As discussed in a previous article in this series, participating in IEP meetings falls under the rights of a student’s parent/guardian. Participating in the creation and modifications of your student’s IEP is an essential part of ensuring your student has the supports they need when it comes to their academic career. Because there is so much that can be discussed within an IEP meeting, preparing for the meeting ahead of time can assist in making sure you have covered all of your questions and concerns and ease any anxieties you may be experiencing. Continue reading below for tips on how to prepare for your student’s IEP meeting.

Take Time Off Work

Though this may not be feasible for everyone, taking the day before, of, and after your student’s IEP meeting can help you feel more relaxed and prepared for the meeting. Use the day before the meeting to prepare and the day after to rest. If you are not able to fully take off from work, try to lighten your load where you can in order to avoid feeling frazzled or rushed.

Before the Meeting

• Once you receive the invitation to the meeting, document your response by sending a simple email with your RSVP and any concerns you have that you would like discussed in the meeting. You may do this through a “Parent Concerns Letter.” A Special Education Advocate, Lisa of A Day in Our Shoes, walks you through how to write this letter here.
• If your child is attending the meeting with you, prepare them for it. If rehearsing what they will say or what they want to discuss helps them, take the time to practice with them.
• Make sure everyone from the school who you would like to attend the IEP meeting is listed as participants. If someone is missing from the list, you can ask to reschedule to a time when that person is able to attend.
• At least one LEA (Local Education Agency) representative should be listed as a meeting participant. This is someone who is representing the school district and is, as defined by the Florida Department of Education, “qualified to provide or supervise the provision of specially designed instruction and is knowledgeable about the general education curriculum and the availability of school district resources.”

What to Bring to the Meeting

Bring the following records to the meeting

• Your student’s current IEP (if they have one)
• Related services and accommodations on your child’s current IEP
• Progress reports toward annual goals in the IEP
• Recent work samples
• Report cards
• Performance on assessments (state, district, national)
• Most recent evaluations results
• Recommendations/communications from professionals outside of the school (for example, a speech therapist, audiologist, mental health professional, etc.)
• Communications with teacher/school
• If your child is working or is participating in an on-the-job training, bring reviews from their employer or job coach that are relevant.

Things to Keep in Mind

• You may ask to record the meeting for your records ahead of time.
• You may also ask to bring another parent/guardian with you to serve as a notetaker during the meeting.
• You may ask for more time and to reconvene if you feel there is more to discuss. There is no time limit set on an IEP meeting and there is no need to rush through one.
• You do not have to sign the IEP in the meeting. You can take it home to review before signing.

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A nonprofit disability employment service dedicated to creating an inclusive workforce, employU prides itself on being an organization that services its clients through education, empowerment, and advocacy. More than a job search, it’s a support system that is committed to delivering tailored experiences and assisting clients in navigating a complex process. Seeking to continually improve and provide the best experience possible to its clients, employU applied for the CARF accreditation earlier this year.

The Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) is an organization that accredits nonprofits as an independent body, with a mission to uphold strict quality standards and to promote optimal outcomes from services. CARF utilizes a consultative accreditation process that demands ongoing improvements to services that focus on enhancing the lives of clients.

Becoming CARF accredited is the next step in employU’s journey in providing a ‘one-stop-shop’ experience for finding meaningful employment. For more than ten years, employU has provided exceptional service to its clients. At employU, the goal is always to ensure that its clients have been given the best support and occupational experience possible. Part of achieving this goal is to strive for constant betterment of their programs, aligning employU’s mission with CARF.

Because CARF officially recognizes health and human service providers as demonstrating a commitment to being among the best available and meeting standards for quality of service, employU plans to utilize this accreditation to continually improve its infrastructure, workforce, and services to meet the ever-growing demand for these unique employment services.

Through this accreditation, employU will build training programs for incoming staff from all levels of experience to ensure that each jobseeker receives the personal, dedicated service they deserve to obtain successful career outcomes. Additionally, the three-year accreditation earned will allow employU the opportunity to hire more dedicated staff to increase the delivery of services throughout the state. The increase in qualified, highly trained staff will yield greater impact for the communities employU serves. In the next 18 months, the organization’s goal is to increase services to more than 4,100 job seekers with disabilities by building their own workforce.

Because CARF officially recognizes health and human service providers as demonstrating a commitment to being among the best available and meeting standards for quality of service, employU plans to utilize this accreditation to continually improve its infrastructure, workforce, and services to meet the ever-growing demand for these unique employment services. For more information on employU’s services visit https://employu.org/client-services/

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As one of employU’s first clients, Josue knows how important it is to have someone in your corner to fight for your passions.  Though visually impaired, he was determined to make a career out of working with animals… and our Executive Director, Keith, shared that determination.   

