Finding a new job is always a trying task, and it can be even tougher for individuals with developmental disabilities.
Fortunately, in Pickerington – and throughout Fairfield County – there is a resource in place to make that process easier.
John Hamilton works at the Fairfield County Dog Shelter and Adoption Centerthanks to Job Fusion. Photos courtesy of Fairfield County Board of Developmental Disabilities
The Job Fusion program, the community employment division of the Fairfield County Board of Developmental Disabilities, serves as an employment agency for people with developmental disabilities.
“For every individual that wants to work, we are going to do our best to find them employment,” says Temple Montanez, director of marketing and community relations.
Housed at the board’s Pickerington Center, the program helps individuals with disabilities find jobs based on their personal needs and abilities. Job Fusion meets with job-seekers and comes up with a plan to help them succeed, says Doug Mitchell, program manager.
“We are really trying to achieve what we call a person-centered focus,” Mitchell says. “We aren’t deciding or suggesting what an individual should do as an occupation; we are taking more time to hear what their interests are, and we are providing them with skills and education to help support the individual to achieve their goal.”
These skills are taught through on-site job training, employability skills training, internships and working with job coaches to improve job performance.
“We put so much effort into preparing and helping the person to be successful before they are referred to a business,” Mitchell says. “It’s a win-win situation in both ways: helping a business obtain a good employee, and helping the individual to be a successful worker.”
Job Fusion has helped more than 60 people find employment throughout Fairfield County, including Pickerington, in about 40 businesses. More than 100 people are involved with the program, Montanez says.
John Hamilton is an employee at the Fairfield County Dog Shelter and Adoption Center thanks to Job Fusion. To Hamilton, the most important thing about working is being able to help contribute to his family, Montanez says.
Another person that has found employment through Job Fusion is Brittany Cain, a
Brittany Cain works at the Board of DD in Pickerington through the program.
receptionist at the Fairfield County Board of DD in Pickerington. Before obtaining this job, Cain had a few internships through Job Fusion, which made her familiar with the program.
“It is nice to be in a working environment where people don’t treat you differently because of your disability,” Cain says.
Other establishments that have hired workers through Job Fusion include Giant Eagle, Kroger, Wesley Ridge Retirement Community and Abbington Assisted Living.
Since 1985, the board has offered employment services, and has recently modified its service to make it easier to connect workers to employment services. It adopted the name Job Fusion a few years ago to be more identifiable to businesses, Mitchell says.
“Everybody has a right to work,” Montanez says. “A disability is just one part of who they are.”
William Kosileski is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at gbishop@cityscenemediagroup.com.
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