Employment Services

FREE fosters a community-based learning model through collaborations with community partners, hospitals, museums, chambers of commerce, local businesses, and valued network providers. FREE and its affiliates have relationships with over 40 employers. FREE assigns participants to worksites after assessing their career plans and interests, to ensure they are best positioned for success. Work readiness groups enhance skills needed for community-based employment, which may include interviewing, resume writing, workplace communication, transportation, self-advocacy, attendance, punctuality and professional appearance. These instructional groups also provide a good vantage point to assess individuals nearing work readiness.

FREE’s dedicated professionals assist applicants with different abilities to secure community-based employment. Our Supported Employment Program provides a complete resource for employers, such as recruitment and on-site training in a variety of job environments. As an Adult Career and Continuing Education Services-Vocational Rehabilitation (ACCES-VR) provider, FREE offers diagnostic vocational evaluations as well as situational assessments to provide individualized training to achieve successful employment for participants. A FREE Employment Specialist will remain at the job site until the worker masters all job-related skills and tasks. However, only the worker will be on the employer’s payroll. The Specialist is paid and insured by FREE.

FREE is aligned with the NYS Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD), Office of Mental Health (OMH), and fully embraces its Employment First initiatives. The initiative allows the individuals we support to experience the natural therapy inherent in meaningful, purposeful and gainful employment opportunities. We provide opportunities through these and other businesses: