FRN Employment Stories
Finding a Place at Work: Four New Jersey Employment Stories
Finding meaningful work is about more than earning a paycheck. It's an opportunity to discover your strengths, pursue your interests, build confidence, and find a place where your contributions are valued. But for people with disabilities, getting that opportunity isn't always easy.
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, a time to recognize the talents and contributions of people with disabilities and the importance of creating more opportunities for meaningful employment.
At Family Resource Network, we see what those opportunities can mean in people's lives. The stories of four New Jersey participants show how different the journey to employment can look, and what becomes possible when people have the support and opportunity to pursue their goals.
EmployAbility
Aidan: Pursuing a dream with the New York Yankees
Aidan had a favorite team and a plan. After earning his associate’s degree in Sport Management, he hoped to work for the New York Yankees. His placement through the Family Resource Network’s EmployAbility program took him first to the Princeton National Rowing Association. There, he learned about event management and a sport that was new to him.
He kept applying for jobs and showing up for interviews. After several rounds of interviews with the Yankees, Aidan was hired as a Guest Ambassador. The path from a rowing association in New Jersey to his favorite baseball team was hardly a straight line, but the experience he gained along the way mattered.
EmployAbility
Sal: Finding confidence in the workplace
Sal began EmployAbility feeling unsure of himself and withdrawn. Small-group training and paid work experience gave him room to practice workplace skills with support from a dedicated team. He spent time in an IT setting, working with technology and learning how to navigate a professional environment.
The change Sal describes is as much about confidence as experience. He became more comfortable communicating, taking on responsibilities, and recognizing what he could contribute. For someone who once struggled to picture himself at work, that growing belief in his own abilities was a substantial step.
Internship to Career
Jabrelle: Exploring a future in automotive work
Jabrelle came to FRN’s Internship to Career program with a specific interest: the automotive industry. A paid work-based learning experience with a local automotive business let him try the work firsthand. He built workplace habits and practiced communicating with colleagues and customers.
By the end of his placement, Jabrelle could hear the difference in himself. He felt more confident speaking with others and meeting expectations at work. The experience gave him a clearer sense of what a future in the field might look like.
EmployAbility
Sidh: Turning work experience into a job
Sidh entered EmployAbility without a settled career direction. Through training and paid work experience, he explored possibilities and found he liked working in the restaurant industry. He grew more confident as he learned the job’s pace and expectations.
His work led to a permanent position. That outcome began with the chance to explore, then to show an employer what he could do.
Where can New Jersey families start?
FRN’s EmployAbility program offers eligible adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities small-group training, career exploration, paid work experience, and help with a job search. For transition-aged youth ages 16 to 21 with disabilities, Internship to Career offers a paid work-based learning experience matched to career interests. Skills Trainers also lead workshops on professionalism, interview preparation, and career planning. Program pages have the current eligibility and county coverage.
Employment support can continue beyond a first placement. FRN’s Getting to Work supported employment program includes job development and on-the-job coaching for eligible adults. For people wondering how earnings may affect SSI or SSDI, NJWINS benefits counseling can help them understand work incentives and make an informed plan.
Aidan, Sal, Jabrelle, and Sidh each brought different goals to their programs. Their stories offer a useful place to begin if you or someone in your family is looking for a next step. Explore FRN’s New Jersey disability employment resources for program links and guidance. To learn more, call 800-372-6510 or email [email protected].
EmployAbility
Small-group training, career exploration, and paid work experience for eligible adults.
Learn about EmployAbilityInternship to Career
Paid work-based learning experiences matched to the career interests of transition-aged youth.
Learn about Internship to CareerSupported Employment
Job development and on-the-job coaching through Getting to Work.
Learn about Supported EmploymentQuestions about getting started? Call 800-372-6510 or email [email protected].