LAS VEGAS - Nevada's Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation's (DETR) Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation (BVR), Opportunity Village, Desert Regional Center and Station Casinos have partnered to provide vocational training to a group of people with disabilities to help them develop job skills that will allow them to obtain competitive employment.
The Pathway to Work program began during the first week of June with five clients who will work in various positions at Boulder Station for four hours a day, five days a week for 12 weeks. The program participants are paid $8.25 per hour for the time that they are working on the job.
"Opportunity Village continues to be a leader in community employment due to innovative, progressive programs such as Pathway to Work, and our fine community partners such as DETR, DRC and Station Casinos," said Ed Guthrie, executive director of Opportunity Village.
The goal of this program is to help individuals move from the Opportunity Village Resource Center to community-based jobs at or above minimum wage, either full time or part time.
"This is a life-changing experience for our clients who are excited to enter into competitive, integrated work," said Shelley Hendren, administrator for DETR's Rehabilitation Division. "We are pleased to collaborate with our partners to create this opportunity for individuals with disabilities to work in a competitive job, in an integrated setting, in Nevada's highly successful casino industry. When given the opportunity and with the right supports, it has been proven that individuals with disabilities are equally as successful in the workplace as other employees. It is our goal to collaborate with employers to demonstrate the valuable contributions individuals with disabilities make in the workplace."
Pathway to Work combines classroom-based learning with real-work experience to help participants understand what is required of employees working in community-based jobs.
"The Desert Regional Center supports people with intellectual disabilities and related conditions to make choices about where they wish to work that leads to greater inclusion as valued members of the community," said Michele Ferrall, Deputy Administrator for the Aging Disabilities Services Division. "We look forward to continued collaboration with DETR, Opportunity Village and other community partners to provide individuals the opportunity to work in integrated community settings and earn a competitive wage."
Since the program began, the clients have gone through classes on filling out job applications and paperwork. They are now learning various job duties throughout Boulder Station. Near the end of the 90-day program, clients will meet with job coaches from Boulder Station and Opportunity Village for further classes on how to effectively communicate during job interviews.
"We're honored for the opportunity to work with these organizations to help those with intellectual disabilities further their job skills and opportunities," said Valerie Murzl, senior vice president of human resources for Station Casinos. "Both the clients and our team members have shown great enthusiasm for the program, and we hope to be able to expand this program to our other properties throughout Southern Nevada."
[[In-content Ad]]
