Bridges to Work: Creating Opportunities for Young People with Disabilities

1. A Marriott Foundation program Presented by Shelby Hill Director Washington, DC Metropolitan Area MAIN OFFICE 8720 Georgia Avenue Suite 904 Silver Spring, MD 20910 301-562-9146 SATELLITE OFFICE National Youth Transitions Center 2012 H Street, NW 6th Floor Washington, DC 20006

2. Background • Foundation • Established in 1989 in Montgomery County, MD by the Marriott Foundation for People with Disabilities • Not-for-profit organization under Section 501(c)(3) • Bridges • Develops and supports employment opportunities and retention of young people with disabilities between the ages of 17-22. • Eight offices across the United States • Washington, DC Metro Area • Philadelphia • Atlanta • Chicago • Dallas • San Francisco • Oakland • Los Angeles

3. Participants • Multiple disabilities • Cognitive • Impairments involving learning, thinking, processing information and concentration • Intellectually delayed (i.e. learning disability) • Cognitively delayed • Developmentally delayed • Autism • Asperger’s • Mental/Emotional • Impairments in mental health such as personality disorders, bipolar disorder, depression, and anxiety disorder) • Physical • Hearing • Vision

4. Why Bridges? Employment Statistics from the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy (August 2012) Labor Force Participation People with disabilities: 20.9%People without disabilities: 69.4% Unemployment Rate People with disabilities: 13.9%People without disabilities: 8.0% http://www.dol.gov/odep/

5. Enrollment Criteria • Between the ages of 17-22 • Demonstrates a desire to work successfully in a competitive job • A record of good attendance and punctuality at school exists • Parents/guardians or other significant individual(s) demonstrate a willingness to support the candidate • Has the potential to travel to and from work independently • Can work independently, after a reasonable period of job coaching and support • Are able to pass drug and criminal background checks

6. Barriers to employability skills for YWD as they are leaving high school… • Lack of vocational training included in standard high school curriculum • College entry focus • Transition Planning • Who in involved in the IEP meetings? • Is the student present? • Where are the parents? • Employment competition • The economic situation in the U.S. has forced people with advanced degrees to compete for entry-level job typically suited for first-time job seekers. • Socio-economic and community status • Parenting • Lack of awareness about disability support • Poverty

7. What Bridges does? • Outreach to DCPS office of Special Education and Schools • Workplace preparation training and support • Workshops • Interviewing skills • Customer Service kills • Financial Management • Professional Etiquette • Professional Dress/Attire • Grooming • Time Management • Organizational skills • Skills/Interest Assessment • What can you do? • What have you done? • What would you like to do? • What are you career/employment goals? • Job Analysis • Job Matching • Job Developing • Pursue job leads • Establish job interviews for the right job • Secure employment • Long term follow-up • 12-24 Months or as needed

8. How have we been doing it? • As a service provider, we have found strengthen in partnerships • Training centers for vocational training • Counseling for non-disability related issues • Housing • Government agencies (i.e. WIB, RSA, VocRehab, DDC, etc.) • Employer driven focus • Educating employers!!!!!!! • Supporting employers once they hire • Influencing businesses to “give them a chance” • Internal Leadership Endorsement • “We walk the talk.”

9. What Bridges doesn’t do? • Only find employment for youth at Marriott Hotels • Substitute for social workers or guidance counselors • Get youth a job and just leave them • Correct drug and criminal offense barriers

10. Thank you!!! What questions can I answer for you? http://www.bridgestowork.org Shelby Hill shelby.hill@marriott.com 301-562-9146