Employment and pre-employment services assist people who have intellectual and developmental disabilities with learning the skills needed to obtain and maintain a competitive or integrated job in the community of their choosing. It is a well-known fact that individuals who work have a better quality of life and feel more productive. Employment support staff help people achieve their desired level of success at the job of their choosing.

Career Visions

Career Visions employment services provide person-centered supports to people as young as 14 years of age. The program teaches employability skills, how to create a quality resume, interview skills and how to obtain and maintain a job in the community.  

These services include:

• Supported employment
• Pathways to employment

Career Visions staff have fostered many business partnerships and relationships in the North Country.

Contact

Employment Supports – Malone Phone:518-483-3553

Employment Supports – Saranac Lake Phone:518-891-5535

Referral sources
A referral is needed to obtain employment support services through Citizen Advocates. A member of our staff, such as a Targeted Case Manager, can help you with the process, but for more information see the links below:

• www.acces.nysed.gov/vr (ACCES-VR)
• https://opwdd.ny.gov (OPWDD)
• https://ocfs.ny.gov/main/cb/ (Commission for the Blind)

Job development services

Job development is a service wrapped in to all of our employment services. Employment staff work with each individual to find out what they have an interest or desire in doing. Once that’s determined, staff (and the person supported) explore the best possible options for job training in the community.

Contact

Employment Supports – Malone Phone:518-483-3553

Employment Supports – Saranac Lake Phone:518-891-5535

Employment Training Program

The Employment Training Program is a service offered specifically to state Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) eligible participants. In most cases, it starts with an in-depth discovery process to learn more about the job seeker. The discovery process includes interviews with family, friends and staff, volunteering and job shadowing, and community assessments at various businesses within the community. This process helps the individual and employment staff, better learn what the person’s skills are and what their barriers are. Once the discovery process has been completed and approved by OPWDD, job development begins. One key factor that makes the Employment Training Program different from other employment programs is that when a job is found, the person is actually put on NYS payroll for up to a year. This gives businesses more incentive to hire participants of that program since they aren’t responsible for the person’s wages for a period of time. The program also allows for intensive job coaching.   

Contact

Employment Supports – Malone Phone:518-483-3553

Employment Supports – Saranac Lake Phone:518-891-5535

Madison Weise Employment Training Program Supervisor madison.d.lively@opwdd.ny.gov Phone:518-359-4269

Extended/Follow Along Services

Follow Along Services are designed to help an employed person maintain their job. Employment staff work with the person and the employer to ensure success for that individual. They assist by implementing solutions that overcome any barriers or obstacles that may stand in the way of the individual’s continued success. Follow Along Services can be provided to people through each funding source (OPWDD, Adult Career and Continuing Education Services-Vocational Rehabilitation (ACCES-VR), Commission for the Blind and Health and Recovery Plan (HARP)).

Contact

Employment Supports – Malone Phone:518-483-3553

Employment Supports – Saranac Lake Phone:518-891-5535