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Supported Employment Services
Service Area: Eastern Iowa
To The Rescue Supported Employment Services help individuals with disabilities develop skills that promote independence by supporting physical and emotional health, self-advocacy, socialization and community engagement. The program is designed to meet the unique needs of all participants and offers a variety of choices within one program. Our goal is to help individuals with disabilities attain financial independence and find a rewarding work experience. In Iowa, To The Rescue accepts funding for Employment Services through Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services, and individuals Managed Care Organization (MCO) or the East Central Region
Now more than ever, businesses are finding it challenging to hire talented workers. Hiring disabled individuals can help businesses meet their talent needs while strengthening their competitive edge. By investing in recruiting, hiring, and retaining talent—including people with disabilities—businesses can give themselves a competitive edge and demonstrate their commitment to inclusion. To The Rescue staff help employers interested in hiring individuals with disabilities by helping businesses find the right candidate for their open positions and then supporting these candidates throughout their employment journey.
For Members
The supported Employment Services Program includes workplace readiness assessments, career exploration services, job seeking skills training, job development services, and supported employment job coaching. In addition, we support transportation training and job shadow experiences.
Download the To The Rescue Supported Employment Member Guide
We help individuals figure out what service will be the best starting point for their specific needs.
Workplace Readiness Assessment
With workplace readiness assessments we will help you decide what direction you want to go in with a career, what your goals are and how you can get to those goals. All of this is based on your interests, desires, needs and capabilities. Together, we will work with a business to determine if this is a good fit for you. It also helps the employer see if you would be a good candidate for employment.
Career Exploration Services
Career exploration offers you the chance to identify occupations that interest you. During career exploration you, your support team and your employment specialist research and identify, through various channels, occupations that interest you. Occupations that are compatible with your preferences, strengths and abilities are also identified.
Job Seeking Skills Training
During job seeking skills training you, your support team and your employment specialist will dig into the skills you need to gain and keep employment.
To The Rescue supports skills training in one or more of the following areas:
- Writing a resume
- Interviewing
- Completing job applications
- Writing follow-up letters
- Accessing the hidden job market
- Discussing disability issues
- Understanding ADA rights
- Making cold calls
- Preparing for work through job readiness
Job Development Services
Job development helps persons with the most significant disabilities find a job in the most competitive, integrated environment with compensation that is consistent with others doing the same job. You, your support team and your employment specialist will identify jobs that interest you and are compatible with your needs. You will be supported in completing all steps to gain employment. You and your employment specialist will work together to help businesses fill a need within their company by identifying how your skills and abilities fit the business needs.
Supported Employment Job Coaching
Supported employment job coaching is to provide coaching to assist you while you work in an integrated business setting. Supported employment job coaching trains with you on the appropriate job specific skills and work habits. You receive support during your training time and beyond. Your job coach also supports you in on-the-job behaviors, socialization and adjustment to the job to achieve successful employment. As natural supports are identified the job coach can fade from assisting and independence is obtained.
Quote from a member
For Employers
Hiring individuals with disabilities can be a smart move for your business.
Why hire a person with a disability?
- Insights into how to serve customers with disabilities.
- Greater diversity at the work site so that a wide variety of perspectives are utilized when solving problems.
- High productivity.
- Higher retention rate for workers.
How do employers support a person with a disability?
- Provide reasonable accommodations
- Ensure work environment is a safe space
- Provide training and development
- Create a culture of disability inclusion in the workplace
- Provide equal pay and benefits
- Prepare the work team
How does To The Rescue support employers?
- Ongoing, continuous training and support for employers and employees.
- Assistance with the identification of accommodations to increase overall business efficiencies.
- More loyal employees.
- Job seeker’s skills, attributes and passions matched to employer’s needs.
- Access to an inclusive, diverse talent pool of pre-screened candidates.
- Increased workplace motivation and engagement.
Download the To The Rescue Supported Employment Employer Guide
What our employers are saying
I’ve been in the Food and Beverage industry for over 35 years and it’s been a rewarding time, save for COVID. Post-pandemic has been a struggle to find talent, let alone anybody willing to show up and work a consistent work week. Fortunately, in our search to find talent, we scored big time, Sarah! Sarah has been working with us for about 4 months and is the lifeblood of our morning team. She has never missed a day, been late, or had a single issue with a task assigned to her. Sarah is the brightest, most sassy person that you’ve met and a pleasure to have as a work partner every morning. Sarah also comes with a job coach. Helped by “To The Rescue”, she has some special needs and works with her coaches to complete the tasks given to her. Sarah does the work and is driven by each project while the coach ensures she is performing properly. We originally had a small scope outlined for Sarah but she has proven to be much more capable and quicker than we could have imagined. Sarah has been amazing and a pleasure to work with daily as she helps to inspire me and the entire team. My hats off to Kate and the “To The Rescue” team for being so involved and helping a wonderful person find a job she loves, and loves her back.”
Brian Crowell, Cafe General Manager, Kirkwood Cafe
I have worked with Brandon for 10 years and the whole time Brandon has been nothing but a model employee for our store. We have a need during 2 of our busiest truck days for extra help so we were able to have Brandon come in during the times when he can be used most efficiently. We have him run the same pallet we get every truck and stock the same aisle. Most days, he is able to get that done and then move on to other aisles and get more done than most workers we have had over the years. It has been extremely helpful to our store to be able to rely on the fact that he will be here two days a week and we never have to worry about getting those aisles stocked.
However, Brandon’s best attribute isn’t even his efficiency; it is his attitude. He brightens the day of every worker and customer he comes across. He always makes sure to make his rounds and say hello to all of our workers as he comes in. Hearing his laugh, seeing his smile and having him greet everyone he comes across improves the morale of the store greatly. If you ever have to give him a new task or give him direction on something, it is met with a can-do attitude and a smile. If he is ever confused by a question from a customer, he always has someone by his side to help out. Brandon has been a cornerstone of our store for years and we are so glad to call him a part of our team.
Luke Myers, Manager of Store Operations, Hy-Vee Drugstore 6 th St SW Cedar Rapids, IA