Individuals with disabilities want – and deserve –
the opportunity to live, learn, work, and play in their communities.
The Community Employment program at Blanchard Valley Industries
focuses on the work aspect. We help individuals with disabilities find
suitable jobs with employers throughout our community.
For employers, they gain quality, dedicated
employees who want to work.
For employees, they have the opportunity to earn a
paycheck, make friends, increase their independence, and contribute back
to the community.
Community Employment has received a grant from Ohio
Rehabilitation Services Commission in the amount of $504,000 for job
placement, job coaching and initial follow up.
Enrollment of individuals on Medicaid waiver pays for ongoing supported
employment follow up.
Community Employment increases public awareness of
the abilities of individuals with disabilities. It further reduces
ongoing sheltered employment costs and decreases dependency on taxpayers
for public assistance, e.g. Social Security, Medicaid.
Finally, by increasing use of transitional benefit programs,
including Medicaid Buy-in, Ticket to Work, and others, Community
Employment addresses that financial concerns that individuals and their
families have.
Community Employment is a win-win situation for
everyone involved.
Our
Mission
Community Employment focuses on opportunities for
individuals to live, learn, work and play in the
community. To achieve this, we provide exceptional
customer service for the individual, encouraging that person to choose
their services. Then, we develop a plan for those
services based on the individual’s needs.
Our goal is to create full-time, competitive
employment opportunities with benefits to individuals who wish to enter
the workforce. In the past, employment was not
considered as an option for individuals with disabilities.
Today, it is a key component of the lives of all adults in our
society.
For individuals with disabilities, a job with
pay and benefits becomes a life changing experience, raising them out of
poverty and isolation.
Locations & Types of Work
Currently, individuals with disabilities work
with these area employers.
Lowe’s Distribution Center
Country Inn & Suites
Best Buy
Great Scot
Hancock County Commission offices
Pilgrim Restaurant
Bob Evans
Olive Garden
Dark Horse
Home Depot Distribution Center
Hobby Lobby
Staples
The employees perform work ranging from
janitorial and packaging to maintenance and shipping. Some are employed
part-time while others work full-time, earning up to $9.50 per hour plus
benefits.
How Community Employment Works
Prospective employers and employees may contact the
Community Employment program at 419-422-6387 or at 567-429-9376.
We can help create an employment plan for businesses of any size.
Plus, we can assist with completing the forms needed to be considered
for community employment.
ELIGIBILITY
To work at Blanchard Valley Industries, or to
receive Community Employment services, an adult must:
·
Be at least 18 years of age
·
Be a resident of Hancock County
·
Have a developmental disability and a referral from the Service &
Support Administration of the
Blanchard Valley Center
·
Be interested in working in the community
SERVICES
The Community Employment staff will work with you
and your Service & Support Administrator to develop an Individual
Service Plan (ISP) designed to meet your needs and achieve your goals of
a job in the community.
ON-SITE SERVICES
The Hancock County Board of Developmental
Disabilities provides a wide variety of services designed to place
individuals in jobs of interest to them, and to provide the guidance
needed to succeed. These services include:
·
Job-seeking skills training
·
Community based assessments
·
Job assessments
·
Work adjustment
·
Job coaching
·
Job development
·
Follow along
·
Specialized distribution center training and employment
·
Participation in cleaning crew or mowing crew (groups working under
supervision)
Contact Us
Blanchard Valley Industries
Community Employment Program
Jenny Ferguson, Manager
1700 E. Sandusky Street
Findlay, OH 45840
419-422-6387
567-429-9376
or
Brad Smith, Community Employment Assistant
www.blanchardvalleyindustries.org