DEC Employment Services has provided job placement and support for adults with disabilities since 1986.
The Employment Services Division supports adults with varying disabilities to achieve maximum levels of employment and economic independence. The initial funding for this support comes from the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR). DEC Employment Consultants provide community based work assessments, and then if appropriate, job development to assist the individual in finding jobs in the community. Our Employment Consultants also offer hands-on job coaching in the workplace based on the needs of each individual. For individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism, there is long term job coaching support funded by the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP).
DEC’s Employment Services Division also provides the following services: Small Group Employment and Career Assessment. These are funded by ODP and are available for those individuals eligible for that type of support. Small Group Employment offers individuals, that are supported by DEC staff, work in jobs in the local community that can be performed in cohorts of 2 to 6 people. Compensation in these positions is similar to that earned by workers without disabilities performing the same work. The ultimate goal of Small Group Employment is to place individuals in positions of competitive integrated employment. Career Assessment is a short term service that DEC Employment is mostly offering to individuals served in our day programs. It is a person -centered, individualized employment assessment used to assist in the identification of potential career options, including self-employment, based upon the interests and strengths of the participant.