Customizing a Rewarding Job           Based on an article by Cary Griffin

Interesting how things tend to come full circle. We used to call this approach to supported employment Job Carving. Now the jargon and terminology has changed to reflect a more individualized approach that has recently been coined with the term Customized Employment. With this approach, supported employment specialists create several challenging positions customizing a part of the job to satisfy the needs of the employer as well as the employee with a disability.                                                          

The customized approach is typically utilized with individuals who for any number of reasons - including physical disability, psychiatric illness, intellectual limitations, and others, may not be in the market for full-time employment. Care must be taken not to create jobs that de-value people with disabilities by physically separating them from other workers or by having them perform tasks that are considered bothersome, dangerous, or unpleasant.                                        There are any number of variables associated with the customized employment process. They include:

E Marketing - This aspect should be deliberate and businesslike. Job developers should approach potential employers as consultants or diagnosticians, ready to determine needs and offer solutions.

E Work Environment - No job-development can effort can occur without a thorough understanding of what type of work is suitable and acceptable for the job seeker.

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