Document Type
Occasional Paper
Publication Date
2014
Keywords
Partnership & Collaboration, Employment performance measurement, quality assurance, and program oversight Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, I/DD, Developmental Disabilities, Access to Integrated Employment, ThinkWork
Disciplines
Organization Development | Rehabilitation and Therapy | Social and Behavioral Sciences | Social Work | Sociology | Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling
Abstract
Via of the Lehigh Valley is a CRP headquartered in Bethlehem, PA. Since 2008, Via and local high schools have provided customized employment services so that transition-age students graduate into well-matched, meaningful careers. Via’s transition program is supported by funds from the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The energy of students and their families has also driven the search for innovative employment services. Via’s work with schools began with hosting weekend trainings for families, sponsored by the Pennsylvania DD Council. Families learned systems navigation and advocacy skills, and followed up with special education directors at their children’s high schools to advocate for improvements in employment services. School administrators then contacted Via about providing employment services to their students with IDD. Via’s employment team responded by presenting their customized employment service approach at schools and transition fairs. Through this outreach, Via’s employment team developed contracts to serve transitioning students.
Recommended Citation
ThinkWork! at the Institute for Community Inclusion at UMass Boston, "Service Provider Promising Practice - Via of the Lehigh Valley (Pennsylvania): Partnership with Local Schools to Provide Customized Employment" (2014). ThinkWork! Publications. 51.
https://scholarworks.umb.edu/thinkwork/51
Included in
Organization Development Commons, Social Work Commons, Sociology Commons, Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling Commons