October 18, 2016

by: Blackbird

Christine

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month! UCP of Greater Cleveland’s OakLeaf Partners is a program that supports adults with disabilities find and retain jobs in the community. Check out Christine’s journey to employment below.

Christine is a motivated young woman who has a strong desire to work out in the community so that she can have the financial resources to continue to live independently. She was referred to UCP’s OakLeaf Partners through an Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) counselor. Christine worked with Oakleaf Partners Job Placement Specialist Eric Hibinger to find a competitive job in the community that was a good fit for her skills and attributes. Job Placement Specialists and their clients work together to make sure the client is prepared for each step of the job search process and ultimately ready to start their job. Christine and Eric’s work together began by identifying careers that fit Christine’s interests and strengths that were also obtainable based on her skill level. They worked on her resume, highlighting the great contributions Christine could make to her future employer, as well as on the interview process, going through sample interview questions and what could be expected.

After the hard work Christine put in, with a little guidance from Eric, Christine was officially offered a job as a Relief Cook for Aramark at Fairview Hospitals. Eric accompanied Christine on her first day to help navigate the new job and the stations she would be responsible for. However, the Job Placement Specialist-Client relationship does not end once the client has a job; the Job Placement Specialist is also there to help the client circumnavigate any issues or concerns they have while they are working in and getting accustomed to their new job.

Once Christine felt comfortable being on her own, she and Eric began off-site job coaching, where the two would talk during her break and after her shift, going over areas of opportunity and potential growth. Eventually, the phone calls began decreasing; they would talk after every other shift, to once a week, and now they speak whenever Christine feels the need. Eric will continue to be a resource for Christine whenever she has questions, concerns or needs help regarding her job over the course of the next year.

Christine noted that having Eric help her with this process made the transition to her new job very smooth. Christine has a manager that she finds encouraging and makes her feel deserving of her job, whether she is chopping fruit, prepping the salad bar, making boxed lunches or called to help on the production line, making meals for the hospital patients. Christine also gained financial stability and a love of the hospitality industry. She loves serving the guests and seeing the positive impact she has on them and the gratitude they express. “Without a doubt, my experience with OakLeaf Partners was wonderful and extremely beneficial,” said Christine. “I would recommend their services to everyone who is in need of some help with finding a job.” With a little help from Eric and OakLeaf Partners, Christine is thriving at a competitive job within the community.

For more information about OakLeaf Partners, please contact OakLeaf Partners Transition Services Manager Sharon Meixner at (216) 791-8363, ext. 1261 or smeixner@ucpcleveland.org.

---