Employment and Training Options

Vast number of topics and links related to Career Exploration including but not limited to:

Career Home page, Career Clusters, Career Activities, On-Line Career Resources, "Soft-Skills", Careers in the News, Job Hunting, Owning your Own Business. (Some links are specific to the state of Wisconsin but still applicable to most young adults in transition).

Website: http://breitlinks.com/careers/career_activities.htm

The Center for Disability Inclusion partners with businesses
​to advance their disability inclusion efforts
​​

The Center for Disability Inclusion is your trusted resource for workplace solutions that educate, cultivate and elevate

Website: www.centerfordisabilityinclusion.org

Project RISE (Reaching for Independent Successful Employment) creates employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities through; Paid Employment; Supported Volunteering & Transition from School to Work programs. Visit the website for more information

Website: https://www.childrensmercy.org/Patients_and_Families/Support_and_Services/Project_RISE/
Phone: 816-983-6994

Johnson County Developmental Supports (JCDS) is the Community Developmental Disabilities Organization (CDDO) for Johnson County. The CDDO maintains a list of all current providers in the Johnson County area. This link connects to those providers who are currently providing supported employment opportunities: https://www.jocogov.org/dept/cddo/service-providers/supported-employment

Email: JCD-CDDO@jocogov.org
Website: https://www.jocogov.org/dept/cddo/service-providers/supported-employment
Phone: 913-826-2600

Minds Matter, LLC believes that people with brain injuries and their families are the experts in their own life. All of our rehabilitation plans and decisions are made with the person at the center of the process. Our teams then collaborate with the person and chosen family to create meaningful connections in their community. Our functional rehabilitation approach is designed to give control back to the person by listening, understanding and responding so people can live their life, their way

Website: http://communityworksinc.com/
Phone: 913- 789-9900

Almost every Kansan with a disability rights issue is eligible for some type of disability rights advocacy (Legal Representation, Advocacy, Self-Advocacy, or Information and Referral). Some laws and policies limit DRC’s services to individuals that meet disability guidelines or specific needs. If we can’t help you, we will try to find someone who can. http://www.drckansas.org/

Website: www.DRCKansas.org
Phone: 785-273-9661

Across Kansas, there are many people trapped by attitudes toward their physical and mental disabilities, attitudes that deem them unemployable.

This website shows how wrong those attitudes are. In a series of stories, you will find information of interest to employers, to families and supporters, and to people with disabilities about how employment success is achieved.

Website: http://employment1st.org

Transition to adulthood resources in KS

http://familiestogetherinc.org/index.php/who-i-am/links-by-topic/topics-starting-with-s-v/transition-to-adulthood-resources-3/

Website: http://familiestogetherinc.org

GKCBLN advances disability inclusion by providing the business community with tools, resources and solutions that drive employee hiring, engagement and performance.

​The Greater Kansas City Business Leadership Network (GKCBLN) is a not-for-profit business membership organization and a leading affiliate chapter of the USBLN since 2009.

Website: https://disabilityin.org/

Down Syndrome Guild of Greater Kansas City

5960 Dearborn Street Ste. 100
Mission, KS 66202
913-384-4848 Phone
913-384-4949 Fax
info@kcdsg.org

A community employment program
for employers and adults with down syndrome

The Down Syndrome Guild of Greater Kansas City (DSG) offers adults with Down syndrome support to obtain and keep employment that best suits their skills and interests. DSG's Helping Individuals Realize Employment Dreams (HIRED) program connects employers with capable employees to increase profitability.

Website: https://www.kcdsg.org/hired.php

Job Corps is a no-cost education and vocational training program administered by the U.S. Department of Labor that helps young people ages 16 through 24 improve the quality of their lives through vocational and academic training.

Funded by Congress, Job Corps has been training young adults for meaningful careers since 1964. Job Corps is committed to offering all students a safe, drug-free environment where they can take advantage of the resources provided.

