COMMUNITY EMPLOYMENT
Enjoyable, Meaningful Employment
Employment Services
ADEC’s community employment consultants work with individuals to understand their skills and preferences by using hands on assessments, job shadowing, and interviews. In cooperation with vocational rehabilitation and local businesses, ADEC supports individuals in Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties, providing job matching, coaching, and support at no cost to employers. Once employed, consultants offer individualized levels of support to aid the success of both participants and employers.
Skills Training
ADEC’s Skills & Training Center is dedicated to assisting participants in discovering and utilizing their individuals abilities in the workplace, at home, and within the community through interactive classroom instruction and activity. The program is open to all individuals 18 or older with intellectual and developmental disabilities interested in developing personal independence for living and working in the community. It is not a one-size-fits-all program but is instead catered to each participant’s diverse needs and individual goals with the intention of promoting personal growth in maximizing functional ability, independence, and exposure to daily life activities.
Project SEARCH
Project SEARCH is a transition-to-work program for individuals with disabilities. The one-year employment preparation program takes place entirely within Beacon Memorial Hospital in partnership with ADEC, the South Bend Community School Corporation, and Vocational Rehabilitation. Total workplace immersion facilitates a seamless combination of classroom instruction, career exploration, and hands-on training through worksite rotations. At the end of the program, participants are celebrated with a graduation for their individualized job development.
Pre-ETS
Pre-Employment Transition Services are designed for students with disabilities between the ages of 14 and 22. These services aim to assist them in transitioning from school to work by providing essential skills and experiences for successful employment. The Pre-ETS Program comprises five key service areas: job exploration and counseling, work-based learning experiences, counseling on post-secondary education, workplace readiness training, and self-advocacy instruction.
