Effort helps developmentally disabled Ohioans work

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The place is big, busy and
neon-lit. Mike Groleau had never spent time at a racino before, much
less worked for one. He instantly felt overwhelmed.
"Everything was going over my head," Groleau said.
But
he had a strategy, and he reminded himself to stick with it: Be honest.
Help them understand your disability. Tell them you’re going to give
them 100 percent. They just might have to be a little easy with you at
first.
That was about seven weeks ago, and already Groleau smiles at the memory.
"I’m very comfortable now," he said of his new job at Scioto Downs Racetrack & Casino.

At
39, the Circleville resident is competitively employed for the first
time in his life. He’s among hundreds of Ohioans with developmental
disabilities who have received additional help finding community jobs
since Gov. John Kasich launched the state’s Employment First directive
two years ago.
The policy aims to sharply decrease Ohio’s reliance
on segregated settings and workshops by mandating a preference for
community employment. State officials set a goal of increasing community
employment by 10 percent, to 7,727 working-age adults, by June 30. As
of Dec. 30, it was up by about 8.5 percent.
"We’re pretty pleased
with that number in terms of ramping up the initiative," said Kristen
Helling, who leads the Employment First project through the Ohio
Department of Developmental Disabilities.
Outreach to employers is a big part of the initiative.
Many
worry they won’t have enough time to devote to training employees with
developmental disabilities. A few hear the word disability "and tend to
imagine the extreme," said Patrick Kilbane, a transition-services
specialist for the Pickaway County Board of Developmental Disabilities.
Kilbane
works to reveal the benefits to both sides. He helped Groleau and four
other board clients get jobs in food-service operations at Scioto Downs,
putting together video resumes, a job fair and orientation sessions.
The
racino wanted to keep employee turnover rates down. Kilbane explained
that Groleau and the others, once settled, were likely to be dependable
and loyal.
"Training is the most-expensive process for any
company, and they had job coaches. With no high turnover, that kills two
birds with one stone," said Ashley Redmon, the advertising and
public-relations manager at Scioto Downs.
Sep Adams, manager of
food and beverage operations, said his new employees have handled the
racino’s pace and bustle just fine. Groleau works in the employee and
customer cafes.
"It’s a casino, it’s busy, and I didn’t want to
set anyone up for failure," Adams said. "But I was totally open to it,
and it’s been great. Mike is awesome."
Kilbane said the match is a score on many levels.
"All
five have access to full benefits. In our field, we don’t often see
this," he said. "I was blown away. Benefits are almost never on the
table."
Many programs are under the Employment First umbrella.
Groleau is the first from Pickaway County to be hired through a
partnership between the state’s Department of Developmental Disabilities
and Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities, which provides
counselors to help people move from segregated settings to community
employment.
"A lot of employers turn you down" or they give a "one-day chance" instead of a week
or two, Groleau said.
He
is glad the racino let him prove himself. "Being in the community is so
much better. My co-workers — and the food — are just the best."
___
Information from: The Columbus Dispatch, http://www.dispatch.com
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights
reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or
redistributed.

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