Finding employment for youth with Autism or any specific need in this area is sometimes a difficult task. However, I have plenty of ideas that could be forged through employment with partners here in Oklahoma instead of paying the high price of “Oklahoma Project Search.”
My paper hopes an In-depth look at “Oklahoma Project Search,” and the national roots of “Project Search;” will show huge need of programs for youth with disabilities that deliver a program of fulfillment with a better comparative outlook.
Hard questions I produced and sent to the National Project Search program are seen below from my letter to projectsearch@cchmc.org..
Sandra Adcock August 23, 2013 2:09AMTo: ProjectSEARCH@cchmc.org cost lisc fee
“I was wondering the cost of licensing fees for each site?
Specifically what it cost the state, say Oklahoma, or school
district, or each agency? Or, do all pay a fee or contribute to
process?Why such high costs for the job coach?Why such
high cost for bonus of employment?Define successful
employment? 3 months?What is the percent success in terms
of (please put for Oklahoma stats if you will) –
Employment in years in these: $ amount per hour
$7-$10 $10-$12 $12-$14
$14-$20 $20 and above.
Also, what % jobs provide health insurance?”
Instead of the National Project Search in/@ Cincinnati Children’s getting back with me, the local or state head (I think but not sure) in Oklahoma replied back. I was given information about the program but direct questions were not answered. Or, if they went unanswered the explanation for such was missed on my part.
On Sep 4, 2013, at 1:57 PM, “Goldston, Judi F.” wrote: Hi Sandra: I am the Project SEARCH Statewide Coordinator for Oklahoma. Your information request has been forwarded to me by the National office. My apology for the delayed response.Then the later was writing writing writing.
Ms. Goldston did a nice job of explaining how Project Search did this and that. How the first program opened in 2007. She gave me the total of current active sites involved in Project Search. Says there is a blending of currents and funding.
One answer concerning the license cost for each new site is the cost runs three hundred dollars per year. This seems and I think is reasonable. Project Search appears to be touted as Oklahoma’s answer to the problem of finding jobs for those with autism and other disabilities in our current time.
Ms. Goldston said they follow the guidelines of DRS regarding employment success. From what Ms Goldston wrote to me in the reply, answers from Kimberly Osmani, and others; that success means a person worked for three months. This is a typical employer’s probationary period.
Project Search follows the school year. Why is this? Does this mean OKDRS doesn’t have to follow these people in the summer? Why would they follow the school year? Thus, I will assume all stipulations on Voc. Rehab Counselors and Vendor Job Coaches goes through the same time frame of the school year. Does this go for ten months or what happens if a school system now has adopted the year round calendar? Does this mean the Project Search employees will not go with the year round calendar?
This is one more thought I had and something I want you to hold in your head when I get to the stipulations of wage for the Vocational Rehab Counselor or Job Vendor Salary that comes in the agreement with Project Search, and now I am told many other job vendors or projects.
Now looking at my other questions and the information given; I would say other questions and information I wanted was left unanswered. The attempt to fulfill my needs was interesting but not worth looking at in my opinion.
Kimberly Osmani told me the successful employment term went for all job vendors in Oklahoma. The payment for the job coach or vendor was the same as for Project Search. She may say she mislead me by mistake or I did not follow this highly specific question but I made sure to get the response right. If what she says is true and we pay all OKDRS Job Vendors and Coaches $1500 for successful employment at and after three months; the program needs to be looked at by the State Senate, Governor and House with a fine tooth comb and mirror.
I asked Osmani, while I had her on the phone today Sept. 16 at close to 5pm in 2012, why at a Transition Workshop if she knew an answer was misleading or not the full intent of the parent, me, wanted in an answer; why she did not correct the answer. She told me it was not her place or job to do so. Yet, at workshop put on by the Oklahoma Autism Network where I asked what the prevailing wage was for those in a Sheltered Workshop; a person from OAN went on to make it look like these Workshops were okay because they could theoretically make ten times the prevailing wage. The simple honest answer would be most often the wage is under the legal minimum wage. I don’t care what the wage is. I wanted the common and decent answer. After all wasn’t the point to education parents on Transition? Giving full complete honest information is what should happen. If a person from a different department of the state government knows it then say so. Or, is their job more important than that of those they serve; in this case the most needed and vulnerable members of our society.
Here are specifics from a PDF on Project Search with regard to wage and salary of the Job Coaches. Remember Osmani told me this went for most OKDRS Vendors. I will state this an assumption. It must be the same for OKDHS employment programs which Osmani often teams with to help in the Transition part of her job. Below are the facts from the PDF;
Those that participate in program Project Search are considered “UNPAID INTERNS.’
THE GROUP SPECIFIED AS IN THE CIRCLE;
A SCHOOL
A HOST BUSINESS
DEPARTMENT OF REHABILITATION SERVICES (OKRS)
UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA NATIONAL CENTER FOR DISABILITY EDUCATION AND TRAINING (OU-NCDET) PROVIDER
Each site will have eight to ten students at a site.
School provides:
Full time Teacher’s salary and benefits
Transportation (MAYBE)
Lunches (MAYBE)
Materials and supplies
National Site License
Part of Uniform Expense
Student Liability Expense
Host Business
Classroom space
Access to Intern and phone
Access to staff and departments
Internal Marketing (what this is I do not know or why it is needed)
OKDRS
Funds for 1 – 2 job coaches
Part of uniform expense
Contract with OU – NCDET for technical assistance (Why do we pay them this? What does it cover? You start calling and asking. I will provide the phone numbers at the end of this paper)
ROLE OF OU-NCDET
Provide liaison with National Project SEARCH
Assist to identify, connect, and coordinate partners
Assist the team to develop a project plan with timeframes Assist partners with initial steps of implementation Provide ongoing training and technical assistance Evaluate the success of Project SEARCH Maintain model integrity
VOCATIONAL REHAB JOB COACHING AND COUNSELING EMPLOYMENT MUSTS IN THE ORIGINAL PROJECT SEARCH OR OKDRS DECISION.
“DRS Contract for Job Coaching Job coaching only during the school year •$750 per month per student
Prorated if not 70% attendance •Specifies at least $20,000 plus benefits Job coaching plus placement and employment outcome (REMEMBER THIS DEFINITION IS 90 DAYS) Also, $775 for placement
And $1,500 for successful employment”
Let’s step into the real world for a few minutes. Does the definition of three months seem good enough? Would most employment agencies get this payment? Are their other ideas that could be found? Glad you asked. I have been trying for years to get people to listen. However, that seldom happens. It does. Below I want to thank these people that do listen, listen but do not always check to verify it they are right and those that listen beyond the overzealous wounds of a mother that has missed out on resources due to misinformation.
Lisa Graven head of Workforce Oklahoma
Jody Harlan OKDRS
William Ginn at office of Disability Concerns
Joni Bruce with Oklahoma Family Network (Winning a place in my heart forever for help given at certain times)
Judy Pleuss at Oklahoma Autism Network
Dee Blose at Youth and Family Services in El Reno (A Triple Platinum Heart I would give if I could)
Jeanette Doty formally of OU-NCDET and OKAY (SHE WINS A SPECIAL PLACE IN MY HEART BECAUSE SHE HELPED HIM GROW. I did try to as well as my family, provide finical and other support when possible)
Vyonda Martin at OUHSC Center for Learning and Leadership (One of the first to give me a start in public resources that are not specific to lower income families. Platinum Heart is her rating too. There is nothing wrong with low income families but the middle gets left out plenty.)
Part II will look at needs of employers, other programs and supply what I deem to be real answers.
Reframing Resources 