Overview • Voc. at the Groden Center • Voc. at the Cove Center • Vocational Sites
Overview
Self-esteem, a positive identity, and a sense of accomplishment are benefits that vocational training and employment can offer to a person. The opportunity to be a productive worker and to contribute to the community promotes independence and enhances awareness of the value of person’s with disabilities.
The Groden Network Vocational and Employment programs for youth and adults assist individuals to discover interests and to develop the skills necessary for employment in the community. Through job sampling in the community and in our training centers, each individual has the opportunity to experience a variety of vocational opportunities. Once preferences are identified, intensive training is provided to assist individuals in acquiring the vocational and social skills essential to employment success.
Our Vocational and Employment programs serve individuals 14 years and older. Most of the individuals served are already participants in our Network services. In some cases, individuals are referred for specific vocational services such as vocational assessment or job-related social skill training. Referral sources include local education departments and the Office of Rehabilitation Services. While the Groden Network has developed a reputation for high quality services for individuals with autism, our vocational program has recently expanded into serving individual with other challenges such as mental illness.
Vocational Training at the Groden Center
Vocational training at The Groden Center’s day program focuses on comprehensive vocational assessment and the development of core vocational skills. Students undergo a comprehensive vocational assessment at age 14 to identify skills and general vocational interests. Individual vocational goals are developed from this assessment, and blended with the student’s academic, social, and behavioral goals in an integrated multi-disciplinary approach.
One example of how student goals are integrated is through the identification and reinforcement of vocational interests. As the student samples different jobs, he/she is prompted to communicate directly with staff about preferences and dislikes. Expression of vocational preference is reinforced systematically through job accommodation, job carving, and sometimes, job changes. What begins as a vocational experience quickly becomes a holistic learning experience; one that incorporates the development of vocational, communication, and functional community skills.
A typical vocational program for a student at the Groden Center might include work experiences and opportunities in clerical work, light assembly, horticulture in the Groden Greenhouse, recycling, computers, and the delivery of Meals on Wheels. Other goals and activities can be customized based on the specific interests and abilities of the student.
Vocational Training at the Cove Center
The Cove Center Vocational Program emphasizes the inclusion of the individual into the community to engage in productive, paid employment. Most adults receiving services through the Cove Program engage in paid or non-paid community employment. Similar to the Groden Center program, adults starting their employment search undergo a community-based vocational assessment. From this assessment, vocational goals are set and prospective jobs developed. In many cases, there is a simultaneous emphasis on teaching vocational skills while working with prospective employers to modify tasks or duties as needed.
Developing meaningful vocational skills and getting a job is a significant event for many of the adults we support. Opportunities for reinforcement are plentiful – from reinforcement for learning a new skill to a positive identity and recognition as a community member. In addition, the community has benefited from an increased awareness of the needs and capacities of the adult with autism.
A typical vocational and employment program for an adult participating in the Cove program is difficult to describe because there is such variation. Similar to the Groden Center program, the individual might be involved in horticulture at the Groden Network Greenhouse, or delivering Meals on Wheels. In addition, people are working computer jobs at Amica Insurance, recycling at Wheaton College, window washers for a company called Squeegie Clean, at ESP and Pastry Art Wholesale Bakers, Moses Brown school, Domino’s, Pizza Hut, the Car Store, the TK Club and various other sites. Additionally, jobs within the Groden Network have been created and customized to meet the employment needs of the Network while capturing the unique vocational skills of many of our clients.
Vocational Training and Employment Sites
Following are descriptions of a few work sites that employ individuals receiving vocational services through the Groden Network.
The Greenhouse
Located in the historic North Burial Ground in Providence, the once abandoned greenhouse has flourished under the care of the Groden Network since 1995.
Groden Network clients sample and learn a variety of vocational skills at the Greenhouse, including arts, crafts and digital photography. However, training is focused on greenhouse operations – planting seeds, watering, crop transplantation, arranging flowers, delivering plants to customers, and customer relations. Horticultural training is individualized to the skills of the person. Learning to work independently is a source of pride for all clients at the Greenhouse!
The Greenhouse has both retail and wholesale customers, and is open to the public for sales. As a full-service greenhouse, houseplants and floral arrangements are available year round.
Our hours are: Monday – Friday, 9:00 am – 3:30 pm
Saturday, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
401-421-9780
Wheaton College
Through a creative affiliation, Wheaton College and the Groden Network have developed a large scale recycling program at the College. With the support of several job coaches, 15 individuals from the Cove and Groden programs meet the recycling needs of Wheaton for paper, cans and bottles. The individuals involved in this program are making wages based on industry standards and have developed an appreciation for the collegiate atmosphere and beauty of the Wheaton campus!
Squeegie Clean
Squeegie Clean is a Providence based window washing business in existence for over 10 years. Squeegie Clean employs three young men who, with the support of a Cove Center job coach, service between 35-40 local businesses. The young men have made several new friends in the 10 years of operation. New accounts are always welcome!