Turning Gears works with individuals with disabilities who have been referred from Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD). Individuals who have a disability and are interested in our services must first see if they are eligible for services through OOD. This is done by calling the Youngstown OOD office and asking to see if they are eligible for services. OOD Counselors then refer cases to Turning Gears. Turning Gears provides the following services:
Job Assistance
Job Assistance is the service which helps participants obtain and maintain employment. The Job Development Team assists participants by preparing them to apply, interview, and secure a job. Job Assistance services are tailored based on the participant’s skills, past work experience, and the vocational goal set with their OOD Counselor.
Job Developers train and support participants in all aspects of the job search:
- Assist with the identification of transferable skills
- Resume development
- Interviewing techniques
- Responding to job opportunities
- Finalizing a job offer
- Onboarding with new employer
- Addressing any barrier on the path to employment.
Once a participant starts working, Turning Gears maintains contact with them for a minimum of 3 months to ensure a successful transition to work. Participants and employers are welcome to contact Turning Gears should a question or concern arise after the 3-month follow along period. Turning Gears has an unparalleled retention rate: 85% of participants who find employment through Turning Gears remain in their job. Turning Gears takes pride in ensuring participant’s are matched with the right positions.
Below is a video regarding one of many companies we find that are committed to hiring individuals with disabilities. The video wonderfully show the impact that employment can have on individuals with disabilities and the impact those individuals can have on the companies that hire them.
Community Work Experience Assessment and Adjustment.
A Community Work Experience Assessment (CWE Assessment) identifies a participant’s strengths, skills, resources and potential barriers to employment through a short-term paid work experience at a local work site. A Job Coach is with the participant the entire time to get daily work assignments for the day as well as provide feedback and guidance to the participant. The CWE Assessment is a great way for a participant to gain work experience, explore career options, and attain new skills.
Following the completion of a CWE Assessment, a participant can complete a Community Work Experience Adjustment (CWE Adjustment) for additional training in building work skills. The CWE Adjustment will assist an individual in developing or further enhancing their work skills and behaviors in order to move towards employment. The focus of the CWE Adjustment is on increasing work performance and addressing issues that would interfere with a participant being successfully employed.
Turning Gears has a number of work sites that participate in the CBA/WA program. The interests and goals of the individual are considered when determining which work site(s) an individual will complete their assessment. Some of our current work sites include:
Big Lots Residence Inn Nutrition Group
Giant Eagle Save-A-Lot Sweet Memories Vintage Tees & Candy
Summer Youth Work Experience
The Summer Youth Work Experience (SYWE) is for students with disabilities between the ages of 14-21. Like a CWE Assessment, it is a time-limited work experience at a local work site. The student would work alongside a Job Coach, other students participating in the program, and work site employees. The SYWE allows students to explore potential career options, gain work experience, gain work skills, and prepare them for the transition from work to school.
Pre-ETS
Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) are courses designed to assist students with disabilities in developing basic skills needed in the transition from work to school. Turning Gears can provide courses at school in coordination with teachers and intervention specialists or in the community such as at a library. Most courses have a combination of PowerPoint presentation, discussion and activities on course topics. Turning Gears facilitates 4 of the courses: Job Exploration Counseling, Work Based Learning, Workplace Readiness Training, and Instruction in Self-Advocacy.
Employer Benefits of working with Turning Gears
- Avenue of community service by partnering with Turning Gears as a work site for our participants.
- Extra labor: as a work site, a Job Coach would work with participants on site providing labor at no cost to you. Both the Job Coach and participant are covered under Turning Gears’ Worker’s Compensation.
- Save time and money in advertising, interviewing, and cutting lag time of an unfilled position with a convenient pool of pre-screened candidates from Turning Gears.
- Turning Gears ensures each participant is matched with the right position, which eliminates turnover hiring hiring costs and increases employee retention.