Prepare & Place
Services people with disabilities need to live an empowered life.
Opportunity Center-Easterseals prepares and places people with disabilities into meaningful roles by working with referring agencies and hiring partners.
Eligibility
Determine if you or a referral are a good fit for Opportunity Center-Easterseals client services and programs, and learn the next steps.
Who is the workforce program for?
Who qualifies for workforce development programs?
- Must be an Alabama resident.
- Must be at least 16 years of age. There is no maximum age limit.
- Must have a physical or mental impairment that substantially impedes employment.
- Must benefit from services in terms of going to work.
Next Steps
Consumer
If you are an individual interested in workforce preparation and placement, view our guide on contacting ADRS to begin the referral process.
Referrer
If you are referring a person with disabilities for workforce preparation and placement, please contact us at (256) 820-9960 or email [email protected].
Evaluation
Consumers receive vocational assessment services to explore and discover work talents and possible career paths and opportunities.
About Vocational Evaluation
About Vocational Evaluation Results
Next Steps
Consumer
If you are an individual interested in workforce evaluation, view our guide on contacting ADRS to begin the referral process.
Referrer
If you are referring a person with disabilities for workforce evaluation, please contact us at (256) 820-9960 or email [email protected].
“This is a very good program at the Opportunity Center, and I recommend anyone that is eligible for services to get help from the OC. My Employment Specialist did all she could to assist me with finding work and was very professional! ”
— Gloria
Discovery & Development
Job Preparation
A group of services provided to assist a consumer to become prepared and proficient for employment. These services may include: Assessing job readiness, job readiness skills including all forms of job search activities, preparing for pre-employment evaluations, job interviews, mock interviewing skills, filling out all forms of applications, dress, grooming, and other appropriate skills relating to the pre-employment process.
Job Development
Consumers enter into job development services to work with an employment specialist on developing resumes and completing applications. Opportunity Center-Easterseals has an experienced team ready to assist and serve you in preparation for employment.
Workplace Adjustment
Workplace Adjustment (WPA) consists of reasonable adjustments within the workplace and is known as reasonable accommodations designed for the individual. These adjustments may include adaptations to the job, including modification of machinery and equipment and/or of an employee’s job content, working time, and work organization.
Who: Adults
Goal: Job Development and Placement
Job Placement
On-Site Job Training
Opportunity Center-Easterseals consumers are offered on-the-job training, which includes job rotation, coaching, job instruction, or training through step-by-step and committee assignments.
Who: Adults
Goal: Job Development and Placement
JOB Retention
Effective job retention practices can lead to higher productivity, better morale, and a stronger company culture.
Who: Adults
Goal: Job Development and Placement
Next Steps
Consumer
If you are an individual interested in workforce evaluation, view our guide on contacting ADRS to begin the referral process.
Referrer
If you are referring a person with disabilities for workforce evaluation, please contact us at (256) 820-9960 or email [email protected].
Transition
Project SEARCH
Project SEARCH is a dedicated program focused on educating and training young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Project SEARCH also allows student interns to have a variety of work experiences, explore different careers, and learn competitive work skills in a wide range of settings.
Who: High School Students and Young Adults
Goal: Job Development and Placement
Workplace Readiness
The Opportunity Center-Easterseals Workplace Readiness program partners with the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation and over 20 local schools to educate, train, and guide students and young adults through various programs that prepare them for the workplace.
College & Educational Tours
College tours allow students time to get answers to important questions. They are allowed access to other college students, financial aid and admissions staff, and faculty members. The students can learn more about class sizes, campus life, and details about applying for admission and scholarships.
Who: High School Students and Young Adults
Goal: Job Development and Placement
Industry Tours
Industry tours are typically 60–90-minute experiences, including a workplace tour and intentional career conversations with various professionals. Industry Tours offer many benefits to students, including providing career exposure to students and broadening their ideas of what is possible.
Who: High School Students and Young Adults
Goal: Career Exploration and Development
Internships
Interns participate in three internships to explore a variety of career paths.
Who: High School Students and Young Adults
Goal: Career Exploration and Development
Smart Work Ethics
A class that is taught to mostly seniors in high school. This is based on referrals from VR counselors. The program teaches workforce employability skills. It is broken down into eight classes.
Who: High School Students and Young Adults
Goal: Career Exploration and Development
Vocational Evaluations
Examines and identifies a person’s career interests, work-related skills, and develop employment goals.
Who: High School Students and Young Adults
Goal: Career Exploration and Development
Summer JETS
The Summer JETS Program allows students to receive training in job exploration, career assessment, social skills training, mock interviewing, resume preparation, and self-advocacy training. They can get paid work experience in a community setting as part of the program. We arranged for each student to be placed within a business to gain knowledge and experience in a competitive environment. Upon satisfactorily participating in the training, the employer may hire the student.
Who: Rising Junior and Senior High School Students
Duration: 3 Weeks
Goal: Job Exploration and Development
Driver’s Permit Class
By obtaining a driver’s permit and developing driving skills, young individuals can significantly enhance their job prospects and career opportunities, making them more versatile and attractive to potential employers.
Who: High School Students and Young Adults
Goal: Career Exploration and Development
Practical Money Skills
By mastering practical money skills, young people can, make informed financial decisions, and work towards achieving their financial goals.
Who: High School Students and Young Adults
Goal: Career Exploration and Development
VR Training
Virtual Reality Training is the digital simulation of lifelike scenarios for training purposes. Trainees enter a 360°, active learning environment, experiencing sights and sounds that dissolve the virtual and actual reality barrier. This VR will be introduced to students and consumers looking to enter the workforce.
Who: Adults
Goal: Job Development and Placement
Next Steps
Consumer
If you are an individual interested in workforce evaluation, view our guide on contacting ADRS to begin the referral process.
Referrer
If you are referring a person with disabilities for workforce evaluation, please contact us at (256) 820-9960 or email [email protected].
Common Questions
What does it cost to participate in programs offered by the Opportunity Center-Easterseals to people with disabilities?
A: The Opportunity Center-Easterseals has several programs that provide various services to people with disabilities, none of which cost the individual participant or his/her family anything. Please visit the What We Do tab on the homepage for more details and to submit an inquiry for more information.
How do I get a job at Opportunity Center-Easterseals?
A: Opportunity Center jobs are intended for persons with disabilities who are, due to those disabilities, excluded from jobs in the competitive workplace. Positions are filled based on eligibility, job availability and need. For more information, please call (256) 820-9960, or see our current job openings http://www.phoenixhsv.org/job-openings/
How can you help support?
A: You can support the Opportunity Center-Easterseals services with disabilities through a variety of giving options: donations, corporate sponsors, tribute and memorials, and gift securities.
Since 1956, Opportunity Center-Easterseals has empowered thousands of people with disabilities by preparing and placing them in the local workforce.
Let’s Work Together
Without Opportunity Center and partnerships from agencies and local businesses, it’s difficult for people with disabilities to prepare and find jobs that are a win-win for them and their employers. This is discouraging and causes people to lose hope.
Together, with your partnership, we empower people with disabilities to discover their capabilities and do meaningful work across many fields and duties.
As a consumer or referring agency, you can partner with Opportunity Center to access the job training, opportunity, and support needed for people with disabilities to live empowered lives.
