Easterseals Supported Employment And Your Business A Perfect Formula

Independent. Isn’t that what we all yearn to be? People with disabilities are no different. They want to be out in the community, earning competitive wages alongside their peers, and thanks to the Easterseals Supported Employment program, they can do just that.

“I don’t think it’s that different working with someone with a disability. Katie just comes in and does her job. She is fully capable of doing anything that I can do,” says Ashley Benz, General Manager at Capriotti’s, referring to her employee, Katie Vogel, of Smyrna. “Not everyone will give them the opportunity.”

Thankfully, Capriotti did give Katie the opportunity, and she has flourished in her role. Katie is so dedicated that she changed her pickup time for her paratransit bus so she would not be late to the job. She often arrives an hour early to wait for her shift to start.

“It doesn’t matter how much I put on her list, she gets it done,” Ashley says. “She is so determined. She definitely tries to go above and beyond, and I appreciate her for that.”

Held annually, National Disability Employment Awareness Month is observed in October to educate about disability employment issues and celebrate the contributions of American workers with disabilities. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, only 22.5 percent of disabled people were employed in 2023 and the jobless rate for those with a disability was approximately twice as high as the rate for those without a disability. Many people with disabilities want to work but have not been able to secure jobs because of accessibility and attitudinal barriers.

When asked why Katie likes working at Capriotti’s, she responded, “because it is fun.” It is great to have a job you enjoy. When she is not working, she spends time at the SPCA and helps to rehome kittens with her mom. 

“People with disabilities are capable of doing whatever they want, and they learn fast too,” says Katie’s Easterseals Employment Specialist, Jennifer Lopez. “If you have the support from Easterseals and the natural support from the business, you have the perfect formula. When businesses hire one of the Easterseals participants, they will have support. They won't be alone. And the business will have an employee who is reliable, someone who, like Katie, will ask, ‘What can I do next?’.”

Easterseals can help businesses hire workers with disabilities through either Individual or Group Supported Employment Services. With the help of Easterseals Employment Specialists, workers with disabilities are matched with jobs in local businesses. Employment Specialists provide ongoing individualized training and coaching to ensure long-term success on the job. In group supported employment, small groups of participants work with on-site support and supervision by Easterseals staff.

Currently, Easterseals works with more than 60 businesses statewide, supporting more than 80 individuals with disabilities in competitive employment. To learn more about how Easterseals can help you find the perfect employee for your business, call Jane Schuler at 302-324-4444.