Prioritizing People & Their Prioritizing People & Their Abilities: One Agency’s Abilities: One Agency’s

Journey Toward Increased Journey Toward Increased EmploymentEmployment

The Ways, The Woes, The WowsThe Ways, The Woes, The WowsSally Hofland

Our Mission

To enhance opportunities for persons with disabilities to participate fully in their community as valued neighbors, productive workers and respected citizens.

Service provider since 1965.

Portal, Inc.We Serve more than 210 Youth and Adults with

Disabilities 95% of individuals we serve have a developmental or

intellectual disability Majority have multiple disabilities 5% include individuals with mental health or physical

disabilities

– Age Demographics: • 10% 16 – 21, • 48% 22 – 40, • 27% 41 – 54, • 15% 55+*85% are working-age adults

Core Services

• Employment Services

• Pre-Vocational & BEACON Services

• Adult Day Services

• Community Recreation

• Portal, inc. is a contracted provider with DVR and Community Care, Inc. (Family Care county)

Our Transition Story (Strategic Planning)

Driving Factors for Change Mission New referrals/students demand for employment Workforce needs Aging Population Limited production work available A desire for outcomes of services that make a

difference in people’s lives (Ordinary Way—Adult Expectations)

Right Thing To

Our Transition Story (Our Vision)

To be recognized as a dynamic service provider, offering innovative opportunities and responsive supports which enable individuals with disabilities to succeed in living and working while enjoying a meaningful quality of life.

Our Transition Story (Our Vision)

To build capacity within communities and businesses to help create employment and expand life-enriching opportunities in which individual uniqueness and abilities are embraced and challenged in contributing ways.

Rebalancing CRP Rebalancing Grant Stepping Up, Stepping Out … Work’s For Me! Real Jobs, Regular Wages In Ordinary Places, One Person

at a Time Informed Choice A Shift in Focus and Process (Policy) Education (Employees, Individuals with Disabilities, Board,

Family, Community) 3,100 hours of training (Michael Callahan, Hammis and

Griffin, Marc Gold & Associates) Mentoring and Sharing of Best Practices Revision of Roles and Job Descriptions School to Work Transition

Changes Made

Policy Change Internal/External Teams – Champions Staff Training Investment Guiding Principles MAP – My Action Plan (Service Plan) Job Descriptions Position Paper Stakeholder Events and Activities

Stay Focused

“Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal.”

Henry Ford

“Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm.”

Sir Winston Churchill

Stakeholder Events and Activities

Stepping Up, Stepping Out, Work’s For Me!Stepping Up, Stepping Out, Work’s For Me!

First Steps Towards Real Jobs, First Steps Towards Real Jobs, Regular Wages in Regular Wages in Ordinary PlacesOrdinary Places

Community Events

FirstFirst InformationInformation SessionSession

OzaukeeOzaukee County People First County People First Charter/Birthday CelebrationCharter/Birthday Celebration

SSA Benefit/Work IncentiveSSA Benefit/Work IncentiveSessionSession CommunityCommunity BusinessBusiness ForumForum

Family Appreciation BreakfastFamily Appreciation Breakfast

Community EventsPortal Staff, Parents & Educators

Ozaukee County Economic Development Outreach Event

People First Conference

Person-Centered Planning

Stakeholder Events and ActivitiesSummer Session - 2010Summer Session - 2010

BEACONBuilding Employment And Community Opportunity Networks • Tour area businesses

• Career Presentations• Learning sessions

– “Let’s Get To Work”• Community Journal &

Personal Discovery– Advocacy– Positive Work Habits

and Attributes– Financial Literacy– Networking & People

Skills• Volunteering• Mock Interviews• Job Shadowing/Work

Experiences

P.E.P.Peer Employment

PanelClients learn about employment

and community opportunities from their peers, who present

information on their personal experiences.

Real Jobs, Regular Wages In Ordinary Places –

One Person At A Time

Sharing Successes

New Hire Recognition Board New Hire Recognition Board

2008 2008 2012 2012

Packers 2012 Tailgate Tour

Woes & Whoas

• Job Changes and Losses• Scheduling • Transportation• Staffing (Passion and Service Redefined)• Hiring• Community and Networking• Funding Shifts• Developing Natural Supports and the Regular Way• Safety Net and Wrap Around Supports & Options

Real Jobs, Regular Wages In Ordinary Places –

One Person At A Time

“Everyone who belongs to

a community has the right

to live, work and play there.”

What’s Next?

Community Employment … It’s the right thing to do and now is the right

time to do it! It’s worth the effort.