Supported Employment Component

What is Supported Employment?

Supported Employment is an employment option that facilitates competitive work in integrated work settings for individuals with disabilities.

It is real work with ongoing support provided by an agency with expertise in finding employment for people with disabilities.

Supported employment programs can take a variety forms, but a common goal is to provide incentives for businesses to hire people who face barriers to employment. The barrier could be a physical or developmental disability, a learning disability, an acquired condition due to illness or injury, or some combination of the above.

Sadly, many people, through no fault of their own, have difficulty securing steady jobs in today's competitive world. With support many of these people would make dependable, productive, loyal employees.

What form could that support take?

1. It could be in the form of a Wage Subsidy. For individuals who qualify there are Federal and Provincial programs that offer employers a wage subsidy over a given period of time. This subsidy is intended to compensate the employer for expenses incurred such as extra training and supervision. There are programs that will cover up to 50% of wages for several months.
2. It could be in the form of a training allowance. Extra staff could be provided to supervise and train a new employee until the job skills are mastered.
3. It could be in the form of funds for modification to the workplace and special equipment purchases.
4. It could be in the form of a Volunteer or Work Experience placement that allows both employer and prospective employee a chance to learn if a position is appropriate.
5. It could be in the form of a job coach who takes on some of the supervisory responsibilities in the workplace and beyond.

What are the benefits?

• For the employee, above everything else, it's a chance to prove oneself. Aside from that it's a chance to learn skills and make career decisions..
• For the employer these programs help take some of the risk out of the hiring process. Proper support and appropriate opportunities often produces loyal long-term employees. The investment in support and training pays off. Competence, reliability, stability and productivity are the result.

More Information

Top Ten Questions Employers Ask about Supported Employment
(Compliled by the Manitoba League of Persons With Disabilities).

How do I get involved?

To learn more about how you can make supported employment work for your business contact:

• Westman Coalition for Employment Opportunities, Inc.
  Phone: 726_6178
  Email: wceo@mts.net