A strong relationship with this employer is a win-win for all

Dewayne Pruett of City Wide Maintenance has nothing but great things to say about working with The Rehabilitation Institute of Kansas City and our Employment Placement Services. Although, he admits he initially had a few reservations about hiring individuals with disabilities.  Dewayne's concerns were quickly eased after he hired his first two employees through our program. These two employees were hired more than a year ago and are still employed with City Wide today. They do very well in their positions. In fact, Dewayne is very pleased that most of the individuals he has hired through The Rehabilitation Institute have become long-term employees. "Typically, I have very few concerns about those I hire. Some individuals may need additional training in the beginning, but in the end it is much more beneficial for us because they turn into long-term employees", says Dewayne. He credits much of their success to being well informed about the expectations of the janitorial positions. Don Dudley, Employer Development Specialist, works closely with our program participants to prepare them for working at this particular employer. He ensures they have the proper understanding of the job duties before they even apply for employment. Additionally, Don is able to do much of the pre-screening process for City Wide. They are confident that The Rehabilitation Institute will make quality recommendations and they greatly appreciate the ease of hiring our program participants. The Rehabilitation Institute is pleased that the retention rate of our participants at City Wide is more than 80%. Gainful, long-term employment brings stability to the lives of those we serve. We truly appreciate the confidence City Wide has placed in our organization. They are giving our program participants their opportunity to shine in the workplace!

Issue 2: Perceptions of Disability and Employment   

Candidate of the Month

Caleb Campbell   

Caleb is seeking a position in the manufacturing industry. He is currently pursuing a degree in Manufacturing Technology at Metropolitan Community College and his qualifications include Six Sigma Certification, a quality control process, as well as OSHA certification for general industry. He describes himself has outgoing, not afraid to ask questions and knowledgeable in reading blue prints. Caleb enjoys working with The Rehabilitation Institute because of the guidance and resources available to him in his search for employment. Terri Henson, Job Retention Specialist, works closely with Caleb to keep him on track and motivated. "I didn't know where to start looking or how to apply for jobs. Terri has really pushed me to stay on top of my job search," says Caleb. When he is not in school or researching job leads, Caleb volunteers his time at Hillcrest Thrift Store in the Kansas City Northland. If you would like more information on Caleb or would like to set up an interview with him, please contact Terri Henson at terri.henson@rehabkc.org.

Staff Spotlight

Sheree Shepard

Sheree had her eye on working at The Rehabilitation Institute for quite some time before she started in November of 2010 as an Employer Development Specialist. She now feels that she is exactly where she should be. Sheree obtained her Masters in Mental Health Counseling at UMKC. After working at the Career Transition Center at UMKC for 11 years, Sheree went into management and sales. She was not satisfied; she realized that first and foremost she enjoyed helping others.  "I enjoy the challenge and satisfaction of lending a hand to those in need," says Sheree. As an Employer Development Specialist, Sheree works with program participants and employers to find positions that match both the individual's skills and an employer's needs. "Some employers think that individuals with a disability can't do certain jobs because they are in a wheelchair. They have a misunderstanding of what disability means," says Sheree. She focuses on the individual's abilities, skills and value as an employee when talking to employers. In her position, Sheree is able to impact people's lives in a positive way each day.

When not working hard, Sheree enjoys knitting and sewing handmade teddy bears. Thank you Sheree for you your dedication to The Rehabilitation Institute of Kansas City.