Overview
The Arc provides complete life-cycle career development services to individuals with disabilities who wish to find integrated community employment. Career specialists provide counseling to individuals, identifying career goals, as well as any barriers to employment. A plan is then developed to support the individuals as they work to achieve their goals.
Creating an Environment for Success
The Arc has established a long-term partnership with The Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services (ADRS) to provide job placement through the Milestones Program. A four-step program, it consists of assessment, career placement, job coaching, and long-term support.
Once a job seeker is determined eligible for services by the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services (ADRS), they are referred or enrolled in either our Career Employment Program or The Milestones Program. Program enrollment is determined by ADRS based on job seeker’s needs.
Preemployment Transition Services
The Arc began providing preemployment transition services in the spring of 2017 to students attending Huntsville City, Madison City, Madison County, and Limestone County schools. This service, also funded through ADRS, helps students gain skills to achieve employment after graduation.
How Does This Benefit The Employee?
Individuals with disabilities enjoy working and earning a paycheck as it brings a sense of purpose, accomplishment, and independence. They gain confidence in their abilities and develop a sense of self-worth. Being employed connects the individual with peers in their community and promotes natural supports.
How Does This Benefit The Employer?
Hiring people with disabilities is a low-risk high-return investment in your business.
Some of the ways your business can benefit are:
- Gaining a great employee who wants to work
- Increased patronage from customers. 86% of consumers prefer to direct their business to employers who hire people with disabilities
- Customization of job responsibilities based on your needs as an employer, often resulting in an increase in employee performance, morale, and efficiency
- Higher retention rates resulting in lower turnover rates
It’s a Win-Win situation. Hiring people with disabilities benefits the employer, the employees, and the community!
Achieving Cultural and Financial ROI
As with all business decisions, the success and sustainability of a disability hiring project can be measured in part by its return on investment. The Arc@Work supports our corporate clients in creating strategies to achieve and measure financial ROI as well as creating branding and external messaging strategies to promote our clients’ disability inclusive work culture.
TalentScout
TalentScout gives you the tools and insight to create a culture of inclusion – and build higher levels of productivity in the workplace. The toolkit content has been vetted by people with autism, and it includes their first-hand accounts and insights as job applicants and employees.
The Arc promotes and protects the human rights of people with intellectual and
developmental disabilities and actively supports their full inclusion and participation in the community
throughout their lifetimes.