Employment Supports
Spectrum Support helps people with disabilities overcome the challenges they face, fight stigmas, and find new exciting ways to live their lives based on how they choose to.
Our staff works with people in small groups and individually through job site visits and volunteerism to, explore interests, discover skills and abilities and develop effective workplace behaviors and skills.
Explore your interests, discovering new skills and abilities.
Grow your soft skills and your task-specific skills.
Focusing on these factors will help identify and customize a job that matches people’s skills and interests in a way that encourages independence and feeling connected to the community.
Spectrum Support helps people live their best lives by providing job coaching and support at a personalized level needed to maintain employment, as well as utilizing tools that increase satisfaction and independence on the job.
Adults (age 21+) referred by DORS (Division of Rehabilitative Services) and by DDA (Developmental Disabilities Administration) are eligible for Employment Supports and can customize their path to meaningful competitive employment.
Mission Stories about Employment Supports
Ashley LOVES working with children and is Lead Teacher at Montessori Day Care. Along with teaching, she is also responsible for creating lesson plans and preparing progress notes for her students. Many of the children in her class experience challenges with learning. Ashley enjoys helping them to learn and make friends in an inclusive environment.
Gregory works for Mod Pizza 3-4 days a week in the evenings and has been working there for over 4 years. Spectrum supports Gregory’s employment by providing transportation to and from work each day.
Although Gregory came to Spectrum with many restrictions that required him to be closely supervised, he worked hard to regain his independence. As a result, Gregory is now able to be in the community without direct staff support. Gregory likes to play basketball, watch wrestling, go to the library, get on the computer and play his video games during his free time.
Charles started working Full Time at Random House in Westminster Md September 2018 as a packer. He continues to grow and gain more responsibilities in his position at Random House, during COVID they trained him and he is now certified as a ForkLift Operator.
How Obtaining Employment Supports Works
1. CONNECT IN YOUR COMMUNITY
- Allegany County, Maryland
- Baltimore City (west side), Maryland
- Baltimore County (west side), Maryland
- Carroll County, Maryland
- Frederick County, Maryland
- Howard County (Columbia area), Maryland
2. COMPLETE A DISCOVERY PROCESS
Spectrum Support utilizes our Discovery Milestones (funded by the DDA) in a time-limited, comprehensive, person-centered, and community-based planning service.
Spectrum Support’s qualified staff will support people enrolled in this program to identify their abilities, interests, and skills to find the right job for them.
This discovery process will allow the person and their team to create:
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- A visual or traditional resume
- A customized employment plan
This discovery process includes:
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- One-on-one interview with person
- Interviews with family and friends
- Observations in a community setting
- Observations completing tasks
- Observations in a workplace setting
3. GET JOB DEVELOPMENT, PLACEMENT AND COACHING
Spectrum Support wants people to be prepared, educated, and to be part of their career path.
This service is individualized through one-to-one, scheduled time with qualified staff, utilizing funding from DDA and/or DORS.
This service may include:
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- Resume writing
- Interview tips and mock interviews
- Job searching and application assistance
- Soft skills
- Job readiness
- Work experience opportunities
- On-the-job coaching
- Transportation Training/Education/some financial support (for those who qualify with DDA funding)
- Job retention
Note: This service is limited to 90 days unless the person is funded by DDA for long-term services.