Program finds jobs for those facing challenges
Jamie Smith, 29, landed her first job recently at McDonald’s restaurant.
Smith has Down syndrome and suffers from a history of cardiac problems that have required, a pacemaker and open heart surgery, but she wants to work, said her mother, Carlene Macik.
Smith cleans tables, sweeps floors, washes windows and takes the garbage out at a golden arches in Greensburg.
“She likes her job, likes it all — she just likes having a job,” Macik said.
Smith got her job through the Private Industry Council of Westmoreland/Fayette Inc. (PIC). Funded by federal and state grants, the employment and training agency helps thousands of people like Smith get jobs through a combination of adult education, early childhood education and workforce development.
“My goal is to get someone who can remain in a position permanently or until they gain skills to move onto another job,” said Debbie Colosi, job coaching coordinator for PIC. “We want a happy, good employee, who can thrive within that company or even move up just like any other employee.”
Macik said her daughter wanted to work, she just didn’t know how to transition into the workforce with her disabilities.
“If we hadn’t found out about this program, we would still be looking to find Jamie a job,” Macik said. “We’ve looked at different things in the past to try and help her find a job, but nothing came through.”
After the recent snowstorm, customers had a tendency to track in the elements and more into the dining room. That didn’t phase Smith as she mopped sections of the dining room again and again with intensity but without complaint.
Smith works between 6 to 10 hours a week and she is treated like any other employee.
Haley Mills, a manager at McDonald’s, has high praise for Smith.
“I don’t have to worry about the dining room or the bathrooms,” she said. “Jamie is doing a great job and she is a valuable member of our team.”
Colosi said the first step toward employment for anyone with a disability is to file an application with the state Office of Vocational Rehabilitation. OVR provides vocational rehabilitation services to help people with disabilities prepare for, obtain or maintain employment. OVR connects PIC with the applicant and employer.
“That’s when I get to know them, find out what the want, what their interests are, what are they able to do, what that person’s disability is, define what their goals are and limitations,” Colosi said. “Then I help them develop resumes, discuss self-search strategies and techniques, contact employers on their behalf to make sure it is a good place for the client to work and the employer to receptive to hiring someone with a disability.”
Colosi said a person does not have to be physically or mentally disabled to take advantage of services that PIC provides.
“Our whole focus is to transition individuals who unemployed or underemployed into sustainable employment,” she said.
Colosi said sometimes employers need to make certain accommodations. For example, someone with a hearing problem may need to the help of a computer that will help them answer a telephone, or perhaps a desk might need to be altered to accommodate someone using a wheelchair. OVR pays for such accommodations.
“We help them get anything that would help them to perform that job successfully,” Colosi said.
Colosi said she helps prepare her client for the interview and to make sure the employer knows what to expect. If necessary, Colosi said she attends client interviews with employers.
If that person is hired, sometimes Colosi has to learn the job so as to better train.
“If there is a good fit and my client wants to work there and the employer wants to hire that person, then I would provide one-on-one training with that employer with that client,” she said. “I have to learn the job so I can teach client to make sure that person is working to standard as other employees.”
Colosi spoke with pride about Smith being able to overcome adversity to become gainfully employed for the first time in her life.
“She loves to work, loves her job,” Colosi siad. “The employer is very happy with her employment and the services that we provided from the Private Industry Council.”
For more information, call the OVR at 724-223-4430.