Business –Led Apprenticeships for People with Disabilities

Presentation for the NCCD : Reaching the Summit of SuccessSeptember 16, 2015

Patricia K. Keul, CEO, Founder, Business ACTSSid Smith, Executive Director, NCBLN

Our Goals for Today

Introduce Business ACTSIntroduce our Partner Agencies

Why ApprenticeshipsHow Business ACTS Works

How you can become involved

Presenter Introductions

Patricia K. Keul Sid SmithCEO & Founder- Business

ACTSCESP- Certified

Employment Support Professional –national credential program-founder and first director

30 years experience managing supported employment services-national speaker/presenter

30+ years in education, training

Executive Director, NCBLN

40+ years in non-profit management

Owner, SALCO Consulting LLC, an association management company

International speaker, lecturer and writer

Personally: 40% disabled veteran

Partners in Business ACTS

In Reach NC ( 35 years- founded in NC ) provides a wide variety of services,

including: Community Guide Community Outreach/Innovations Community Works!?/CAET Deaf Services First in Families Group Homes Independent Community Housing Supervised Living Personal Assistance including AFL Homes and Respite Vocational Services

Overview of the NCBLN

Who We Are and What We Emphasize: Three core focusesA true business-to-business network of companies, that advocate for

& assist other business to: Hire people with disabilities; Do business with companies owned & operated by people with

disabilities; and Market to people with disabilities

We do this for business reasons: finding talent/market shareA core-group of companies & agencies working together Affiliated with the USBLN What we do not do: lobby; take resumes; do the hiring

What Our Major Programs Are

Organized Active Groups in Charlotte, Greensboro & Raleigh

Hold quarterly meetings (Business oriented content)Annual Conference during “Disability Employment

Awareness Month”

Newsletter

Website (www.ncbln.org)

Public Relations Outreach to Other Organizations

North Carolina Business Leadership Network (NCBLN)

“Toolkits” for Business 

Bank of America Carolinas Health Care System Duke Energy Eaton Corporation Fifth Third Bank Goodwill Industries Harris Teeter IBM IKEA ITT-Technical Institute LabCorp Lenovo Lowe’s Companies, Inc. Mecklenburg County

NC Div. of Vocational Rehabilitation Services

Pitney Bowes PricewaterhouseCoopers Spinergy Sun Trust Bank Sunshine Cleaners The Westin UNCG Verizon Wireless Walgreens Wells Fargo Western Carolina University And many others…

What is Business ACTS? The first apprenticeship program designed for

people with IDD in North Carolina- one of the very first in the nation!

A copyright protected & trademark protected- model program created & owned by Patricia K. Keul, CEO & Founder

A “turn-key” fidelity based model- that makes it easy for businesses to host successful apprenticeships

A model demonstration in Mecklenburg Co- that we intend to replicate across the state & nation.

Why Apprenticeships? National Unemployment rates among

individuals with IDD range from 55 to 75 %Despite supported employment- sheltered

work and day programs are still dominantUnder employment in part time, low wage

jobs is commonMost employed are in stereotypical low

wage industries:Food service, Landscaping, Janitorial,

Maintenance

Why Apprenticeships? Common in Europe & other developed nations

Long tradition (hundreds of years!) –apprenticeships are a proven model for training skilled trades

Graduates from Apprentice Programs:•Secure higher demand/high value careers –not just a job•Earn while they learn- Apprentices are paid a training wage = to at least minimum wage-day one! •Earn more money•Get better benefits

Apprenticeships Versus InternshipsApprenticeships Internships

Apprentices are hired and paid –day one (at least minimum wage or training wage during internship

Apprentices fulfill a job title & role

Businesses- PULL in Apprentices and define the training program.

Federal definition- USDOL registered apprenticeships

Usually not paid- or offer just a stipend

Usually “sample” job tasks, do not fulfill a job title- (USDOL) issues!

Vary in length & interface with education program

Loosely defined- unless part of a fidelity based model

“PUSH” versus “PULL”

Where are the Apprenticeships for People with Disabilities?

Even in Europe & other developed countries like Australia- apprenticeships for people with disabilities are scare! WHY?

1.Disability focused- not business focused!2.Poorly trained- employment support staff- who

are not credentialed3.Disability services make it hard for business to

implement apprenticeships for individuals with disabilities

Where are the Apprenticeships for People with IDD?

Apprenticeships are BUSINESS- LED- Not agency driven!

Businesses need our assistance to :Identify jobs that are a good fit for people with

IDDDevelop & adapt job training for people with IDDTrain our staff to support the business side- not

just the person with IDDFollow- Through on commitments to serve the

business goals and mission.

1. Administers Program in Mecklenburg Co.- INREACH is a well respected non- profit in Charlotte NC

2. Provides trained employment support professionals

3. Provides candidates with IDD for apprenticeship selection

4. Follow- Along support after apprentices are hire permanently by the host business

5. Job Placement for apprentices not hired permanently by the host business

Acts as a business liaison to support the host business

Helps the partners to identify job titles or create job titles to build apprenticeships around

Promotes the replication of Business ACTS & promotes and encourages business-focus versus agency focus

1. Develops the curriculum and job task training tools to select & train apprentices

2. Creates templates & tailors them to the host employer’s needs- to track work performance, supervision, evaluation of apprentices

3. Trains and the employment support professionals- consults with INREACH on supervision

4. Replicates the program model

1. Owns the copyright and trademark for Business ACTS

How Business ACTS Works

Preparation Phase

Target List: Employers & Businesses of 200 or more employees

Presentation of Business ACTS opportunity to key decision makers

Memorandum of Agreement between all partners

Jobs Identified for Apprentices – tasks analyzed- Business ACTS develops training protocols

In Reach recruits candidates with IDDBusiness interviews and selects candidates

for apprenticeship

Job Training PhaseBusiness ACTS trains In Reach employment

support staffBusiness ACTS trains host employer’s staffStart Date - apprentices begin training on –the-

job with In Reach employment support professionals there to adapt the training

Any “class room training” developed and delivered as needed

Data on job performance of apprentices is collected throughout training phase

Surveys of co-worker| supervisor | customer evaluations of apprentices conducted each week

Mastery Phase: Successful GraduationApprenticeship time frame and defined skills to

mastery – identified in MOASuccessful apprentices may be hired permanently

by the host employer Or may be offered assistance to find permanent

work in other businesses based on training they have mastered

All successful apprentices get : A certificate of completion Professional resume Portfolio of experience Letters of reference Assistance with job development

Supported Apprenticeship versus Supported Employment?

Supported Apprenticeship Supported EmploymentBusiness-led- employer more

engaged in defining training terms

Memorandum of Agreement defines services and training plans

Business ACTS vets and trains all employment support professionals & employer staff

Consistent data collection & evaluation

Consistent – turn key – for business

High demand- jobs, larger employers

Employers – pushed to hire individuals

Employment support professionals vary widely in their training skills

Services provided without an MOA to define terms- training terms, mastery criteria for individuals placed

Focus more on small employers, traditional jobs.

How You Can Become Involved?

Request to become a Business ACTS – program as:1. A Community Rehab. Provider- or2. Supporter/Advocate

Support the expansion of the NCBLN1. Bring your employers to NCBLN meetings

and events2. Promote engaging business leaders in joining

the NCBLN

Time for Your Questions?

“The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man.” ……………………………………………………George Bernard Shaw