Technical Assistance | Employment & Career Development | Organizational & Systems Development | Personal Empowerment & Leadership | Technologies for Independence & Control

Employment & Career Development . . .

Our Approach . . .

For many years, Networks has been involved in efforts to support people with developmental disabilities to find and maintain paid employment in typical community businesses. These efforts include involvement with individuals with disabilities themselves, non-profit organizations that provide direct employment support services, governmental agencies responsible for funding employment support services, schools, families of individuals with disabilities, and community businesses.

We offer Employment and Career Development services in two broad areas: Training and Organizational Development and Direct Employment Support.

Training and Organizational Development . . .

Networks offers vocational and employment support organizations, governmental agencies, and schools a variety of Training services designed to increase overall knowledge, skills, and experiences with contemporary and innovative employment support strategies. Specifically, we assist individual and organizational growth by providing small and large group training for staff, families, people with disabilities, employers, and others interested in contemporary trends and best practices in employment support. We work directly with human service organizations, governmental agencies, schools, and businesses by offering Organizational Development through specific consultative services to better their business operations, systems, and service design. We also provide direct technical assistance to individuals with disabilities, families, and staff to improve their specific employment outcomes.

Direct Employment Support . . .

Networks also provides direct employment support services for a small number of individuals based on our knowledge, experience with operating a demonstration grant funded by the Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR), and our growing expertise in creative uses of Assistive Technology (AT) to increase independence. Direct employment support is provided for individuals with significant disabilities who typically are not considered candidates for paid integrated employment. The Philadelphia OVR makes referrals to Networks and provides funding for these services.

We recognize that there are many factors that contribute to “successful” employment, i.e. finding and maintaining employment. Our direct employment support incorporates individually tailored assessment; job development, job carving and job creation; workplace support including systematic instruction, accommodations, and job redesign; and ongoing follow along and/or transition to natural and/or long term supports.

What We Can Offer . . .

• Both small and large group training in today's trends and options in community integrated employment.
• Direct assistance to people who are currently employed to figure out job modifications / adaptations, workplace technology, and support strategies for more effective, efficient, and independent work.
• Direct assistance to families, service providers, and teams who are having difficulty supporting people to access employment.
• Individually tailored assessments to determine employment preferences and skills.
• Assistance to employers looking to diversify their workforce.
• Assistance to employment provider agencies to develop personalized job development strategies and individualized employment support.
• Assistance to people in transition from school to adult life or other life changes through Career Planning.
• Consultation and direct assistance with strategic planning, innovative service design, and organizational development for businesses, employment providers, and governmental agencies.

To request Technical Assistance, complete a Training and Technical Assistance Request Form, email Jill Gromen, or call 1-866-683-3651.