Programs:

Gateway to Access Resources is committed to implementing programs that address employers' most commonly cited concerns in the hiring of individuals with disabilities:
  1. Lack of requisite skills
  2. Lack of understanding of accommodations

Specifically, GAR has a three-tiered menu of programs designed to work in unison in preparing our consumers to compete successfully in the job market:

  1. Technology Program
  2. Group Support Program
  3. Individual Job Skills and Opportunity Development Program

Technology Program

The technology program centers on developing computer literacy including the use of adaptive technology. Competing in today's employment market requires highly computer literate individuals who are skilled in the use of productivity software (office suites including word processing, presentation and spreadsheet applications) and communications software (email, conferencing/messaging, and resource browsing applications). In turn, facility in the use of these ubiquitous business applications often depends on effective skills in the use of specialized adaptive software such as screen readers, voice recognition, word predictors, and other access-enabling software and hardware. Our program provides a competency track in business resource software with an emphasis placed on both the business software and the adaptive software required to render it accessible. The training doesn't stop at simply mastering adaptive software, adaptive software is simply a bridge to access the business productivity software that is increasingly a requirement for employment.

Group Support Program

It has become increasingly clear that a successful employment program is greatly enhanced by group support mechanisms. Too many individuals with disabilities disappear into the ranks of the discouraged unemployed, those who want a job but have given up actively pursuing opportunities and are no longer tracked in national unemployment figures. GAR's concept of group support lies in the Job Club approach as applied to our target consumers. With the help of a facilitator, the group provides ongoing support in terms of networking opportunities and positive emotional energy that helps individuals withstand and respond to bumps in the employment road.  In addition, groups are great resources for job readiness exercises such as mock interviews and resume analysis. Group successes and the energy of a group can keep consumers on the job track even when they are feeling discouraged with individual results. Peer support also leads consumers to pursue and approach opportunities that they may have been hesitant or unable to pursue without the group (that is, it tends to have an emboldening effect).

Individual Job Skills and Opportunity Development

It's too often the case that individuals seeking employment don't possess the requisite job seeking skills needed to make their search successful. Obstacles can include inadequate resumes, lack of interviewing skills, misunderstanding of how to package a disability in the interviewing process and a lack of understanding of how to cultivate job leads and effectively network. These issues are addressed in individual job seeking skills training. This training can soften the rough edges and make consumers much more marketable across a spectrum of opportunities and issues. Specific areas addressed include: resume workshops, online job seeking resources, understanding how to approach hiring managers, identifying networking opportunities such as professional groups and, finally, developing personal confidence and a positive attitude toward job-seeking.  Opportunity Development also refers to directly passing along leads, opportunities, and/or specialized training to individuals in cases where GAR is acting as a liaison between an individual and an employer.