Special Needs Resource Directory

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Employment and Adult Day Programs

Seeking employment as a young adult with special needs can present some unique challenges, such as training and job matching based on an individual's abilities. The Center for Infants and Children with Special Needs at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center puts patients and families in touch with special resources designed to help conquer these challenges.

Constant Companions is a unique alternative to traditional work or day programs for people with mental retardation and developmental disabilities. The program focuses on the interaction between people with disabilities and animals such as dogs, cats, rabbits, birds and fish. These animals are used as teaching aids to encourage participants to nurture and learn about the animals in their care.
Easter Seals Work Resource Center (WRC) assists individuals with disabilities with job placement, job coaching, employment options and job skills development.
Great Oaks
Inclusive Solutions provides drop-in and residential services, unique day support and vocational services, and transportation to individuals through out the state of Ohio.
Job Accommodation Network (JAN) is a service provided by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy. JAN provides employers, people with disabilities and their family members with information on job accommodations
MRDD (Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities) offers a Job Development program. Discuss a referral to this program with your Service Facilitator.
The Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati offers the Work Incentives Planning and Assistance Program for people with disabilities in Brown, Butler, Clinton, Clermont, Hamilton, Highland and Warren Counties. The Center educates individuals about work incentives that helps workers with disabilities maintain financial stability and medical coverage while transitioning into the workforce.
New Perceptions provides job placement and long-term training / coaching with community employers for individuals with developmental disabilities and mental retardation who reside in Northern Kentucky.
Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission (RSC), through the Bureau of Services for the Visually Impaired (BSVI) and the Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation (BVR), helps people with disabilities prepare for careers consistent with their interests and abilities. RSC also helps people maintain their current employment, if their disability is threatening continued employment. Vocational rehabilitation provides direct, personalized services to help people with disabilities get jobs. A counselor will work with you on a one-to-one basis to plan an individualized program designed to lead to gainful employment. You can find the local RSC office in your area.
Ohio Valley Goodwill Industries is a comprehensive employment and training center providing work training, job placement and follow-along services. Goodwill also offers transition planning assistance, vocational assessment, social / recreational alternatives to full-time work, personal care assistance, assistive technology and nursing support.
Project SEARCH
Redwood, located in Northern Kentucky, provides vocational programs and life experiences to children and adults with disabilities.
Visionaries & Voices is a studio / gallery created specifically for artists with disabilities to grow both personally and professionally.
Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies help people who have physical or mental disabilities prepare for, find or keep employment. Services can include counseling and guidance to help the individual plan vocational goals, adjust to the working world, training to learn job skills in trade school, college, university, on the job or at home.

Other Helpful Sites

Equal Opportunity Publications, Inc. publishes career magazines for women, members of minority groups, and people with disabilities.
Job Access enables people with disabilities to enhance their professional lives by providing a dedicated system for finding employment.
NISH is a national nonprofit agency that helps provide technical assistance to Community Rehabilitation Programs (CRPs) interested in obtaining federal contracts under the Javits-Wagner-O'Day (JWOD) Program.
Think Beyond the Label provides ideas to businesses on how to make accommodations for employees with disabilities.

For additional information, visit the Education and Transitions sections of the Resource Directory.