Josue came to employU in November of 2012. At the time, employU was a lot smaller than it is today. Keith was doing a lot of the services himself and took on Josue as a client. Josue’s charismatic personality stood out to Keith from the moment he met him. As he got to know Josue, Keith learned that Josue’s impaired vision stemmed from eye drops he was given as a child for a pink eye infection. The drops caused cataracts to develop, and Josue lost his vision at age 6. After seeing another doctor years later as a teenager and receiving treatment, Josue’s vision partially returned. Now Josue has good vision days and not-so good vision days. His vision is low, and he experiences light sensitivity but is able to drive during the day.  

When speaking with Keith, Josue expressed his desire to work with animals. Ultimately, he wanted to be an animal groomer. During this time, employU was still in the beginning stages of development and did not have the resources that we have today. But Keith was determined to help Josue get started on his career path towards his dream job.  

“Seeing how far he’s come, I could not be more proud of him.”

Together, Keith and Josue sent applications to over 50 positions. While they did end up applying to positions in other industries, Keith’s main focus was getting Josue a position working with animals. After interviewing with a few positions, Josue began seeing a pattern. Most businesses wanted to hire someone with experience. Hearing this, Josue decided to postpone the job search and go to school for pet grooming with help from Vocational Rehabilitation (VR). After he completed school, Keith and Josue began the job search once again. 

This time, Josue applied to work at PetCo. After some persistence on both Josue and Keith’s part, Josue got a call from PetCo, offering him a position as a pet stylist. Shortly after starting his new position, Josue called Keith and let him know how much he loved his new job. He had found the right career for him.  

Today, almost ten years later, Josue has built a reputation as a go-to groomer. He has gained experience grooming police canines and many different types of exotic animals. “Seeing how far he’s come, I could not be more proud of him,” Keith expresses. A journey that started with employU, has become a life-long career path proving that passion, persistence, and determination can go a long way.  

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Veterans offer an incredible combination of leadership abilities, unique experiences, and various sets of skills to the workforce. These assets, which were honed during years of military service bring value to employers and communities. But according to a report published by Prudential, two-thirds of veterans experience a challenging transition from military to civilian life. The biggest challenge veterans named is “finding a job.”  Below we go over some of the barriers veterans face when it comes to finding employment and ways employU services can assist in overcoming these challenges.  

Transitioning skills gained during military service to civilian employment 

Explaining how military skills are applicable in a civilian job setting can be difficult for many veterans. Many may know that they are able to fulfill the job duties of an employment opportunity but may not know how to explain why or how they are able to do so.  An employU Employment Specialist is able to assist with this. Translating skillsets and how they apply to different job duties and settings are something our Employment Specialists can communicate to both jobseeking veterans and potential employers. Employment Specialists can also assist Veterans in building their resumes to include these skill sets. 

Out of practice  

Veterans may feel they are out of practice when it comes to conducting an effective job search and interviewing for a job opening.  Not knowing where to look or how to best communicate their skills to potential employers can cause unnecessary challenges for veterans looking for work. Providing the resources needed for a successful career path, an employU Employment Specialist is able to assist each jobseeker in their job search, expertly matching a veteran’s skills to job openings available within their community. An Employment Specialist can also practice interview skills with the jobseeker, as well as attend interviews with them. Ultimately providing the jobseeker with a support system that is much more than just job search assistance, an Employment Specialist acts as a resource, advocate, and employment expert for each client they serve. 

Health concerns  

Physical and mental health challenges acquired during military service often cause concern for veterans looking for employment. Not knowing that accommodations may be available or how to ask for them is another challenge veterans face when looking for a job. Not only does employU offer Self-Advocacy Workshops to teach veteran jobseekers about their rights within the workplace, how to advocate for themselves, and what possible job accommodations can look like, employU Employment Specialists also act as advocates on behalf of the jobseeker. Employment Specialists can work with both the jobseeker and employer to find accommodations that support successful outcomes.  

For more information on free Veteran Employment Services visit https://employu.org/veteran-resources/  

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The youngest of six children, Aiden is a college student who loves being outdoors, enjoys bowling and has a black belt in Taekwondo. A member Phi Theta Kappa, he currently possesses an impressive 3.9 GPA. Aiden came to employU looking to gain more work experience. Though he had previously participated in several Work Based Learning Experiences (WBLE’s), Aiden and his mother both felt that Aiden wasn’t being challenged enough in his previous experiences. Aiden wanted a chance to show his full potential in the workplace.  

