Ashley is on our Employment First Florida team. She has a lot to say about how working makes her feel and how important work is to her daily life. This is a short clip taken from our July 2019 presentation on Developing a Vision for a Good Life. Watch the presentation recording to see Ashley’s full interview.
Video: What is Employment First
Check out this video from the RTC Media Youtube channel. They share documentary films, educational and training video programs, organizational profiles, and interviews, all developed through the Research and Training Center on Community Living (RTC/CL) at the University of Minnesota’s Institute on Community Integration.
Are you worried about losing benefit payments?
Two type of benefits that people with disabilities may receive are Supplemental Security Income (called SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (called SSDI). Both programs have rules that let you try working without worrying about losing your benefit payments. There are a lot of resources to help you figure out what benefits you may still need once you are working. It is important that you talk to someone that can get to know you and your individual situation. Below are important resources.
What You Need to Know About Your Supplemental Security Income (SSI) When You Turn 18 [PDF]
Work Incentives – General Information
Disability Benefits 101
Self-Advocates: Chris & Christina
Chris & Christina shared thoughts on employment, marriage, and self-advocacy at the 2019 Florida Self-Advocates Network’D conference in Orlando.
Chris, an employee at Home Depot, speaks about a recent recognition he received for providing excellent costumer service. Christina is a secretary at the Conklin Center for the Blind. She talks about the accommodations they provide to her to make her job easier. They are both part of a self-advocacy group from East Volusia.
Fernando, guest operations host at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium
Fernando is thrilled with his new job as a guest operations host at the aquarium, but it was a difficult journey getting there. Fernando has vision problems due to a head injury, and he was having trouble finding a job because of it. He came to vocational rehabilitation (VR), a state agency that helps people with disabilities get or keep a job, to see if they could help.
Continuing reading Fernando’s story on the Florida Division of Vocational Rehabilitation website.
Self-Advocate: Amanda
Amanda shared her employment story at the 2019 Florida Self-Advocates Network’D conference in Orlando.
Amanda is originally from Pennsylvania, and moved to Florida about six years ago to pursue a job at Disney. Today, she works as a guest services coordinator at Universal Orlando. Amanda says, “Guest service coordinators try to make their guests’ day just a little bit better trying to figure out what to do in situations where they’re going to be, you know, upset and just try to make life a little easier for them.” Listen to the interview to learn more about her, especially her very cool first job as a Macy’s parade balloon handler!
How do you request an accommodation from your employer?
It is important to know how to ask for an accommodation. Watch our videos and check out these tips:
- Be polite and give examples. “These are some accommodations that help me in school, and I think that they can help me on this job. Could we talk about them?”
- Have a conversation. Be open to feedback and suggestions. “I looked at the requirements for the job and these are the accommodations I may need. What are some of your ideas?”
Self-Advocate: Bob
Bob talked with Employment First Florida at the 2019 Florida Self-Advocates Network’D conference in Orlando and shared how he got his dream job.
Bob’s advice: “Don’t wait for someone to tell you what job you want or should get. Go for it. You never know what may happen.”
Get Network’D!
FL SAND (Florida Self-Advocates Network’D) Web Resource
FL SAND is a statewide network of local self-advocacy groups. Its members wanted to develop a website for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), service professionals, and family members. They created FSACentral.org as a news hub. Continue reading “Get Network’D!”
Let’s Get Everyone to Work: Shane, imaging technician
Shane has a career in data processing at a company in St. Petersburg. Watch his story to learn more about what he does and how he learned to do it.