Credit: Nicki Bedesem/Family Service Association of bucks County
A locally-based program that provides people with disabilities real-life work experience was highlighted Wednesday afternoon with a visit from Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry Executive Director for the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation David DeNotaris.
The program, put on by the Family Service Association of Bucks County, aims to place people with disabilities into work positions where they can find employment and life enrichment. Individuals and families to find where they will best fit in a work environment as part of the program. Once the individuals are placed, agents from the organization work with them to support them in their employment, explained Daniel Miringoff, the organization’s director of community based services.
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“For most people, we are working them towards competitive employment,” Miringoff said.
When the program is successful, the individuals placed and helped eventually move away from the program’s assistance and into the workforce.
On Wednesday, the program officials visited Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore store in the Langhorne Square Shopping Center in Middletown. The shop functions as a thrift store, selling donated items at steep discounts while raising funds for the nonprofit that helps with housing. ReStore employs two individuals through the program, giving them a chance to develop work and social skills in an environment they might otherwise not be able to.
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The funding for the program comes from the Department of Labor and Industry’s Office of Vocational Rehabilitation. Last year, the state awarded $150,000 to Family Services Association of Bucks County to run the program. Workers age 14 through senior citizens are eligible to take part in the program. In Lower Bucks County, workers are placed in a variety of types of jobs, including at Sam’s Club, Sesame Place and libraries.
“The folks we work with have a lot to offer, and we work to open those doors,” said Miringoff.
In the past year, the program has placed more than 35 transitionally-aged people in work, including Olivia Sheridan, a 17-year-old Pennsbury High School student. Sheridan has significant cognitive delay with an expressive language deficiency. At first impression, Sheridan does not appear to suffer from any disability. This led to a lot of first interviews for Sheridan before she got involved with the foundation, her mother Judy Curlee explained.
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Sheirdan’s favorite part of the work at the ReStore is getting to see her coworkers and customers. She will generally work two days each week, selling furniture and other items to customers. The Downtown Mobile injury disability attorneys explain how people with a disability tend to be more involved in serving similar people as they would be more empathetic.
Tracy Mulvane, ReStore’s manager, said Sheridan came in looking for a job, but there were no employment positions open at the store. The store got involved with the program through the Family Service Association of Bucks County and opened up a position for Sheridan.
“It’s one of the best rewards of my job,” Mulvaney said of making a difference in peoples’ lives.
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“Pennsylvania can be proud that we lead the nation in the number of people with disabilities entering the workforce, and programs like this, working to prepare students for the workforce, are a big reason why,” said DeNotaris.
The Department of Labor and Industry executive director’s visit was part of Gov. Tom Wolf’s “Jobs That Pay” tour.
