Services Provided and Programs Governed by the Achievement Center – Easter Seals
The Achievement Center – Easter Seals (AC-ES) provides the following employment outcome related services to persons in the counties we serve with disabilities referred to us by the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services: community based services, employability development services, and vocational evaluation services. The community based services are performed in the community, and the employability development services and evaluation services are offered at AC-ES. Senior citizens without disabilities are also served in employment outcome related programs at AC-ES with money provided through grants. The services and programs are detailed below.
Services Provided
Job Development – A Job Developer is assigned to each consumer. The Job Developer has knowledge of the labor market and has developed contacts and relationships with area businesses. Based on the consumer’s interests and abilities, a job match is found. A Job Developer assists the consumer with resume development, application completion, transportation to interviews, job leads, job readiness/interviewing skills, on the job training, job coaching, employer education about disabilities, assistive technology, and job searching.
Job Coaching – A Job Coach trains the consumer at the job site after the consumer has been employed. This training can be for an extended amount of time or just for a short period, depending on the individual need of the consumer.
Job Retention – After a consumer becomes employed, a Retention Specialist will contact the consumer and employer to make sure everything is going well at the place of employment. If a problem is discovered, the Job Developer will intervene and do what is necessary to help the consumer solve the problem and remain employed.
On The Job Training/Evaluation – The consumer is placed on a job in the community, but is not employed by the company. The objective is to determine if there is employment potential for the consumer at that job before the actual placement occurs. The numbers of hours are jointly agreed upon between his/her Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services (ADRS)Counselor and the Achievement Center Easter Seals (AC-ES). ADRS reimburses AC-ES for the wages paid to the consumer by AC-ES.
Community Based Training Sites – Consumers work 30 calendar days at a business in the community who is partnering with AC-ES to provide job training. Consumers receive minimum wage while at the training site. Knowledge, experience, and skills learned can be transferred to other jobs if an employment offer is not extended at the training site.
Job Readiness – A class used to develop pre-employment and job readiness skills. Individuals may learn how to write a resume and cover letters, complete job applications, search for employment, and answer interview questions. Appearance, appropriate dress, socialization, work terminology, and work ethics are also presented.
Skills Development – A series of classes intended to assist consumers in gaining skills and knowledge necessary for daily living. Topics covered include money management, checkbook management, smart shopping, interpreting pay stubs, choosing the appropriate insurance coverage, and credit card handling.
Adult Education – An Adult Education instructor from Southern Union Community College, who is based at AC-ES, works with our consumers to improve their academic functioning level. The consumers are taught based on where they test academically on the TABE when they begin services. Consumers can work on GED preparation, computer skills and Workkeys/WIN training.
Basic Computer Skills – Basic keyboarding and typing; using WORD to type documents; basic Excel spreadsheets.
Driver’s Education – Preparation for the written driver’s permit test; review of laws, signs, and other requirements.
Cashiering – Basic addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division; calculator skills, money recognition, money equivalents, counting money, making change, and introduction to the cash register.
Food Service Training – A training area designed to teach skills and techniques in food preparation, menu planning, cafeteria line service, dishwashing and general cleaning, and cashiering.
Janitorial Service Training – A training area designed to teach skills and techniques needed in the housekeeping/custodial profession. Consumers are taught to sweep, mop, buff floors, strip floors, clean restrooms, dust, and clean windows. Housekeeping and House Person training is also available to those interested in exploring employment possibilities in the hotel industry. Consumers are trained at local hotels by their staff and learn to clean the rooms to the standards set by the hotels.
Landscaping/Grounds Maintenance/Building Maintenance – A training area designed to teach safety and use of basic hand tools, hedge clippers, hoes, shovels, rakes, power tools, riding mowers, weed eaters, and curbing edgers. Building maintenance consists of training in general building repair, painting, replacing light tubes and exit lights, washing buses, replacing heat and air conditioner filters, and basic plumbing.
Production Training – The Achievement Center has assembly/production contracts with several businesses around the area. Work Center employees are hired to fill the orders, but we try to utilize consumers as much as possible. When work is available, consumers may be assigned to this area as part of their Employability Development training program.
Program Management – The employment training program at AC-ES is intended to equip consumers with the tools needed to obtain a job, develop job skills, understand what is expected of them on a job, learn work values that are desired by employers, and how to retain employment. This is accomplished through classes and actual paid work experiences. The program manager counsels and guides the consumer as they progress through their program. The consumer can come to the program manager with personal problems that are making it difficult for them to work or with concerns they have related to their program at AC-ES. The consumer, training area supervisors, and ADRS counselor all work together to prepare the consumer for competitive employment. The program manager is at the hub of the wheel, assuring that communication flows freely and all aspects of the consumer’s training program run smoothly.
Reception Training – Basic clerical skills will be taught and practiced in this training area. Consumers may answer the telephone, transfer calls, take messages, fax documents, greet visitors, file, work on typing skills, and job search on the computer.
Transportation – Transportation to and from AC-ES is available to consumers while they are participating in our in-house ED program. Busses and vans run daily on set routs to the counties we serve.
Evaluation I – Vocational Assessments given to transition students still enrolled in high school who are being served by an Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services Vocational Rehabilitation counselor. The students can come to AC-ES to be tested, or our evaluator will schedule a time for the testing to be done at the school. Testing is done to establish a potential to work, which is necessary to be determined eligible for Vocational Rehabilitation Services.
Evaluation II – Vocational Assessments given to consumers with disabilities referred to us by the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services. These evaluations are usually performed in-house, but mobile testing can be arranged. The assessments are used to determine a realistic vocational goal for the consumer and used in the preparation of a program plan for the consumer to follow while receiving services from AC-ES. Academic, interest, aptitude, dexterity, job search, and physical capacities tests are administered to consumers and results are contained in a report generated for their Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor.
Extended Evaluation – If after the standard one week Evaluation II, there are still questions remaining concerning the consumers potential to work, or the program referral recommendation is unclear, the consumer can enter the AC-ES in-house employability development program for up to one month for further assessment.
Employment Skills Training Services
Certified Nurse Aide Class (CNA)
Through the nursing assistant training program, students are prepared to achieve the level of health/science knowledge, patient care skills, and abilities that are needed and required to provide basic care to patients/residents in long term care facilities. The class consists of four weeks of classroom instruction and one week of clinical experience. The class will prepare the student to pass the two part National Nurse Aide Assessment Program Examination.
Grant Programs
Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP)
This grant program, funded through the Department of Labor, is an employment training program for low income persons age 55 and older. Those in need are re-trained for a changing workforce and assisted with job placement. Chambers, Clay, Coosa, Lee, Randolph, Russell, Talladega, and Tallapoosa counties are served.
