Spectrum Support, Inc.

Spectrum Support is seeking businesses in the Baltimore County and Howard County area to provide Work Based Learning Experiences (WBLEs) for 4 students in our Summer Youth program! Our students are eager to work and learn, and our job coaches make sure they are well prepared and have all the help they need to succeed! If you know of any businesses that might be interested in a mutually beneficial opportunity to work with young people with developmental disabilities, please comment or message us! The 4 students are looking for work experiences in the following fields of interest: COMICS ART STOCKING OUTDOOR (GARDENING OR ANYTHING OUTDOOR) You can also help out by sharing this post, and feel free to contact us with any questions!

Happy National Disability Employment Month (#NDEAM)! Spectrum Support is proud to be able to help people with developmental disabilities pursue and succeed in their career goals! Here are some photos of people we support at their Work-Based Learning Experiences (WBLEs), internships, and jobs. Learn more about our Employment Supports at https://lnkd.in/e9PFNMJK

Natasha loves to draw! She has been interested in drawing ever since her late mother decided to pick up the hobby and taught her about it too. She often thinks fondly about those memories they made together. Natasha enjoys going to the park or the library to draw and chat with people. Her staff have helped her find a virtual/online drawing class that she consistently attends. Some of her favorite things to draw are the Flintstones, Disney characters, self-portraits, and her staff. We are proud of Natasha for her dedication to the craft and consistent practice, and we are happy to see her following her passions!

It's ADHD awareness month! ?? Here are a few important things to remember about ADHD. ?? It is not a superpower, it is a disability. There are so many disabling aspects of ADHD, from forgetfulness to executive dysfunction struggles. Framing it as a superpower diminishes the reality of living with it. ?? It is not laziness. ADHD can be immobilising. Our need for stimulation, demand avoidance, meds shortages and the fact we are prone to burnout can life difficult. ?? It is not a trend. Despite what the media likes to tell you, ADHD is not a trend and the increase in diagnosis is not a product of faking or attention seeking. We have more awareness so we therefore have more visibility. ?? It is a spectrum. Everyone with ADHD is different. Stereotypes tell us that it is "the naughty little boy" but this isn't the full picture. ADHD doesn't mean that someone has to be loud or fidgety, hyperactivity can happen internally too. ?? It does not mean that someone is unemployable. We are always looking for superpower labels or ways to diminish neurodivergencies, but neutrality is often very helpful. Understand that we are capable whilst also acknowledging the support and accommodations that we may need.

Earlier today Spectrum had the honor of hosting Delegate Aletheia McCaskill at "Take Your Legislator to Work Day". Delegate McCaskill was able to meet Kevin, an employee with developmental disabilities supported by Spectrum staff, and his Assistant Manager at Burger King, Princess, who shows in her daily actions how to create a welcoming work environment for people with disabilities. Thank you Kevin for being a great employee and thank you to the management team at Burger King for being a great employer!

Happy National Disability Employment Awareness Month! People with developmental disabilities have a much more difficult time finding employment than those without disabilities due to systemic discrimination, complicated application processes, lack of resources, and lack of clear communication about expected social norms and rules to follow throughout the interview process and after being hired. Spectrum Support’s employment services aim to match people with developmental disabilities with jobs that that are a great fit for them and the employer! We help with the entire process of landing a job – from utilizing connections with employers, practice interviews, resume help, and even on-the-job coaching. We want every individual that wants to work to be able to have work experiences that they enjoy and can sustain! Learn more about our employment services here: https://lnkd.in/e9PFNMJK #ndeam

? October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM)! Let's celebrate the contributions of individuals with disabilities in the workforce. Here are a few actionable ways to ensure inclusivity: ?? Review Hiring Practices: Ensure accessible job descriptions and encourage applications from diverse backgrounds and reduce bias. ?????? Provide Accommodations: Offer flexible work arrangements and necessary tools to support employees' needs. ???? Training and Awareness: Conduct workshops to educate staff about disability inclusion and bias. ? Accessibility Audits: Regularly assess and improve workplace accessibility, both physical and digital. Let's create environments where everyone can reach their potential! How are you promoting inclusion in your organization? #NDEAM #InclusionMatters #DiversityAndInclusion #CultivateCulture #TransformativeLeadership

Prince is an articulate and energetic young man with an amazing work ethic. Prince has had a past SYEP (Summer Youth Employment Program) work-based learning experience in a hospital setting, and expressed his desire to explore a new opportunity as a stock clerk this summer. He was placed at CVS working 25 hours a week. Following week 1 of the SYEP program, all the feedback from the CVS manager and his team was incredibly positive! Prince always shows up on time, ready to work and remains focused throughout his shift. Prince is a shining example that hard work does pay off, as CVS offered him part-time permanent employment following his summer work-based learning experience. After his summer WBLE in 2024, Prince was onboarded for 2 weeks to work at CVS, and then CVS agreed to transfer him to a location closer to the university he attends as a college sophomore this year. Congratulations, Prince, and great work!!

Have you heard of the website platform KIBU? Kibu is a website with classes and resources for people with developmental disabilities and their service providers. You can do anything from taking dance classes or starting a fun new hobby, to taking educational classes and learning job development skills. KIBU states they are “Built For Providers, By Providers”, so there are countless resources and tools for providers too, like task organizers, note-taking help, or time-saving automation tools. Spectrum Support has recently started trying out the platform, and many of our staff say the videos are straightforward and useful without treating adults with disabilities like they are children. We love to learn about new platforms like this that introduce new methods of learning and having fun for people with developmental disabilities! If you have any other recommendations for content libraries or tools that have helped support staff or people with disabilities, let us know about your experiences in the comments below! https://kibuhq.com/

Rebecca, whom we recently posted about enjoying her WBLE at DoodleHATCH, made the local news today! There she is near the end of this clip in the tan shirt waving to the camera! That's very cool, Rebecca! We are excited for you! Check out our community partner DoodleHATCH in Columbia, MD to see this unique art for yourself! https://lnkd.in/eCWCehEH