As soon as Employment Specialist, Chris, met Aiden, he saw that Aiden was an intelligent, gifted young man. Aiden was scheduled for an interview with Jackie Lytton, the worksite supervisor at Citrus County Chronicle for a WBLE.  He started his WBLE at the Chronicle shortly afterward. Aiden worked as an “Administrative Support.” His main duties consisted of restocking office supplies, relocating leftover newspapers into the recycling area, and preparing mail-out flyers. 

As the weeks progressed at the Chronicle, Chris noticed a change in Aiden’s behavior. Aiden began to demonstrate more confidence and slowly started to come out of his shell.  Aiden’s work performance also left quite an impression on the staff at the Chronicle. During Chris’s routine visits to the worksite, Jackie would frequently share positive feedback and her staff’s experience when interacting with Aiden. Before Aiden could complete his work training at the Chronicle, he received another referral and requested to complete a second work training at the Chronicle. Jackie and the Chronicle staff were very excited that Aiden would have the opportunity to continue working with them.  For his second WBLE with The Chronicle, Aiden worked as a “Newspaper Sorter.” This required him to work with a team, on an assembly line and they would collect the newspapers, assemble them, and stack them into a machine, which would then automatically wrap them into a bundle. He also would routinely stock office supplies in various departments at the worksite, and relocate leftover newspapers into the recycling area. Aiden would also assist with preparing mail-out flyers and auditing and organizing files for the administrative department. 

“My team and I are so thankful that Aiden came to us. He has surpassed all expectations. We never have to worry that he won’t show up or do his list of duties. …He moves so quickly and efficiently. He’s like our little energizer bunny…He is so professional in dealing with the employees. Everyone has noticed him and has enjoyed having his energy and help with their projects,” Jackie says of Aiden. 

“My team and I are so thankful that Aiden came to us. He has surpassed all expectations. We never have to worry that he won’t show up or do his list of duties. …He moves so quickly and efficiently. He’s like our little energizer bunny…He is so professional in dealing with the employees. Everyone has noticed him and has enjoyed having his energy and help with their projects.”

But Jackie isn’t the only one who has noticed Aiden’s growth and success. Aiden’s mom, Cheri, tells us since Aiden joined employU he has progressed in such a positive way and is becoming more confident, communicative, outgoing, and independent. Cheri further states that Aiden has become more outspoken at his church’s youth group and is telling jokes to his peers. Cheri described the positive changes in Aiden’s behavior and stated that each work training has contributed to these important changes in her son’s development as a young adult. Chris explains, “The pride and joy that Cheri had while talking about her son is not something I can easily describe. One thing I did take away from speaking with Cheri was that Aiden’s family was grateful for the employU program and Aiden’s success is certainly a heartfelt experience for all those involved.”  For more information on our employment services visit https://employu.org/client-services/ or contact us using the form below.  

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Whether you’re ready to start a new career path or continue excelling on your current one, our staff at employU can give you the tools and support you need to put your best foot forward and find the right fit for you. Additionally, when you work with us through Vocational Rehabilitation (VR), our services are free of charge to you. VR is a federal-state program that works with individuals with disabilities. Set up as a series of services, VR partners with vendors, such as employU, to facilitate the delivery of these services to its customers. But how do you become a VR customer? Check out the information below to find out more.  

Contact us by filling out the contact us form below.

Once we receive the form, a member of our Relationship Management Team will reach out by email, phone call, or text message to help you get started with the process of becoming a VR customer. Should you have any questions along the way, this employU staff member is just an email or text message away to assist you. Fill out a VR application

The first step in becoming a VR customer is filling out the application. Your employU staff contact will email you the application to fill out. You can also find the applications for adult and youth services here. When filling out the application, make sure to also watch VR’s orientation video. This is required by VR. Once the application is filled out, you can simply email it back to your employU contact and they will submit it to VR on your behalf. 

Processing and eligibility  

Once VR has your application, they will begin processing it. This process time will vary depending on each individual’s unique set of circumstances, but rest assured they will reach out to you soon to discuss the next steps. Every individual has a unique set of circumstances which must be reviewed carefully by VR to determine eligibility. Some situations may take longer than others, so be sure to communicate with your VR counselor once they reach out about their decision process. Timely submissions of documentation and other paperwork requested of you will help the counselor move the process along in your case. 

