initiative
etc. Additionally, all of the technology used in this training program
is accessible for people with disabilities. The program was first housed
at the Community College of Allegheny County, but it has become so
successful that the program has now moved to Slippery Rock
University/Pittsburgh Campus. Each student will now receive college
credits and the ability to continue on for a four-year degree, if
desired. An internship at a business location is also included as a part
of the training program.
The board of directors has OVR
representation and the remainder of the board is comprised of business
leaders. Ty Alexander, Sr. Vice President of Highmark, is the Chairman
of the Board and Joyce Bender of Consulting Services, Inc. is the
President.
The Office of Vocational Rehabilitation
has done a wonderful job of provided referrals to the program and
funding the training. The State OVR office is so satisfied that it
offered to increase the funding, if necessary.
Bayer Corporation utilizes the Project
for Freedom as one of their prime sources for recruitment and does BCS
and Highmark. In addition, many other companies have hired Project for
Freedom graduates.
Two employers, Joyce Bender of Bender
Consulting Services, Inc. and Ty Alexander of Highmark Inc. will be
speakers.
Next
Strategy :
Leveraging Regional Resources and Strategies to Intensify
Employer Outreach and Maximize Competitive Employment Opportunities for
Persons with Disabilities |