Transparency
For many people, a job is more than a paycheck. It can provide opportunities to build
confidence, develop new skills, form relationships, and become independent.
At Far Northern Regional Center, Kathryn Boroff, Employment Services Specialist, works behind
the scenes to help make those opportunities possible for individuals with developmental
disabilities throughout FNRC’s nine-county service area.
Boroff’s role focuses on increasing access to competitive, integrated employment opportunities
— jobs in the community where individuals work alongside people with and without disabilities,
earn at least minimum wage, and receive wages and benefits directly from their employer. The
goal is to ensure individuals have access to employment that matches their preferences,
whether they want to work full time or part time, and to opportunities for advancement.
Rather than directly placing individuals into jobs, Boroff primarily supports FNRC service
coordinators and employment service vendors. She helps service coordinators identify the
appropriate employment agency for an individual and assists with the behind-the-scenes
authorization and funding processes needed to establish employment supports. She also works
with vendors to help increase and strengthen their employment services.
Supporting the Path to Employment
The employment process begins when a service coordinator identifies employment as a goal for
an individual. A referral can then be made to an FNRC-vendored job development agency. The
agency holds an interdisciplinary team meeting to confirm the individual’s interest in moving
forward with job development services.
Job development prepares individuals for securing competitive, integrated employment.
Employment vendors work with individuals to identify their interests, strengths, life experiences,
and preferred employment settings. Services can include developing pre-employment skills,
creating resumes, practicing interviews, and ultimately securing employment.
Once an employment opportunity is identified, there are multiple pathways available. An
individual may participate in a paid internship program, providing hands-on learning while
gaining experience in a workplace. Another pathway is direct employment, in which an
individual is hired by an employer in the community.
Employment support does not necessarily end when an individual is hired.
Job coaching can provide individualized training and support after employment begins. The
support is intended to help individuals learn their job responsibilities, maintain employment,
develop new skills, and increase independence. While job coaching is designed to fade as an
individual gains skills, support remains available when new skills or challenges require
additional assistance.
Breaking Down Barriers
For individuals seeking employment, accessing the workplace can involve challenges that
extend beyond finding the right job.
Transportation is one of the significant barriers identified by Boroff, particularly throughout
FNRC’s rural service area. Getting to and from work can determine whether an individual is able
to access and maintain employment. Transportation services are available, but family support
and an individual’s personal network can also play an important role in helping make
employment accessible.
Another concern can involve the potential impact of employment on Social Security benefits and
related insurance coverage. Individuals and families may have concerns about how much
someone can work before their benefits are affected.
These challenges demonstrate why employment services require more than simply finding a
job. Supporting employment can involve coordinating services, identifying appropriate supports,
and helping address the practical barriers that could otherwise prevent an individual from
entering or remaining in the workforce.
The Impact of Employment
The benefits of employment extend beyond earning an income.
Through employment, individuals can learn new workplace skills, discover abilities and talents,
earn their own money, meet people, and develop friendships outside of their home or day
program.
The process itself can also be meaningful, even if an internship does not immediately lead to
permanent employment. Having a job can provide opportunities to develop confidence and
self-esteem while learning about different types of work.
Boroff has witnessed employment experiences that have resulted in significant changes in
individuals’ lives. In one example, an individual who had experienced housing instability and
other challenges used employment support as part of a greater effort toward greater
independence. With support from an employment agency, the individual obtained work, worked
toward securing housing, saved money, learned a new skill, obtained a driver’s license, and
eventually saved enough money to purchase a vehicle.
Another individual with significant support needs was able to work at a CVS after participating in
an internship. The individual was hired before completing the internship after coworkers
responded positively to the person and their work ethic.
In some cases, employers have later contacted job development agencies when funding
became available, or their budgets changed to hire an individual who had previously completed
an internship.
Building Understanding in the Community
Employment opportunities can also help change perceptions about what people with
developmental disabilities can contribute in the workplace.
Liability concerns or whether an employee may need additional time or assistance to learn
workplace tasks can sometimes create hesitation among employers. Paid internships provide
an opportunity for individuals to learn workplace skills with the support of a job coach while also
giving employers an opportunity to see the individual’s abilities and contributions.
The success of individuals working has contributed to greater awareness among employers.
Highlighting the reliability and work ethic of individuals participating in employment programs.
Boroff’s work also includes supporting another employment pathway: Supported Employment
Group. This model involves contracted jobs in the community, including work such as Caltrans
rest-area and hotel cleaning crews, while providing staffing support to groups of individuals.
Employment as an Opportunity
For Boroff, seeing individuals reach employment milestones is an important part of the work.
Employment milestones can include being hired early from an internship or transitioning from an
internship into direct employment.
Those milestones represent more than the completion of an employment program. They
demonstrate that individuals are being connected with opportunities to develop skills, earn
money, build independence, and contribute within their communities.
As FNRC recognizes National Disability Employment Awareness Month, employment
services provide an opportunity to recognize the individuals pursuing their employment goals,
the providers supporting them, the employers creating opportunities, and the staff working
behind the scenes to help make those connections possible.
Through employment services, FNRC continues to support opportunities for individuals to
pursue meaningful work, develop greater independence, and participate in their communities.