Prepare for your meeting with your VR Counselor 

When it comes time to meet with your VR Counselor, make sure you are prepared to get the most out of your meeting. This first meeting can take place in the VR office, over the phone, or through video chat. The meeting will last at least an hour. Your VR counselor will ask you about the following topics during your meeting; 

• Your work history information   
• Jobs or fields you are interested in  
• Your disability 
• Your finances 
• Your Supports 

Make sure to bring the following to the meeting with your VR counselor; 

• Recent medical or psychological reports (within the last 3 years)
• Your physician’s name and address
• Your social security card
• Your health insurance card
• Proof that you are permitted to work in the United States, if you are not a U.S. citizen
• Your Medicare or Medicaid card
• Current income information such as current W2s and tax returns (form 1040) 

You can also prepare by reading VR’s handbook linked here.

After the meeting, your VR counselor may send you for additional evaluations or assessments, at no cost to you, if additional information is required. VR will use this information to determine your eligibility. Eligibility Determinations can take up to 60 days to make.

Plan and Vendor Referrals 

Once VR has determined that you are eligible for services, your team at VR will begin writing your Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE). This process can take up to 90 days. The plan also lists services and service providers you are eligible for. If you are a Social Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) beneficiary and would like to receive a benefits analysis to determine how income you receive from working could impact your benefits, you can request a benefits analysis, also called a WIPA referral. It is recommended that you request this before your VR team writes your IPE.

Remember, your VR Counselor is there to help and you have the right to use a service provider of your choosing, like employU. You can ask to be referred to a specific vender and request other services such as; 

• An interpreter
• WIPA (Benefits analysis regarding how employment will affect your benefits for SSI and SSDI recipients)
• Career Counseling and Guidance
• On-the-job Training
• Training and Education
• Assistive Technology
• Job Placement
• Job Coaching 

Begin your path toward success! 

If you choose employU as a provider, your VR counselor will send a referral to employU. Once our staff receives your referral from your VR counselor, your employment services can begin. You will be contacted for an intake where you can discuss your job goals and plan of action with your employU staff member.  

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Finding Jobs in Tallahassee, Panama City, and Florida Panhandle Area

With the workforce significantly evolving over the past few years, finding the right fit for job seekers has become more important than ever. Filling positions with new hires who are in it for the long run benefits both businesses and employees. This is where employU can help.

Over the past 10 years, employU has provided long-term employment solutions for job seekers, businesses, and local communities across the state of Florida. Recently, employU has expanded its services to the Tallahassee, Panama City, and Florida panhandle areas. As a one-stop-shop for disability employment services, employU offers services both virtually and in person. employU’s services are typically free to the client through Vocational Rehabilitation (VR). (Need help getting started through VR? Use the contact us form below and our staff can guide you through the process.)

Services available to the area include:

In-person Services

• Vocational Evaluations – also available virtually
• Psychological Evaluations – also available virtually
• Job Placement and Job Coaching
• Veteran Employment Services
• Paid On-the-Job Trainings 

Virtual services 

• Virtual Youth Services – Career Camps, Self-Advocacy Classes, and Work Readiness Workshops
• Virtual Adult Pre-Employment Training and Self-Advocacy Classes

More than just a job search, employU tailors its services to the individual. This allows employU clients access to career opportunities that best suit their needs and goals. employU also provides the resources and support needed to facilitate long-term, sustainable employment.  Also working with business partners, employU aids businesses in finding employees who add value to their workforce and are great fits for long-term employment. “It’s not just a job search, it’s a support system that helps identify a person’s strength and abilities to secure long-term employment that is fulfilling and rewarding,” explains Executive Director, Keith Bourkney.

With solutions for employers as well, employU’s on-the-job training programs are a risk-free way for businesses to fill the gaps within their workforce. Through these programs, the host businesses have the opportunity to have employU clients work at their business while employU pays the wages. Ongoing support is also part of the program. With an employU Employment Specialist checking in with the customer and their supervisor, clients and businesses can rest assured that they will have help addressing any challenges if needed.

For more on our services visit https://employu.org/client-services/ or visit https://employu.org/business-partners/ to learn how to become an employU business partner.

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Passion Fuels A Career Path:
Jenn’s Story

Jenn is a client who recently graduated from high school and enrolled in Project SEARCH. After several months in Project SEARCH, Jenn found that working in a hospital setting was not for her. Unsure of what she wanted to do now that she was out of school, Jenn was referred for an On-the-Job-Training (OJT) to discover new opportunities in the workforce. When meeting with Jeff, her employment specialist, the first question he asked was, “What is your dream job?” Jenn very quickly answered that she loves horses.

Her mom agreed and told Jeff that when Jenn took riding lessons as a child, she loved the idea of being around horses but did not know if there was a future in that for Jenn. As Jeff and Jenn continued to talk, it became apparent that animal care was Jenn’s passion.