Job Corps’ mission is to set highly motivated young people on a pathway to education and training for successful careers in the nation’s fastest-growing industries.

If you or someone you know is interested in joining Job Corps or would like more information, please call (800) 733-JOBS or (800) 733-5627 today!

Kansas Location:

Flint Hills Job Corps Center

4620 Eureka Drive
Manhattan, KS 66503
Tel: (785) 537-7222
Fax: (785) 537-9517
http://flinthills.jobcorps.gov

Missouri Locations:

Excelsior Springs Job Corps Center

701 St. Louis Avenue
Excelsior Springs, MO 64024
Tel: (816) 629-3111
Fax: (816) 629-3842
http://excelsiorsprings.jobcorps.gov

Mingo Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center

4253 State Highway T
Puxico, MO 63960-9585
Tel: (573) 222-3537
Fax: (573) 222-2685
http://mingo.jobcorps.gov

St. Louis Job Corps Center

4333 Goodfellow Boulevard
St. Louis, MO 63120
Tel: (314) 679-6200
Fax: (314) 383-5717
http://stlouis.jobcorps.gov

Website: http://www.jobcorps.gov/Home.aspx

Johnson County Developmental Supports (JCDS) is the agency of Johnson County government that facilitates career and personal development for Johnson County residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The agency regularly serves more than 500 people each day through a broad array of community-based programs and supports.

Email: shelly.toft@jocogov.org
Website: http://www.jocogov.org/dept/developmental-supports/home

We are pleased to introduce you to a place where adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities are valued employees. Heartstrings Community Foundation assists adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities to live meaningful, productive and independent lives through successful employment in the business community. The staff and employees of Heartstrings Community Foundation (HCF®) operate five businesses, all of which are spotlighted in this website. You will also find links to recent videos and newsletters that offer more insight to our mission. Enjoy your visit! We hope that you will be inspired to shop in our stores and donate your gently used items to Heartstrings for re-sale! We also offer targeted case management services as well.

Website: http://www.heartstringscf.org/
Location: 7086 E 105th, Overland Park, KS 66212
Phone: 913-649-5700

Aging and Disability resource center of Kansas. Offers information and resources for many related topics including but not limited to Community Services and Programs such as Home and Community Based Services (HCBS and waivers).

Website: http://www.kdads.ks.gov
Phone: 7852964986

Workforce Partnership provides Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Youth Program services to youth in Wyandotte, Johnson, and Leavenworth counties. The program helps to prepare youth for employment through a combination of educational assistance, skill development, job search assistance, and supportive services.

Youth services target individuals who are low-income and who meet one or more of the following criteria:

• Basic skills deficient in Reading and/or Math
• Foster child
• Homeless
• Ex-offender
• Pregnant or a parent
• Runaway
• School dropout
• Requires additional assistance to complete an education program or to secure and hold employment

http://www.workforcepartnership.com/young-adults

Website: http://www.workforcepartnership.com/young-adults

Hiring and retaining qualified employees is the number one staffing issue cited by employers—a concern that will become more pressing as we begin to feel the crunch of a shrinking and aging workforce. To remain competitive, employers are looking beyond the traditional labor sources to access skilled, qualified candidates. This includes focusing their recruitment efforts on alternative sources of available job candidates, including those who are traditionally under-represented.

Many employers, especially small to medium businesses, genuinely want to hire more people with disabilities, but they need resources to help them understand if it's profitable, accommodations, and other questions that arise. They don't have the extra time to figure out where to access qualified candidates with disabilities. These resources are available on this website and if you have more questions you can contact our staff.

Website: http://kansasemployability.com/

Kansas Rehabilitation Services (KRS) Overland Park Office: A Division of the Department of Children and Family Services (DCF)
8915 Lenexa Drive, Overland Park KS 66214

Phone: (913) 826-7300 TDD: 1-800-766-3777 Fax: (913) 826-7548

For detailed information visit the Website at: http://www.dcf.ks.gov/services/RS/Pages/default.aspx

Information from the state of Kansas VR website: The goal of KRS is to help Kansas citizens with disabilities meet their employment goals by offering a variety of vocational rehabilitation (VR) services (i.e., vocational assessment, vocational counseling and guidance, physical and mental restoration services, training and education to learn a new vocation, rehabilitation technology or aids and adaptive devices, job placement services supportive employment, and referrals to other services).

