Easter Seals Disability Services

EASTER SEALS EAST GEORGIA SERVICES

Providing Services For People With Disabilities In 33 Counties

People of working age with disabilities, special needs and other barriers to employment find the highest-quality services designed to meet their individual needs when they come to Easter Seals.  Dedicated staff members work with them to develop their "abilities" and teach the new skills they need to be as independent and self-sufficient as possible.  Easter Seals East Georgia has maintained the highest level of accreditation from CARF...the National Rehabilitation Accreditation Commission since 1972.  This level of commitment to quality leads to effective services year after year.

Vocational Evaluation

Everyone is unique.  The barriers that keep individuals from realizing their vocational goals are as varied as they are.  Evaluators are experts at sorting through the issues that keep people from success.  Assessment services are provided on-site in all 33 counties upon referral.  Through this process, the individual learns his strengths, interests, transferable skills, aptitudes and needs for training and/or accommodations.  The outcomes of this service lead people with disabilities, their families and rehabilitation professionals in determining a plan for achieving personal and vocational success.  Based on the needs of the individual, there are several types of evaluations available.

Work Adjustment

This service builds employment skills to prepare and then helps people to find and keep a great job.  Individuals are provided with a realistic view of the world of work while gaining personal work experience and social skills expected in the competitive labor market.  This is a time-limited program designed to transition workers from in-house, facility based training to a community based training site and finally to competitive placement.  In all phases of the program, the work being performed is actual sub-contracted work from local businesses and industries.  Trainees receive payment for their work during training.

JOBS 2000--Work and School All At The Same Time

This service is designed for high school seniors who have met graduation requirements with the exception of senior math and English.  Through a collaborative partnership among the State Department of Labor, Vocational Rehabilitation Program; the Richmond County Special Education Department; and Easter Seals, our facility has been designated a county school site.  For one full semester, students attend Easter Seals where they receive both academic and vocational preparation prior to graduation.  Their primary curriculum is designed to enhance life skills as well as vocational skills.  Students with a wide variety of barriers including blindness, hearing impairment, autism and mobility issues as well as other developmental disabilities have achieved success through JOBS 2000.

Specific Skills Training

Highly individualized, focused training programs are available in our technology center for qualified trainees.  Classes are available in driver's education, customer service representative, cashier, data entry and Microsoft Office 2000 applications. Computer classes range from basic keyboarding to interactive program applications.  Internet exploration for job seeking and other areas of assistance is also available.

Job Placement--Success at Last!

The ultimate goal of most of our trainees is to prepare for and find gainful employment.  Our placement services are valuable to both the person being served and the community employer.  Easter Seals is available to assist employers with training in disability awareness, reasonable accommodations and training goals for the individual.  There are tax advantages available for employers who hire people with disabilities.  This is a program where everyone wins...the person with the disability gets a job and a leap toward independence... the employer gets a good worker, consultation from a rehabilitation professional and a tax incentive, and the community gets an involved citizen who contributes to the tax base and reduces or eliminates his need for public support.

Janitorial Services
We have been providing professional janitorial services in the Augusta area since 1987.  Under the instruction of a Cleaning Management Institute certified trainer, our workers learn on-the-job janitorial skills.  Our housekeeping teams have provided janitorial services that have helped at least one of our customers repeatedly win the B.O.M.A. (Building Owners and Managers Association) award as Office Building of the Year.   In addition, our janitorial services have received quality certification from the NISH (National Industries for the Severely Handicapped).

Champions for Children 

The Champions for Children Program is designed to primarily assist children and families who do not meet the eligibility requirements for the TEFRA/Katie Beckett Medicaid program.  The program will provide direct financial assistance and support services for Georgia’s medically fragile and special needs children and their families.  An Easter Seals Champions for Children Coordinator will work directly with families to determine eligibility, identify service needs as described by the family and connect them with resources and services. In addition, coordinators will also promote the program and raise awarenesss of other resources and services in the community.

 Contact us to learn more about Easter Seals services.