Spring 2003

Group Supported Employment Program Focuses on Inclusion

“There is no better reward than when someone finally masters something you’ve been working on teaching them for months,” says Malinda Speer, Lead Trainer, Group Supported Employment (GSE).  “Working with these guys can be quite a challenge, but it’s also a lot of fun.” 
 
According to Ted Newsum, Employee Support Supervisor, GSE, this program provides training and support for twenty-three individuals who are blind or Deaf-Blind and also have a developmental disability.  “Twenty-five or thirty years ago we had what was called a Specialized Industries Program,” Ted says.  “Workers who were blind and developmentally disabled were kept together in one area of the building.  The most significant difference in the GSE program is the inclusion and integration of these individuals throughout the Lighthouse production and manufacturing environment.” 
 
The Lighthouse maintains a ratio of one trainer for every four supported employees.  “We have a great team of culturally diverse trainers who serve as advocates for the folks in supported employment,” Ted adds.  “Last year we provided 18,000 hours of support, training and supervision in the program.”
 
Malinda, who began as a substitute trainer six years ago, points out that very simple actions can bring extraordinary results.  “I was working with a person on learning how to do a new job function, who had trouble understanding terminology like ‘push forward’ or ‘pull towards you’,” she explains.  “We were really struggling, and then we worked on a machine where the controls were exactly opposite, and it just clicked!  This individual got it immediately.  Sometimes it’s just that simple, moving something to a different place, trying things just a little bit differently.”
 
Ted points out that the diversity of Lighthouse production and manufacturing capabilities presents ongoing challenges as well as countless opportunities for individual success. “We are working in an environment where we are seeing new products, procedures and jobs constantly,” he says.  “Last year we assembled almost one million plastic cooking utensils.  We assembled, labeled and boxed about 4,500 very complex rubber stamp kits.  Supported employees were involved in manufacturing Anglematic® mops, canteens, business cards, traffic safety vests, paper trimmers, saw blades and easels.”
 
This variety of activities allows GSE staff to tailor work situations for each person. “Some people prefer to do the same job literally for years,” Malinda explains.  “Some people like a lot of variety and want to move on to new jobs and job skills frequently. Sometimes it may take us months to teach a person a new job skill.  But that’s what the GSE program is all about.”
 
Trainers like Malinda also work very closely with the Lighthouse Engineering Services Department.  “We use a lot of what we call jigs,” she continues.  “We recently built a jig to help supported employees put labels on flyswatters that we are producing for the military.  The employee slides the pad of the flyswatter in between two metal plates.  The top plate has a cutout that shows the employee where to place the label.  We usually start out by making a cardboard prototype of a jig to see if it will work for someone, and then hand it over to engineering to make for us.”
 
Malinda says that working in the Lighthouse’s supported employment program is much more than just a job.  “Some of the people I work with have so much instability in their lives,” she explains.  “It’s nice for them to have a little something that’s stable in their lives.  Something they can count on.”

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