Employment

At CIS, we provide Supported Employment Services for people with disabilities who desire a job in the community. Supported Employment refers to the individualized job supports we put into place to assist the person to find and keep a job. After assessing a person to determine their skills, likes and dislikes, CIS Job Coaches work with the person as the identify their job goals, and the supports they will help them maintain employment.

The Job Coach helps each person find a job, and then provides special training at the job site to make sure that people learn how to do their job correctly. The Job Coach will train the person at the job site from a few weeks, to many months - as long as is necessary for the person to learn to perform their job duties with a minimal level of support.

After training, the Job Coach continues working to make sure the person is happy in their job and continues to be able to perform all their job duties. The Job Coach will visit the job site regularly, talking with the person, their supervisor, or any other people who provide support to the person - siblings, friends, neighbors, etc.

Some people need a lot of support from their Job Coach to keep a job in the community - and that is OK, at CIS we work with those people too. Sometimes, two or more people may work together at a job site, or at jobs close to each other, so a Job Coach can work with them (moving back and forth between them) on a regular ongoing basis, giving them the support they need to be successful.

Alternative Day Services

We realize that there are times when a person is not able, or does not desire to work. These people still have the right to be involved in their communities, so CIS provides alternative day services. These services provide support to people so they can engage in social, recreational, volunteer, and other activities in the community. Similar to our employment services, a person receiving alternative day services selects a community activity that is meaningful to them, and we work with them to put the supports in place so they may participate in that activity.

Benefits Counseling

Many people who receive public benefits - SSI, SSDI, Medicaid, Medicare, etc. - need help understanding what happens to their benefits if they start a job. At CIS, we can assist people in figuring out what will happen to their benefits if they work, how to protect some benefits, and how to take advantage of the Social Security Administrations' Work Incentives.

Consultation

At CIS, we have been providing community-based services for people with disabilities for over 10 years. We have a solid record of accomplishment serving people who have significant support needs, who have been turned down for services by other providers. Many of our current consumers were long-time residents of state institutions such as Pennhurst and Embreeville, and required careful transitions into community services.

CIS staff is available to consult with schools, community rehabilitation providers, state agencies, etc., sharing their expertise on how to make community services a reality for those considered difficult to serve.