Easter Seals: The Power Behind the Flower

Easter Seals uses Microsoft software to improve employment outlook for people with disabilities.

The employment services program of Easter Seals of Washington hosts four satellite offices in rural areas, often the areas of greatest need, according to LeeAnn Wood, vice president of development for the organization. "We work primarily with people with developmental disabilities," says Wood, who voices Easter Seals' commitment not to turn anyone away, regardless of the person's level of disability.

Holistic employment services

In years past, individuals who had applied to the Washington State Department of Vocational Rehabilitation were assigned an employment "vendor"—an organization, such as Easter Seals, that provides employment services under contract with the state. "Two years ago," says Cathy Bisaillon, director of vocational rehabilitation in Easter Seals' Bremerton office, "there was a big movement toward client choice." Now clients interview and select their own vendors.

To attract participants, Easter Seals offers a package of interconnected services including the assistive technology program (in which clients are evaluated for the appropriate assistive hardware), the computer loan program, and a childcare program.

"We market our technology," says Bisaillon. "We tell them we use the Internet. We've even placed people through the Internet." Bisaillon says she likes participants to "get their hands dirty" on the on-site computers, all equipped with Microsoft® Office 97.

Ongoing employment support

Wood describes the approach at Easter Seals' employment centers as highly individualized. When a client chooses Easter Seals as his or her "employment vendor," that client is assigned an employment specialist who assesses the client's employable skills, as well as his or her personal goals and psychological capabilities.

The employment specialists, who are aware of the accessibility features built into Microsoft Windows® 98 and Office 97, also conduct routine screenings to assess computer skills, starting with the ability to type all the way to familiarity with popular desktop applications. If it's determined that a client needs to know an application to qualify for a certain job, a training schedule is set up. "Computers are a huge part of the employment picture," asserts Bisaillon, "even for many entry-level service positions." And for those with learning disabilities, spelling and grammar checks are indispensable.

Once assessment is completed, an employment plan is developed, which includes creating a resumé using Microsoft Word. "After having concentrated so long on disabilities, on what they can't do," says Wood, "resumés help clients see their strengths."

Finally, interview skills are taught (including how to inform potential employers of a disability before the interview), and the applicant lands the job—hopefully! But getting the job isn't the end of the story; in some cases, the real work has just begun. On-the-job support ranges from a job coach, who actually accompanies the client for the first several months of the new job, to phone calls or e-mail messages when clients need to check in or touch base.

Before the infrastructure upgrade, says Wood, "a lot of phone tag went on." Now, with e-mail, same-day response is routine.

Employment and the Internet

For the job search itself, the recently available Internet connections at satellite offices have clients and staff "dancing on their toes with the resources available to them," says Wood. The Internet allows clients to do "the proper legwork" before they show up at a prospective employer's office. Wood cites the case of a young man ("Frank") who had a gift for mechanical work—as well as a learning disability and a slight developmental disability.

After successfully completing training to become a diesel mechanic, Frank had a difficult time locating a job in his geographic area because of a tight job market and stiff competition. He contacted Easter Seals, and the staff helped him create a resumé and cover letter to market his education and skills. Next, with the powerful Internet connection provided by Microsoft Internet Explorer, Frank and his new advocates scoured the employment listings through Employment Security departments across the country. Ultimately, Frank secured a permanent position with a trucking firm in Oregon, where he is now a valued and dedicated employee.

One of Bisaillon's favorite stories concerns a client who has started his own business. "This is a guy that has muscular dystrophy," she says. "All he can move is his head and fingers, and he can talk. He had been thrown into some other programs where they would take him to the mall. 'I know how to shop,' he said. 'I want to work! And I want to work at home.'" With the help of the computer loan program and Microsoft Access, he now works part-time for a portrait studio, calling customers in his database to find out whether they want their negatives sent to them or destroyed.

Managing information better

"E-mail has definitely helped us get people 'through the door'!" says Bisaillon. "I have participants who are in the choice process who were reluctant to call and set up an appointment because they had a hearing or speech impediment." Now the initial interview is set up through e-mail, where participants feel less self-conscious.

Easter Seal staff are also seeing returns on the Microsoft donation in the form of more time to work with clients. Easter Seals' computer loan program, the assistive technology program, and the employment services program all require extensive recordkeeping. Wood says that without Microsoft Access, Microsoft Word, and other administrative tools available in Office 97, tracking information was a nightmare. "Managing information was darn near impossible before, so it was hard to evaluate the program. You could spend your whole time managing information and never get to work with clients."