SOUTH
ORANGE, N.J., July 19,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- JESPY House joins organizations
across the nation celebrating Disability Pride Month by advocating
for the importance of employment and its role in creating and
maintaining independence for adults with Intellectual and
Developmental Disabilities (IDD). JESPY clients love their jobs
because they get to help others, develop and hone new skills, earn
money, establish and accomplish personal and professional goals,
contribute to the business community, and "have a fulfilling
life." With its Work Readiness and Employment Engagement
(WREE) program, JESPY serves as a local and national model of
building self-esteem and independence through the provision of
comprehensive employment training, opportunities, and advancement
for adults with IDD.
![JESPY House provides services for adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. (PRNewsfoto/Jespy House) JESPY House provides services for adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. (PRNewsfoto/Jespy House)](https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2159651/Jespy_45_years_logo_Logo.jpg)
Disability Pride Month has celebrated disability identity,
recognized the importance of community members with disabilities,
educated about issues central to the lives of people with
disabilities, and represented a time to advocate for continued
policy advancements since the signing of the Americans with
Disabilities Act in July 1990. As the nation celebrates this
milestone again, JESPY recognizes that there is much more work to
do especially in areas such as employment for adults with
Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. People with
disabilities make up 27% of the U.S. population. In 2023,
people with disabilities experienced lower employment (22.5%) as
compared to their counterparts without disabilities (65.8%)
according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Scant national employment statistics paint a sparse picture of
the obstacles that adults with Intellectual and Developmental
Disabilities experience in the workplace. People with IDD are often
not considered for the same jobs as their peers without
disabilities who have similar skill sets. In addition to lower
employment and higher unemployment, people with IDD have often
experienced underemployment, restricted more to part-time
opportunities, and limited employment choices in facility-based or
sheltered employment as compared to competitive and integrated jobs
in communities.
JESPY's vast experience supports findings that competitive and
integrated employment is essential for adults with Intellectual and
Developmental Disabilities to live independently, prevent poverty,
integrate into their communities, and advance their personal
development (such as self-esteem, socialization, and money
management). The Work Readiness and Employment Engagement program
currently serves 174 clients and welcomed 40 new clients between
July 2023 and June 2024. WREE provides clients with
prevocational, job placement, and job coaching supports to help
clients not only attain jobs, but also to maintain them.
"JESPY does not view employment as one and done. We help our
clients thrive in their jobs so that they will continue to have
fulfilling and engaging employment. Our clients want to contribute
to their employers' businesses, bottom lines, and customer
experiences," said Audrey Winkler,
JESPY's Executive Director. "There is a misperception that people
with IDD are not equipped to participate meaningfully in the
workforce. That could not be further from the truth. We
have seen success stories time and time again. Our clients aim
high, develop skills, advocate for themselves, and flourish at
their jobs beyond their wildest expectations."
JESPY continues to expand and diversify its employer
partnerships in order to respond to client interests. More than 40
new employer relationships were developed between July 2023 and June
2024. Employers have found JESPY clients to be
punctual, hardworking, and committed to their jobs. They often
remark on the diligence of JESPY clients. Their ability to learn
new things not only helps them as individuals, but also helps the
businesses where they work to grow.
Employers value their partnerships with the Work Readiness and
Employment Engagement program because it provides them with quality
employees and trains them for their specific job tasks. Many JESPY
clients remain loyal to their jobs and can stay for decades.
Sixty-eight percent of new JESPY employees retain their jobs in the
first year. Job retention reduces the negative impact of high
turnover rates such as increased costs associated with recruiting,
onboarding and training, and lost production.
Cheryl McCants, Founder and CEO
of Impact Consulting Enterprises has recommended JESPY clients to
other employers. "We love working with JESPY clients,"
McCants said. "In fact, Roger, our copy editor, copy writer, [and]
social media content creator is a fabulous addition to the team. He
is the one that always reminds us of things that we've missed,
keeps us on track, and is a phenomenal contributor to the team. So,
we are super excited to have JESPY House clients work with us."
JESPY House clients work in a number of fields including
insurance, healthcare, legal, data entry, education,
warehouse/textiles, government, food service, retail, and more.
