Qualified Job Candidates

Pre-Screening Services Employers seeking job applicants are encouraged to use our pre screening services.  Vocational Services staff can work with employers to find workers with specific desired skills and abilities.  For many years, our staff has worked directly with local employers to identify specific individuals who will fill a job vacancy.  An advantage to using our agency in this manner is that as we get to know a  company and its particular needs, our program can reduce personnel costs and turnover by selecting individuals who will work well in a given situation.  Because our group routinely helps some 90 to 115 persons per year find competitive employment, we have an ongoing need to develop working partnerships with local employers. 

Employer Incentives For Hiring A Worker With A Disability

Non-Paid 215 Hour Job Try Out -- This program waives the Department of Labor requirement for an individual to be compensated for work performed within a for profit industry.  The program allows the person with a disability to work for 5 hours in exploration of a particular job, 90 hours for the employer to assess a participants skill level in performing the job, and an additional 120 hours for the employer to offer the participant training for the lack of  skill identified in the 90 hour assessment, for a total of 215 hours.  Industrial insurance is paid through the Project with Industry.

Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) -- This is a national program that offers employers of the Project with Industry's participants a tax credit for employing the participant.  This tax credit is based on 35% of the first $6,0000.00 (up to $2,100.00) that the employer pays the participant.  A two page "fill in" form for this program must be signed and dated on the first day of employment and then submitted to the Washington State Employment Security Work Opportunity Tax Credit Unit in Olympia during the first three weeks of employment.

Co-Worker as a Trainer -- This offers a co-worker of one of our clients a financial stipend for learning about the functional limitations and compensatory strategies that a participant may need.  These strategies are then used to assist in supporting the participant while they learn a new job or help them maintain their job.

On the Job Training -- This program is operated in collaboration with Washington State's Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR).  The program offers employers compensation to offset the costs of training the participant for a job.  The formula for the compensation is based upon reimbursing about one half of the participant's wage for a period of time (usually 3 months) in which the participant is offered training in a specific position.

Selective Certification (Piece Rate) -- A PWI participant's productivity is compared to other workers performing the same job duties.  The participant's productivity is then compared against the hourly wage for 100% production.  If a participant's productivity is 50% of other workers and the wage is $12.00 per hour, for example, the participant's wage would be established at $6.00 per hour (50% X $12.00 = $6.00).  This could be reexamined if the participant's productivity increases.

Consulting and Referral

Disability law and vocational rehabilitation practices are constantly changing.  For employment-related issues concerning neurological conditions such as epilepsy, traumatic brain injury, and multiple sclerosis, our staff can provide up-to-date information to interested employers.  The vocational implications of any specific neurological condition may not be readily known to companies' Human Resources departments, and employer calls in this area are welcomed.  There is no fee for telephone consults or informational calls to our program. 

Because many of our services are grant-funded, out of office visits to employers by NVSU staff may also be provided at a reduced or no-fee basis.  This includes visits to work sites for the purpose of helping provide physical accommodations to workers, reviewing job descriptions and work schedules, on-site consultation, and similar services.  Problem solving and mediation services are also available in situations where employers are attempting to negotiate grievances, formal or informal, for persons with neurological concerns.  Work site rehabilitation interventions of one type or another account for approximately 40 percent of our off-site staff time.

Employers also use our program as a referral source for locating resources such as assistive technology, medical referrals, medical and rehabilitation literature, staff training, and similar concerns.

Speaking/Educational Services

Our program offers employers a variety of speaking and educational services, including staff training programs. One hour informational "lunchtime" presentations on epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury, and allied topics are presently offered on a no-fee basis, as staff time permits.  Our program also has longer, more in-depth staff training options on the specific vocational implications of various neurological conditions, on cognitive functioning, on strategies for ADA-related accommodation, on the legal and vocational implications of disability (under ADA and similar legislation), and many other topics.  These presentations are aimed at a broad range of employer audiences, from line staff to supervision, administration, and human resources.  These are generally fee for service presentations.  Please feel free to contact our program for a more specific discussion of services available.  These services are generally provided by Dr. Fraser, who regularly participates in national and international rehabilitation and vocational symposia, and by NVSU staff with many years of practical experience in neurological vocational rehabilitation..