Entrance Criteria
ARS welcomes adults with disabilities who may not be able to work competitively in the community, or who may need assistance in attending and maintaining competitive employment. Our work opportunities and job training programs are open to all regardless of gender, income, race, age, religious belief, and nationality.
- Individuals must be referred by a Regional Center or Department of Rehabilitation for services.
- Individuals are at least 18 years of age
- Individuals are independently self-ambulatory.
- Individuals possess self-help skills.
- Family of disabilities can provide their own lunch, and be able to feed themselves independently.
- Individuals can provide their own medication.
- Individuals will be provided with transportation either through a privately contracted agency, public transportation, by their family or by their own means.
- Individuals will be evaluated by ARS rehabilitation staff for admission to the appropriate service program
The Supported Employment Program
The Supported Employment Program (SEP) assists individuals with disabilities who are deemed to be job-ready (but have difficulties in finding employment) find community employment by providing supported employment services. The job development services are client-driven based on each individual’s preferences, strengths, abilities, and needs.
Job development services consist of three primary components:
1. Employment Preparation
2. Development/Training
3. Job Placement
The Supported Employment Program has created a “Job Club” for the employment preparation component.
The Job Club is conducted on a weekly basis and consists of the following topics:
- Application completion
- Identify marketable skills
- Resume building
- Practice and rehearse interview skills
- Identify and provide job lead sources
- Deal with obstacles to employment and re-employment
- Handle and cope with emotions related to unemployment
- Understand the employer
- Evaluate a job offer
- Nutrition and productivity
- Stress reduction techniques
The Supported Employment Program offers individual and group placements designed to maximize the clients’ vocational potentials.
Individual Placement:
An individual is employed by a company in the community and receives ongoing supported services provided by an Employment Training Specialist, who trains and assists the individual in facilitating the transition into the work environment.
Initial supported services are provided at 100% and will be faded out to 20% or less as the individual becomes more familiar with the job and transitions to stabilization.
Group Placement:
Three or more but less than eight individuals are placed at the same company or location and supervision is provided by the Employment Training Specialist at 100%.
The Supported Employment Program has several successful placements in the following companies or locations:
- Culver City
- Pico Rivera
- Los Angeles
- City of Vernon
Ticket to Work and Self Sufficiency Program
The Asian Rehabilitation Service, Inc. has entered into an agreement with the Social Security Administration as an Employment Network (EN) to provide for the coordination and delivery of employment services, vocational rehabilitation services, and other support services to SSI and SSDI beneficiaries under the Ticket to Work Program.
As an Employment Network (EN), we are responsible for finding, or assisting the beneficiaries to find, quality jobs and coordinating, or directly providing the necessary pre and post-employment services and supports, such as job preparation and placement, skills training, and retention services, that eligible SSI and SSDI Ticker-holders who choose to go to work will need to be successful in the workplace.
The program supports career development for people ages 18 through 64 who receive Social Security disability benefits (SSDI or SSI) and want to work. Participation is free and voluntary while still providing Medicaid and/or Medicare.
The Ticket to Work Program connects clients with free employment services such as career counseling, vocational rehabilitation, job placement, and training to help decide if working is right for you, prepare for work, find a job or maintain success and move toward the road to financial independence while they are working.
The ticket helps clients improve their earning potential to those committed to long-term success in the workforce. It can give a greater sense of purpose and help give back to communities while clients focus on building a self-supporting future and peace of mind that benefits will be available should a client need them due to their disability.
Are you ready to start the journey toward work but don’t know where to begin?
If you decide to participate, getting started is easy! First, call the Ticket to Work Help Line at 1-866-968-7842 / 1-866-833-2967 (TTY) to verify your eligibility. Our customer service representatives will explain how the program works and answer any questions or address any concerns you might have. They will also offer to mail you a list of service providers, or if you prefer, you can use the Find Help tool to get a customized list of providers available to help you.
Program-VR-WAP
Work Activity Program (WAP) services through the regional centers include paid work, work adjustment, and supportive habilitation services typically in a sheltered workshop setting. WAPs provide paid work in accordance with Federal and State Fair Labor Standards. Work adjustment services may include developing good work safety practices, money management skills, and appropriate work habits. Supportive habilitation services may include social skills and community resource training if the services are necessary to achieve vocational objectives.
The Work Activity Program provides a competent and dependable workforce that contracts with various businesses in the community to do jobs that are possible with enhanced supervision and accommodation.
Vocational Rehabilitation (VR)
ARS provides Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) services to help with job training, employment accommodations, resume development, and job-seeking skills coaching for individuals with disabilities. VR assists these individuals to secure gainful employment commensurate with their abilities and capabilities through local job searches and awareness of self-employment opportunities.