JESPY House's national partners include Target, Stop & Shop,
Prudential, Five Guys, Walgreens, and UPS. The Work Readiness and
Employment Engagement program also works closely with a host of
smaller employers in NJ's Essex,
Morris, Hudson, Somerset, and Union counties.
Ari G., a JESPY client, started working 20 hours a week at Five
Guys doing food prep, cleaning and sanitizing, and dishwashing in
March 2020. Ari loved his job and wanted to do more. He
met with his supervisors and advocated to be trained in more tasks
including cooking hamburgers, grilling, and serving as a
cashier. He progressed to working a minimum of 35 hours a
week. Ari continued to excel at his job and the New Jersey
Association of Persons in Supported Employment recognized Ari's
great success by awarding him the coveted Supported Employee of the
Year award in 2022.
"I am very excited to be moving up the ladder at Five Guys by
getting promoted to team leader," shared Ari. "I have studied very
hard to pass my Five Guys management exam. I thank my job coach for
all the support and guidance. I enjoy working with all my coworkers
and supervisors. I like talking to every customer and providing
excellent customer service. I love working at Five Guys!"
The JESPY job coaching services have greatly contributed to
Ari's development; Ari receives JESPY job coaching services on a
weekly basis. The job coach collaborates with Ari to enhance his
productivity and communication skills. Additionally, the job coach
is teaching Ari Spanish to assist
with Spanish-speaking customers at the store. Regular communication
between the job coach, store manager, and district manager ensures
feedback on Ari's progress.
"Ari was recently promoted from a store associate to a team
leader," said Angelo Montoya, WREE
Assistant Supervisor and Ari's job coach. "We provided Ari with
various study techniques and strategies to aid him in his
preparation for his management test. Additionally, we conducted
practice sessions with him on management-related questions during
his job breaks to help him get ready for the actual exam. Five Guys
is a very supportive employer. I take great pride in Ari's
advancement."
Longtime JESPY client Jane C. has worked as a file clerk at the
Township of Maplewood's Building
Department for two years. Her job coach recommended her for the
position, assisted her with the application process, and prepared
her for the interview. "I love the work I do at the Building
Department," said Jane. "I organize all the paperwork in each file
and place each record in order by lot and block. JESPY continues to
assist me with meeting the expectations of my supervisor. I
recently received a raise and am happy that I can continue with
this job."
Lisa Fiore, Work Readiness and
Employment Engagement Manager, takes great pride in Jane's
professional development at the Township of Maplewood's Building Department. "Jane wanted
to do more and progress in her career," Fiore commented. "She was
working at TJ Maxx, as a store associate. (She still works there.)
Jane had an interest in office and administrative work. The
WREE staff began assessing her skills for administrative positions.
The clerk position for Maplewood
is the perfect fit for her. She is always motivated to do her
best. She is an asset to the Building Department."
"There is so much untapped talent simply because of outdated and
incorrect notions about neurodivergent people," said Winkler.
"We hope that more employers learn more about the great value that
JESPY clients and other people with Intellectual and Developmental
Disabilities can add to the businesses where they work. We want
employers to create more opportunities for people with IDD to use
their abilities, support more customers, engage with their
communities, and strengthen our local and national businesses."
ABOUT JESPY HOUSE
JESPY House is a non-profit
organization that has provided comprehensive services and programs
to help adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities to
live independently in South Orange
for over 45 years. More than three hundred clients, age 18 and
older, are supported in various areas along their journey to
independence and leading fulfilling lives. Clients come from across
New Jersey and all parts of the
U.S. to build lives in a community they can call their own.
JESPY's services and programs include Day Habilitation,
Engagement & Enrichment programs, Young Adult Transitions
Services, Clinical & Behavioral Support Services, Athletics
& Fitness, Case Management, Community-Based Supports,
Residential options, Aging in Place, and Work Readiness and
Employment Engagement services. Families in making informed
choices about their lives and their future.
For further information about JESPY House, please go to:
www.jespy.org or contact Amy
Engel, Director of Development, Marketing & Community
Relations at 973-437-3770 or aengel@jespy.org. For press-related
inquiries, email Sonya Kimble-Ellis,
Senior Media and Communications Specialist, at
skimble-ellis@jespy.org.
PHOTOS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST
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SOURCE JESPY House