Competitive Employment:

Competitive Employment program provides employment, volunteer, community and educational activities to Individuals who can only work Part-time due to social and behavioral challenges.

The purpose of the program is to prepare and identify meaningful jobs in community and businesses for people.  Not all Individuals can work 40 hours per week, therefore, alternative volunteer work and job preparation skills are emphasized.

Competitive Employment has been successful in finding Individuals new and exciting career and volunteer opportunities.  Bob began working at Burger King and has been fitting in wonderfully since he started.  Murphy has embarked on his desired career as a bagger at Stop and Shop in Watertown.  Linda is enjoying her job as a housekeeper at the Marriott in Newton.  In addition to the variety of new job opportunities, there have been new volunteer opportunities developed which offer a variety of other experiences.  Springwell in Watertown has been happy to have our assistance in doing grocery shopping for local elders.  This gives the Individuals and the elderly a chance to make a connection they might otherwise have not have been able to make.

Jakarea Islam, the Director of the program, has created other new volunteer opportunities.  Peace At Home has asked for help in pre-packaging and bulk mailing of their handbooks.  The Watertown Public Library has expressed a future need for help in their "Homebound Book Delivery Program".  Also the program provides the valuable job of hosting the Agency's "Gifts In Kind" program, where goods are donated from successful area businesses, such as Bed, Bath and Beyond, Williams Sonoma, Talbots and The Avenue.  Our Individuals can come and take advantage of the items for themselves and their home.

Social/Deaf Supports:

At 377 Main Street we experienced some Hellos and Goodbyes to Individuals who have come and gone.  All wished Michele good luck as she graduated into the Competitive Employment program.  We were happy to welcome Lou M. into the program in February.  A new job enclave was developed at the Marriott Hotel and Jennifer has begun working as a housekeeper with two co-workers from Competitive Employment.  Felicia is progressing in her academics with the support and guidance from her Teacher, Stuart Whittle.

Clinical Supports are provided to reach appropriate social skills to integrate people into the community.  The program has extended its space allowing for more room to participate in meaningful activities such as the Art Initiative Program. 

Community Based Day Supports:

This program continues to grow and flourish.  The Staff and Individuals alike at 45 Rumford Avenue welcomed two new faces this past year.  Diego smoothly transitioned into the site and is now enjoying a structured day with more learning opportunities.  He is thriving.  The new recycling program has taken off with three new routes in the community.  Thank you to the Waltham Police Station, Regis College and Imagitas for giving us a chance to contribute.  You can now find the Art for Income products being sold at Spring Rain Day Spa in Waltham and at the Girl Scout Store.  This program is looking forward to welcoming new Individuals into its midst in the near future.

Deaf Supports:

Our Deaf Employment Supports program continues to offer a fluent ASL environment.  The main focus of the program is to provide work, volunteer and community activities so that each person has a meaningful day.  Clinical Supports are provided to each appropriate social skills to integrate people into the community.

Andrea has been happily maintaining her volunteer placement at Perkins School and has welcomed her co-worker, Janet, to join her in volunteering at the Library.  Aida tried her hand at volunteering for a blood drive with the American Red Cross.  We said "Hello" to a new friend, Robin D., who joined our Deaf Employment site in June 2004.  Andrea, Robin and Janet look to start a job opportunity shredding for a local Lawyer's office.

New Opportunities:

This year marked the hire of a Full-Time Job Developer, Robert Lynch.  Since his hire in March 2006, Robert has been working with each of the Employment sites to support their needs.  Some highlights include:

• The recently developed recycling route for Community Based Day Supports.  Aluminum can and plastic bottles are being collected at the Waltham Police Station, Regis College in Weston, MA and at Imagitas (a local business specializing in national advertising campaigns).  After collection, the cans are brought back to the Rumford Avenue site for cleaning, crushing and then taken to be redeemed.



• Spring Rain Day Spa in Waltham that displays the products created by Community Based Day Supports, joining the Girl Scouts' Store on Beaver Street as hosts for our Individual's products.



• Shredding documents at the law offices of Schlesinger and Buchbinder in Newton, MA.

Along with developing new contacts with area businesses, Robert has been assisting with the coordination of the landscaping schedule, as well as supporting the work done by Individuals at the Marriott Hotel.  If you know of a potential job in the community please contact Robert Lynch at (781) 899-8220 or via email at rlynch@wearewci.org.