KRS works with people with any physical or mental disability.

To receive VR services, the person must meet all three parts of the following eligibility requirements:

1. Must have a physical or mental impairment or disability and

2. The disability must result in a substantial impediment to employment and

3. The person must require VR services to prepare or, secure, retain or regain employment.

Note: Individuals who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) are presumed to be eligible.

Pre-Employment Training Services:

http://www.dcf.ks.gov/Newsroom/Pages/Pre-Employment-Services-Being-Offered-to-Youth-with-Disabilities.aspx

Website: http://www.dcf.ks.gov/services/RS/Pages/default.aspx

Comprehensive web site for those seeking employment and employers seeking to hire workers. Also includes information about training and education opportunities and specialized programs with the outcome of employment.

https://www.kansasworks.com/ada/r/

Lumina is an Advocacy and Coaching firm. Through Professional Life Coaching and Job Development, we partner with families and individuals to explore options, raise awareness, increase collaboration, and offer accountability in the creation and implementation of strengths-based action plans.

Website: http://www.luminaadvocacy.com/
Phone: 913-522-9295

Matthew's Ministry is Resurrection's awareness, outreach and support ministry for persons with special needs and their families. It is our desire to show the love of God to all people and to incorporate them into the life of the church.

Sonflower Bakers bake scones, cookies, bread and cupcakes three times a week. This gives them an excellent opportunity to enjoy time with fellow Matthew's Ministry Bakers and volunteers.

http://cor.org/leawood/matthews#2946

Website: http://cor.org/leawood/matthews#2946
Location: Leawood Location
Phone: 913-544-0295

Project SEARCH was developed at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, a research environment that fosters visionary thinking and innovation. It all began in 1996, when Erin Riehle was Director of Cincinnati Children's Emergency Department. Erin felt that, because the hospital served individuals with developmental disabilities, it made sense that they should commit to hiring people in this group. She wondered if it would be possible to train people with developmental disabilities to fill some of the high-turnover, entry level positions in her department, which involved complex and systematic tasks such as stocking supply cabinets. As a starting point, Erin presented her ideas to Susie Rutkowski, then the special education director at Great Oaks Career Campuses. Erin and Susie formed a partnership that was instantaneous, and together they launched Project SEARCH.

Since its inception, Project SEARCH has grown from a single program site at Cincinnati Children's to over 300 sites across the United States and Canada, England, Scotland, Ireland, and Australia. Project SEARCH's primary objective is to secure competitive employment for people with disabilities.

National Level Info: http://www.projectsearch.us/GetINVOLVED/FindaProgram.aspx

Johnson County Project SEARCH information: https://www.jocogov.org/dept/developmental-supports/day-and-employment-services/project-search

Website: https://www.jocogov.org/dept/developmental-supports/day-and-employment-services/project-search

The Whole Person assists people with disabilities to live independently and encourages change within the community to expand opportunities for independent liv

Website: http://www.thewholeperson.org/
Phone: 8166272220

6 to 7 pm. Please join Project Rise and teh Center for Disability Inclusion for a virtual presentation discussing: Jobs Ability: an online job board and other Online resources and trainings for job search preparation, interviewing and disclosure of disability and health conditions etc. Register in advance at cmkc.link/transition

Email: ajbright@cmh.edu
Phone: 816-855-1869

This is the working healthy website with information to find your local benefits specialist or for more information on the programs.

Click here to view the presentation from Transition Tuesday on 10/12/2021. . Fact sheets and handouts from this presentation are attached below.

Website: https://kancare.ks.gov/consumers/working-healthy