Fifty-one adults with mental retardation and other secondary dis­abilities are now receiving job coaching, counseling, transportation and other employment support services. Our agency is strongly committed to integrating persons with disabilities into the community and providing employment supports designed to meet their individualized needs.

SMVI has five supported employment models presently in operation. Some of our workers are independently placed in stand-alone jobs in the community with drop-in job coaching as needed. We also have four enclave options to offer: (1) The typical enclave model of 5-7 workers with a job coach paid by SMVI; (2) A training enclave of 3-5 workers in a local store; (3) several local businesses contract with SMVI for the services of the workers; and (4) a volunteer enclave designed to teach the skills that will enable the workers to keep a paid job. Our workers move freely between these models as their needs or skills change.

SMVI's Supported Employment Program has three noteworthy dis­tinctions. 1. We provide door-to-door transportation for all the workers to their jobs and home again; 2. All of our workers are employed all the time. No worker ever has to stay at home because his/her job came to an end. If a worker loses his/her job, we find a temporary place where he/she can work every day until another, more permanent, job is secured; and, 3. We are extremely flexible and can immediately respond to the changing needs of the consumers whose job hours or job site changes without making individuals wait while bureaucracy completes internal processes.

SMVI's Supported Employment hours are dependent on when the workers need to be at their jobs. Presently, we operate from 5:30 AM to 6:30PM.

SMVI Employers

Andrews Air Force Base

Bradford Oaks Nursing Home

Budget Deck Company

Burger King

Chimes

Department of Agriculture

DidLake, Inc

Fort Belvoir

Giant

General Services Administration

Goddard Space and Flight Center (NASA)

Helping Hands Adult Care Daycare

Hillcrest Heights Recreation Center

LaPetite Academy

Marshall’s Department Store

Maryland National Park & Planning

McDonalds

Pentagon

Public Storage

R&L Plumbing

US Soldiers' Home

Value Village Thrift Store 

SPECIFIC SERVICES LIST

SMVI's Supported Employment Services include: Job development; job interview training including role playing; assistance with filling out application forms; transportation to and from the job interview; moral support and counseling; follow-up with prospective employers; negotiation of pay rates, benefits and start dates; on-the-job training and job coaching for individuals as needed; sensitivity training for the other employees at the job sites; education for prospective employ­ers; assisting employers to access Maryland Disability Employment Tax Credit; assisting families to maintain Social Security benefits for the individual while he/she is working; accessing natural supports on the job, e.g. facilitating carpooling, door to door transportation services when needed; assistance with purchasing uniforms to include shopping if necessary; grooming, hygiene training to maintain employment; training on appropriate social behavior on the job; counseling on all manner of issues not limited to employment; three-dances and 1 picnic each year funded by the Board of Directors; problem solving for employers; additional job coaching when the individual needs to brush up on skills, or when job duties change; assis­tance to up-grade jobs and pay rates for ambitious individuals; problem solving for emergent situations; referrals to agencies in areas outside the employment arena for family issues; family counseling and information services. The foregoing is not an all-inclusive listing. If other services are requested, SMVI will either provide or acquire those services as needed.

JOB CLUB

 SMVI’s Supported Employment Services offers the consumers that are unemployed or under employed SMVI’S job club services. SMVI’s job club offers an intensive eight week job training program. The job club program specializes in assisting individuals in independent career goals and obtaining the ideal job match. The job club curriculum addresses the following areas: interview preparations, appropriate work place communication, job development, hygiene skills, proper attire, and work related skills. All participants in SMVI’s job club obtain work experience in the community through volunteer or paid experience. Through job development it is the job club participant’s goal to obtain his/her ideal job in the community.