What Are the Basics of Supported Employment Services?
Supported employment services provide a valuable series of tools for your family member as she continues to try to be as independent as she can. These types of services may make all the difference for her in terms of helping her to get a job that she loves.
Supported Employment Defined
Supported employment is a way for people with developmental disabilities to work in a job independently, but to also have support as needed for a variety of issues and concerns. The types of support needed will be different for each individual and that’s an important feature of this type of habilitation help.
Preparing for Finding a Job
There’s work to do before starting the job search, and habilitation specialists can help your family member with that work. There are skills that are difficult for everyone to master, like putting together a resume, but there are other tasks, too. Filling out a job application is an essential part of the process and it’s important for someone with a developmental disability to have practice doing that beforehand.
Obtaining a Job
Once an active job search is in play, your family member has other tasks to tackle. Ensuring that the job is one that she’s able to do or learn to do as she goes is one of those tasks. But there are others, like interviewing and understanding what an interview is all about. Practicing interviews before being put on the spot in one can make all the difference.
Working and Retaining the Job
Getting hired at a job is the big goal, of course, but your family member wants to stay employed, too. Tackling challenges like understanding her schedule, getting ready for work, and being on time to work is all crucial. While she’s at work, she may need prompts and guidance as the work shift progresses.
Completing Goals Along the Way
There may be other goals along your family member’s path. She may have goals related to how many hours per week she’s able to work or being able to eventually work a job without being actively supported during every shift. These are valid goals and they’re likely very achievable with time and practice. Other goals are also possible, depending on your family member’s needs.
Residential habilitation services can help your family member to put goals together for employment and to work toward achieving those goals in the best way for her.
If you are considering autism resources in Greenwood, IN, please call the caring staff at RSI Cares. Serving Greater Indianapolis Area. Call for Immediate Info & Assistance: 317-471-0750.
As a practicing Registered Nurse, Etelka was keenly aware of a void in quality patient care that could be provided in the home. She embarked upon a journey to develop a home health care agency that would exceed all expectations and become a trusted partner to physicians and patients.
A Distinguished Career From Nurse to Director of Nursing to President of Home Services Unlimited
Etelka’s distinguished career followed a logical progression to her position as President of Home Services Unlimited. She graduated as a nurse practitioner with a Bachelor of Nursing (RN) in 1972 from Meshgorya University in the Ukraine, close to where she lived with her family. She married her husband Phil in 1973 and decided in 1977 that they would relocate to the United States to be closer to family and to come to this land of opportunity. With an eagerness to continue her budding career, Etelka sat for and passed her Boards in the U.S. in 1979.
A Love and Talent for Working with the Elderly
Etelka began her nursing career in the U.S. at Colonial Crest, now part of Golden Living, where shewasthe In-service Coordinator, the Director of Training and Education and Director of Nursing, a position she occupied for several years.
With a group of partners, she co-founded Adept Corporation, which operated group homes for the mentally challenged. The business was successful and in 1996, Etelka sold her share to return to her roots, caring for the elderly.
In January of 1997, Etelka opened Home Services Unlimited as a fully licensed business to provide home health care. In her quest to learn to do better for her patients, she had already obtained a Masters in Healthcare Administration (MHA) in May of 1990 from the College of St. Francis. As President of Home Services Unlimited, Inc., Etelka guides the trusted, experienced care model Home Services Unlimited uses to continue providing excellent home health care.
Giving Back to the Community of Indianapolis
Volunteering for community services is a high priority for Etelka. Her memberships include the Indiana Association of Rehabilitation Facilities, Executive Women in Health Care and the Indiana Association for Home and Hospice Care, where she is a member of the Board of Directors.
Etelka has also served on the Board of Directors with Hooverwood Home, a highly regarded geriatric facility, since 1997 and as the President for 2005-2006. Through her community work, she has received several awards and accolades, including the Nora McFarland award in 2002, from the Indiana Association of Home and Hospice Care.
Etelka was honored as a “Health Care Hero” by the Indianapolis Business Journal. The issue can be read online here:
http://mags.ibj.com/activemagazine/welcome/html/ibjhch.html.
After clicking on the link, then click on the image of the issue’s front page. After that, you can browse through the issue or click in a box near the top of your internet browser to adjust the page to 17, which is where Etelka’s article appears.
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