TotalLink has a Supported Employment contract with the Illinois Department of Human Services Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) that provides people with intellectual or developmental disabilities or who are neurodiverse with access to customized employment. TotalLink helps participants and families determine the level of need for supported employment in order to make appropriate referrals to DRS. (Transition-age youth may be eligible to receive supported employment through DRS the semester prior to graduation to ensure continuity of services after graduation.)

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We encourage families to start building the bridge to adult employment services when transition planning starts by inviting one of our employment specialists to attend IEP meetings. To learn more about ways to build the bridge, please contact info@totallink.org.

 

Customized Employment uses a person-centered approach designed to meet the unique needs and abilities of individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities or who are neurodiverse. Grounded in a strength-based philosophy, our program is uniquely tailored to each individual, focusing on creating a win-win match between the job seeker and employer.

 

This highly individualized approach involves a six-step process, taking each job seeker through a personalized journey that can span several months to over a year, resulting in sustainable employment that meets the needs of both the individual and the business. 

 

Customized Employment is a unique process that doesn’t follow the typical job search process that may include searching for jobs on sites like Indeed or LinkedIn. Instead, it starts the Discovery phase, where TotalLink’s Employment Specialists get to know the individual job seeker and the skills, strengths, interests, and assets they can offer an employer. 

 

TotalLink embeds the Customized Employment process in all our DRS contracts and private pay services. 

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To learn more about the Customized Employment process please contact TotalLink at info@totallink.org or (224) 412-4718.