Most individuals who come to Handi-Crafters have had little or no work experience. Here they are given the opportunity to learn and acquire good work skills through on-the-job training as they compensate and adapt around their disability. Over 300 people are employed in our workshops. They perform production service work for businesses. Our workshops can provide you with a range of work experiences. We complete jobs which involve packaging, assembling, heat sealing, collating, and non-industrial assembly. Opportunities are also available for qualified individuals to operate a variety of industrial machinery. Basic safety instruction is an integral part of our work program. Most of our jobs are paid at piece rate. Some of the more specialized work is paid by the hour. Paychecks are issued every other Friday. Our goal is to provide a safe and secure work environment that allows each individual to develop a worker profile to acquire the skills necessary for success in the competitive job market. Some indiv

Psychiatric rehabilitation services including transitional employment opportunities, educational supports, social opportunities, etc.

Serves those with brain injuries and related neurological challenges. Assists individuals with maximizing independence in their home and community. Offers vocational rehabilitation and music therapy services.

Serves those with brain injuries and related neurological challenges. Assists individuals with maximizing independence in their home and community. Offers vocational rehabilitation and music therapy services.

The initial step for most individuals entering our programs is a vocational evaluation to determine your needs and our ability to meet them. The evaluation is scheduled after the intake interview and can last from 5 to 20 days. During this time we will assess your interests, aptitudes, achievement levels, work behaviors and skills. We will use standardized tests, work samples and production tasks in the workshop or participation on a community work crew. When the evaluation has been completed, we will meet with you and your team members to discuss the results. Our Vocational Evaluator will forward a written report to your referral source and anyone else authorized to receive a copy.

Assists persons with disabilities find a career.

Our residential program offers alternatives for living on campus and in the community. Melmark offers indoor and outdoor pools, a covered riding arena, gymnasium, multi-service recreation center, and interactive playgrounds. Students visit surrounding communities regularly for shopping, exercise, and entertainment.

The Work Ordered Day Program consists of six work units: Clerical, Food Service, Education, Administrative, and Transitional Employment. New members may choose to experience each unit during an orientation period in order to determine which area is of greatest interest to them. The Clerical Unit’s duties involve receptionist work, scheduling of appointments, outreach, and member intakes and orientation. Computers are available for training in word processing, database development, preparation of monthly newsletters, and research. Additional responsibilities include Database Management, Network Management, Internet Services, Web site Administration and Computer User Technical Support. Finally, this unit is also responsible for the ordering of supplies, photocopying and filing. The vanAmerigen Food Service Unit’s responsibilities include meal preparation, grocery shopping, menu planning, outreach, cashiering, bank deposits, financial procedures, and operation of food service equipment and maintenanc

Provides supportive services to individuals with substance use disorders who are looking to enter or reenter the workforce. Offers job coaching, vocational assessment, and job search assistance.

Offers vocational education and training to individuals with autism.

A vocational psychiatric rehabilitation program for adults with a mental illness. Services include: - Clubhouse work-ordered day - Pre-vocational activities - Job placement - Supportive employment - Job loss prevention

Services include: - Independent Living Services - Specialized Services - Vocational rehabilitation including counseling, guidance, pre-vocational training, job placement, and specialized blindness skills training - Orientation and mobility instruction (white cane usage) - Rehabilitation Teaching - Business Enterprise program that trains persons who are blind to work in food service - Transportation can be purchased by the agency for consumers when needed in conjunction with another service - Public education programs

Evaluated medical, psychological, occupational and educational abilities, and limitations for employment.

Services include job finding, job support, and transitional employment. Assists with job searching, resume and interview preparation. Provides job training and job coaching, including supervised transitional employment in janitorial, clerical, and light industrial jobs in local businesses.

Provides vocational rehabilitation services to help persons with disabilities prepare for, obtain, or maintain employment. Offers other services to eligible individuals with disabilities, both directly and through a network of approved vendors. Assigns a case manager or counselor to each client.

Provides medication-supported counseling and recovery programs to assist clients in meeting a specific personal goal.

Provides employment training that includes a vocational assessment; supportive, competency-based pre-vocational, vocational, and psychosocial skills development; supervised workshop employment; and community-based supported employment. Based on the individual's needs, services may also include job development, job skill training, workshop or community job placement, and extensive work adjustment coaching.

Serves those with brain injuries and related neurological challenges. Assists individuals with maximizing independence in their home and community. Offers vocational rehabilitation and music therapy services.

Assists employers in retaining, recruiting, and hiring qualified workers. Job seekers are assisted in finding competitive employment. Services include resume and interview preparation, job-seeking skill development, community-based assessments, work site analysis for accommodations, job coaching supports, and follow-up services.

Serves those with brain injuries and related neurological challenges. Assists individuals with maximizing independence in their home and community. Offers vocational rehabilitation and music therapy services.

Offers comprehensive rehabilitative services provided through school program for children ages 2 to 8. Offers nursery school speech, language, hearing, and tympanometric screenings to preschool-age children. Vocational rehabilitation, sheltered employment program, and competitive employment for adults.

Provides vocational rehabilitation services to help persons with disabilities prepare for, obtain, or maintain employment. OVR provides services to eligible individuals with disabilities, both directly and through a network of approved vendors. Services are provided on an individualized basis. The OVR counselor, during face-to-face interviews, assists customers in selecting their choice of vocational goals, services and service providers. An Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE) is developed, outlining a vocational objective, services, providers and responsibilities. Certain services are subject to a Financial Needs Test (FNT) and may require financial participation by the customer. Counseling and guidance, diagnostic services, assessments, information and referral, job development and placement, and personal services such as readers or sign language interpreters are provided at no cost to the individual.

Provides a full range of employment services to assist veterans in their search for work. Specially trained veteran employment representatives located in PA CareerLink® offices provide veterans with a full range of employment services, including referral services, job development, referral to training, and referral to government and community veteran service agencies. These representatives help veterans match their job skills to employer job openings and contact employers on behalf of the veteran for consideration in hiring. PA CareerLink® offices comply with the Jobs for Veterans Act by providing priority services to veterans. Local Veterans Employment Representatives and/or Disabled Veterans Outreach Program Specialists are available at PA CareerLink® offices to assist veterans with job search and other employment needs. Job seekers identified as veterans are matched to job orders, before any other job seeker matches are performed.

Provides a work activities center where individuals are trained by skilled professionals on a continual basis to comfortably handle a wide variety of contracts, and to cost-effectively provide business customers with a quality job that is delivered on time and on budget.

Offers supportive services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Services include early intervention for children, an adult training facility and day care, vocational rehabilitation, and respite care.