Do you have a physical or mobility disability?
Have you experienced disjointed or incomplete employment services resulting in an unsatisfactory placement?

Feeling Lost?
You’re not alone. We understand how discouraging inflexible or inconsistent job developers can be. The fact is, poor placement service often leads to poor job retention. We can help…

Getting to Work...
A program of The Family Resource Network providing comprehensive employment services by:

• developing employment consistent with your interests, aptitude, and training
  
• connecting you to additional employment supports
  
• identifying funding sources to pay for those supports

How does GTW help?
People with disabilities in need of job placement often find themselves in unfamiliar territory. When receiving services, they don't know what to expect or what is available. They may be extended some services and not offered others, without being consulted. Decisions are made for them instead of with them.

GTW is “person centered” – designed to help each person find their own way to their employment destination of choice. Each person has a unique destination and road to travel. GTW is here to help direct you from career loss to career acquisition.

Who Can Participate in GTW?
This program is open to anyone of working age with a physical or mobility disability living or working in the following counties:

• Bergen
• Essex
• Morris
• Monmouth
• Ocean

__________________________________________________________________________

Finding Your Way

Before you use a GPS device, such as Getting To Work, you need to know where you are going. Therefore, it is helpful to come to us with some answers to the following questions, which we can plug in and create a map directing you to the career placement of your choice:

• What have you done before?
• Where have you done it?
• What did you like about what you’ve done before?
• What didn’t you like about what you’ve done before?
• What training or education do you have?
• Would you like to further your training and education?
• What physical and mobility considerations do you now need to compensate for?
• Do you have any knowledge of assistive technology?
• How far would you be willing to travel?
• Are you aware of how your benefits you may be receiving will be changed by working?
• Do you want to work Full-time or Part-time?
• What supports and accessibility do you need to function in your prospective work      environment?
• How easy do you feel it would be to fit into your prospective work environment?
• What would your dream career be, if you could do anything?

People who have physical and mobility challenges do not always receive adequate or appropriate service from existing placement services. Often, people with these types of disabilities are not made aware of the possibility of available accommodations and assistive technology that would allow them the option of pursuing more satisfying and appropriate career goals or resuming their former careers. Therefore, they are steered towards more menial types of work inconsistent with their interests and aptitude. To address this lack, The Getting to Work Program (GTW) will educate consumers in ADA Law, available assistive technology, and available funding for training, college coursework, and assistive technology. Once all of the prerequisite education is imparted, GTW will negotiate with appropriate agencies to accomplish all necessary pre-employment objectives for a prospective career launch. Finally, GTW will negotiate desired placement with prospective employers and monitor each placement through the first three months of employment to ensure success.

GTW is partnering with The Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation, The National MS Society, MOCEANS Center for Independent Living, and other provider agencies, to provide referrals and space to meet with project participants. In addition, GTW will to negotiate with various assistive technology companies, The NJ Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, and with various area employers, in order to create specified and varied employment options for those served.