WHAT WE DO
The Program Services department is a division of Wiregrass Rehabilitation Center, Inc. We work with individuals with disabilities in many different capacities in the community. The programs and services that we offer center around preparing individuals through a rehabilitative process to become trained, prepared, and productive in the working world.
SERVICES THAT WE OFFER:
- Community Employment Services (CES):
- This program provides one-on-one skills assessments, job-search support, job placement, on-the-job training, job coaching, and follow-up services in community workplaces. This program serves individuals who want to pursue competitive or integrated community employment. The goals of this program include assessing an individual’s employment ambitions, skills, and abilities. Our person-centered employment plans are heavily weighed on strength and desire rather than weaknesses.
- Supported Employment Services:
- Supported Employment is a service that is provided to the individual with a more significant disability. During the process, an Employment Specialist/Job Coach will be more involved on the day-to-day process of an individual providing job coaching that lasts longer than the normal community employment.
- Vocational Evaluation Services:
- This service is designed to assist in the exploration of an individual’s career interests, determining the individual’s aptitudes and skills, and ultimately develop a path for career plans. A vocational evaluation is an individualized, systematic process by which an individual seeking employment learns to develop and identify employment goals.
- Evaluation Methods:
- Standardized Testing
- Vocational Interest Screening
- Situational Assessment
- Evaluation Methods:
- Criteria for Entry:
- The individual must have a vocational disability that limits his/her employment opportunity.
- The individual must be capable of self-care or be accompanied by an attendant.
- The individual must be unemployed or underemployed.
- The individual must voluntarily agree to participate.
- This service is designed to assist in the exploration of an individual’s career interests, determining the individual’s aptitudes and skills, and ultimately develop a path for career plans. A vocational evaluation is an individualized, systematic process by which an individual seeking employment learns to develop and identify employment goals.
- Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS):
- During these services, the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services (ADRS) partners with WRC to work with the various schools throughout 11 counties to provide the Pre-ETS services to students.
- Work Based Learning (WBL):
- This service integrates classroom experience with real world experiences in the community through work. Individuals can do paid or unpaid work in an employment setting in the community in which they live. An employment specialist will assist a student in gaining placement for a period of three months to work. This experience allows students to learn what the world of work is like and allow them to explore potential vocational interests.
- Driver’s Education Permit Training:
- This is an instructional based service where students can learn the rules of the road that are required or individuals to successfully pass the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) exam to obtain a learner’s permit. Instructional methods are tailored to all levels of functioning and can be done in group settings.
- Workplace Tours:
- These occur throughout the school year. Touring workplace allows students to learn about different industries and jobs located in their community. The value of a workplace tour is significant because it allows students to explore vocational interests through firsthand experience. Tours are done through a group setting.
- Workplace Readiness & Self-Advocacy Training:
- WRC uses “SkillUp,” a curriculum specifically designed for students with disabilities that focuses on a wide variety of topic including: vocational interests, understanding soft skills, personality types, labor market information, disclosure, rights and responsibilities, disability etiquette, goal setting, overcoming barriers, interviewing, and resume writing.
- Job Exploration Training (JET) Programs:
- JET is a work-based learning service that is available to 11th and 12th grade students during the summer months. This program allows students to choose a job or industry that they may have interest in and work. WRC works with many companies throughout several counties to provide positions for students during the summer. Students in this program are paid for their work and can work up to 9 weeks.
Let’s Stay in Touch!
Wiregrass Rehabilitation Center, Inc.
795 Ross Clark Circle, Suite #1
Dothan, Alabama 36303
(334) 792-0022