Career Development
Career Development &
Job Placement
Our Career Development and Job Placement (CDJP) department plays a vital role in the mission of The Arc to empower individuals with disabilities to achieve their full potential.
JOB READINESS
LIFE, EDUCATION, TRAINING AND SKILLS PROGRAM
(LETS)
GED TEST PREPARATION
VOCATIONAL
EVALUATION
Next Steps for Your Career
The Arc Mid-South provides career development and job placement services to adults with disabilities.
The Arc Mid-South’s Career Development and Job Placement Program (CDJP) works to ensure that people with disabilities have access to real employment with real wages, as well as the needed supports to obtain and maintain employment in the community.
The Arc's CDJP program has a continuous goal of enhancing its services by providing best practices and applying the following values to job development:
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Presumption of Employment: Regardless of the severity of the disability, an individual has the right to work.
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Self-Determination: the conviction that a person can regulate their employment path, their chosen type of employment, and the supports and services needed to accomplish their goals.
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Ability Focus: Focus on an individual’s strengths and aspirations and not their disability.
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Commensurate Wage and Benefits: the belief that an individual with a disability can earn wages equal to that of a co-worker performing the same job.
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Best Practices: a commitment to change as dictated by both consumer choice and workplace, community, and/or national trends.
The overall benefit to the Individuals Supported in the Career Development Program is total inclusion in the workforce. The benefit to the employer is that they will receive an enthusiastic employee with specialized supports to train and maintain employment.
Life, Education, Training & Skills Program
Year round, we hold classes for Tennessee residents 18 years or older with a disability. Our students are referred to us by the Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS). Once enrolled in the CDJP program, they attend class Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday and learn fundamental skills that will help them gain and maintain employment.
Once the students complete the class, then our job developers work with them individually to assess their skills and secure employment. The Job Placement Specialist's primary objective is to match potential employee skills with employers' needs and provide on-going support as long as needed.
GED TEST PREPARATION
Oftentimes, individuals in high school special education classes receive basic certificates of completion, but aren’t afforded an opportunity to obtain their high school diploma. Moreover, many adults with learning disabilities may graduate but still not be able to read basic sight words.
The Arc Mid-South strongly believes that in order for an individual to increase self-reliance and confidence, they must attain the necessary tools. The Career Development and Job Placement Program is designed to grant individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities an opportunity to increase literacy, to obtain their diplomas, to acquire basic skills needed for employment, and to discover and secure meaningful job positions.
JOB READINESS
Potential employers often overlook our employees, fearing that competency and supervision will pose unwanted challenges. We're confident that our clients will serve your business as happy and reliable employees.
Potential benefits for you include:
· Reduced turnover rates
· Pre-screened applicants
· A reliable employee pool
Our reputation has been forged by years of providing quality employees to local businesses. Call us today and let us help you find your next Employee of the Month!
VOCATIONAL EVALUATION
Vocational Evaluation is an educational process in which an individual obtains greater self- and work knowledge through participation in work activities designed to evaluate vocational skills, interests, and abilities. Individuals Supported learn about the functional impact of their disability in relation to their career options. They also learn about assistive technology and the devices and accommodations needed to remove barriers to employment. The evaluation process encourages personal involvement in career planning and development and empowers Individuals Supported by increasing their self-confidence in career decision making.
Program Interest
Please complete the form to share your interest in joining one of our programs. A Team Member will be in touch with you soon.
* Required Field
Application Process
Application Process
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Application Form in PDF
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Complete application
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Sign all forms, information releases, and liability release
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Attach a letter of disability or a psychiatric evaluation which states disability diagnosis by a professional, i.e. doctor, teacher, therapist.
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Return to The Arc Mid-South with $35 annual fee.
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(All clients are required to update their application on an annual basis or services may not be rendered for the coming year.)
Working With the Best
Mid-South Employers
CDJP places applicants at jobs that interest them and at ones in which they can excel. This intensive process benefits not only our clients, but also the employers we work with.
Benefits to Employers
Dependability- Surveys show that people with disabilities are dependable and offer stability in high turnover positions.
Competence- Participants are screened, trained, and matched to jobs by area of interest and educational level.
Enhancement- Workers provide a diversified work environment and positive company image.
Employers' tax incentives- Three incentives provided by the federal government help businesses offset the cost of accommodations for employees with disabilities.
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Small business tax credit (IRS code section 44): Given to small businesses for making their businesses accessible to persons with disabilities.
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Architectural/ Transportation tax deduction (IRS code section 190): Given to businesses for expenses incurred to remove physical, structural, and transportation barriers for persons with disabilities.
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Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC): Provision for employers who hire people with disabilities or who hire individuals from certain low income groups.