Transitioning to MVLE

MVLE recognizes that each high school graduate living with a disability will require varying degrees of assistance in his/her transition from school to the working world.

When planning for adult life, it is vital that you consider all of the components that contribute to a high quality of life, such as independent living, employment and recreation/leisure activities.

Independent living includes planning for living arrangements, personal/financial management, relationships, medical needs, transportation needs and home care skills.
Employment considerations include employability skills, vocational skills and training/education. Areas to consider are vocational preferences/assessment, vocational training, work experience, job placement, post-secondary education, transportation needs, work behaviors, financial needs and medical needs/resources.

Recreation/leisure needs are intertwined with living arrangements and employment and include transportation needs, personal relationships, living arrangements, finances, personal management and individual preferences.

MVLE has a transition team to guide you through this process and answer any questions you may have along the way. Below are some terms the team has assembled to help you better understand and sift through the programs and services we offer.

Terms to Know

Individual Supported Employment (ISE): Individual job placement with a community employer, including one-to-one on-the-job training; minimum wage or better (paid by the employer); same benefits and routines as co-workers without disabilities and 20 or more hours of work per week. Some accommodations may be made.

Community Employment Services (CES): Individuals with disabilities work in small groups for a host company within an integrated employment setting; job coach provides on-the-job training and support; up to 20 hours of work per week; competitive or commensurate wages paid by the employer (host company) directly to the employees or through MVLE; similar routines as workers without disabilities. Some accommodations may be made.

Day Support Services: Services for individuals with varying levels of intensive support needs, offered through a variety of personalized, creative, motivating and stimulating programmatic experiences with full-time assistance; training and supervision provided.

Direct Support Professional (DSP): Staff members titled Job Coach or Instructor who provide direct support to individuals served; offer employment training, communication, socialization and personal care skills, as well as opportunities for community access.

Employment Consultant: Staff member who provides training and support to individuals with disabilities in an on-the-job setting; assistance is decreased as job skills are learned and independence is gained.

Enclave: Four to eight individuals with disabilities working at a business in the community or as a mobile crew, fulfilling the duties of one position, with a full-time, on-site MVLE supervisor known as a job coach.

Job Coach: Individual providing full training and support for a group of four to eight individuals at a host company.

Mobile Crew Employment (Mobile Business): Four to eight employees supervised by a job coach; travel to two or more work sites in the community per day; engage in contracted work and employed by MVLE; 20 or more hours of work per week; competitive or commensurate wages (based on productivity as a percentage of the prevailing wage) paid by the employer (host company) directly to employees or through MVLE; integration with co-workers without disabilities may occur because of close proximity and/or planning for transition/community participation.

In-House Production: Private businesses hire MVLE as a sub-contractor or prime manufacturer for mail and/or document management projects, individuals complete basic mailroom tasks, 20 or more hours of work per week, paid per piece rate or for productivity as percentage of the prevailing wage, direct care staff provide full-time on-the-job training and support in a center-based facility.

Situational Assessment: A specified period of time when an individual attends a chosen work site or program to perform the same work/program routines expected of other employees/participants with disabilities. Work skills, Social skills, Communication skills and/or behaviors are assessed.

Vocational Assessment: A series of tests given to determine vocational strengths, needs, aptitudes and preferences.