More Than a Paycheck: The Reward of Meaningful Employment
When someone accepts a job offer, it is a time for excitement and celebration. At the same time, this is when the real work begins. Work that includes:
- navigating the onboarding & training process, any accommodations, and connecting to benefits counseling if needed
- providing thoughtful, intentional, person-centered support that can be gradually faded to promote greater on-the-job independence
- establishing a positive rapport with coworkers and fostering natural supports that an individual can lean on
With the number of challenges along the way, it can be easy to question why a job seeker, Employment Specialist, or anyone for that matter, takes on this typically bumpy path toward sustainable employment. The reason is that when all these pieces fall into place, and a person is in the right fit, employment can be a powerful vehicle for growth in a person’s life.
This payoff, including benefits that never appear on a paystub, is the reason we – the Mainstay Employment Support team – do the ever-challenging work that we do on a daily basis. Someone that brings their own unique value and talent to the right workplace can, in turn, receive a greater sense of inclusion, belonging and purpose. They can create and feel a stronger connection with their community and take steps toward career building. And yes, the pay that a person earns through competitive integrated employment helps to unlock all the other goals they want to achieve in life.
So, during the month of October, as we celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month, I’d like to take time to celebrate all those who, despite the challenges, strive toward their own unique employment goals, and the Employment Specialists who support them on this journey.
I also hope you get to check out a few samples of this work in action through our social media posts throughout the month.