Jeff reached out to a business partner that employU had worked with in the past about a possible OJT for Jenn. This farm was not able to provide the proper support for Jenn but was happy to share in the contact information for Two Points Farm. The owner, Michelle Tiffany, quickly jumped on board and offered Jenn a position with her crew to care for the over 40 horses in her boarding stable. She loved the idea of working with Jenn and helping her discover the possibilities that working with large animals can provide.

In the first two weeks of her OJT, Jenn was tired, sore, and, most importantly, happy at the end of each shift. She made mistakes and learned from them. She didn’t miss a shift and even asked to work on a holiday when her friends had the day off from school.

So, what’s next for Jenn? She has been accepted to Indian River State College’s Project Stage where she hopes to continue her training and participate in their Vet Tech program. Just 3 months ago, the idea of going back to school was a hard no for Jenn. Now she is excited about the idea of working around large animals as a career in barns or with a vet’s office. She has agreed to continue volunteering at Two Points Farm with Michelle and her team to continue to build her skills, learn new jobs around the farm, and eventually get back up on the horse and start taking riding lessons again. Jenn’s mother has noticed the change in Jenn at home. She is a new person and is excited about the idea of going to work each day. Jeff tells us, “Jenn’s smile when she is around the horses tells everything you need to know.” For more information on our youth services, visit https://employu.org/transition-youth-program/ or contact us using the form below.

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As peak seasons approach, many businesses feel the crunch of trying to find skilled employees to meet the demand of their busy season. It’s a fortunate problem to have, but it’s still one that needs to be addressed and often needs to be addressed quickly. employU has a solution. On-the-Job Trainings (OJTs) are not only a way for employU clients to gain work experience and training, but it’s also a risk-free way for businesses to find help for their busy seasons or large projects when they may need an extra hand or two.

What makes OJTs risk-free? When a business partners with employU to become a host business, employU clients interview for the positions, just like any other employee would. But with On-the-Job Trainings, employU is the Employer of Record for IRS reporting. This means employU pays the wages and is responsible for the taxes and payroll associated with employU clients placed in OJTs. Furthermore, liability insurance of $1,000,000 is covered by employU and workman’s compensation insurance is covered by the State of Florida. Ongoing support is also part of On-the-Job Training. An employU Job Coach will visit the worksite on a regular basis to provide support not only to the client, but also to the host business. At each visit, the Job Coach will check in with the client’s supervisor to ensure that everything is going well and any challenges are addressed.

Capture ISG General Manager, Justin Council has found great value in On-the-Job Trainings and regularly placed employU clients to work on his Voice of the Participant (VOP) program. VOP is a highly specialized survey program that is tailored and delivered directly to Vocational Rehabilitation agencies. “By participating… in OJTs, Capture [has] benefitted in so many ways… All of our projects benefit because we have the luxury of having individuals who can lend their thoughts and ideas directly to the program managers, while also being relatable to the respondents on the other end of the phone or Video Phone,” Justin tells employU. “100% of our OJT participants have come from employU, which is why we are so grateful for our partnership… employU is the gem that every company should try to discover.”

OJTs can also serve as a pipeline that deepens the pool of skilled employees for future employment opportunities. Vice President of Compsys, Crystal saw this firsthand with employU client Hasani. Hasani completed a summer On-the-Job Training with Compsys and decided to apply for a full-time position with the company after graduating high school. He was hired, and because of the training he received from his OJT, he has been able to quickly cross-train in different departments. Crystal explains how hard it can be to find skilled employees to fill available positions in the manufacturing industry, “The hard thing with manufacturing is that there is a lack of interest in the younger generation for trades.  So, when you have someone like Hasani, who all he wants to do is work with his hands and build things, those are the types of students you really need to grab onto and foster and train. We couldn’t thank employU enough for the opportunity and for bringing Hasani to us.” 

American Electric COO David Yencarelli agrees that the demand for skilled workers is a difficult one to meet, “There is a shortage of skilled crafter workers in Northeast Florida. employU serves as a pipeline.”

employU staff is also available throughout the OJT to assist businesses in acclimating clients to their new workplace environment. “There was plenty of staff with employU that helped us along the way… They really did all the work for us. They helped with everything… All we really have to do was get their folks put to work,” Crystal explains. “I think that it’s an untapped resource. …It’s just a no brainer. It’s great for the economy. It’s great for the [clients]. It’s great for us.”

For more on how to become a host business with employU visit https://employu.org/business-partners/

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