Would you wait a year to re-apply for a job?

[TupperMom7]

A little background: My son is 20 and is learning disabled. He attended vocational school while in high school and graduated with a Regents diploma. He attended a Culinary Training institute for two years after that, and an internship for four months in a restaurant as part of the program at the school.

Now, on to the job market. The restaurant he did his internship at did not have a position available for him. So he worked for free there for four months for no pay, but he did get some experience. His "job coach" and I use the term loosely, got him a job in a nursing home where his former chef from the culinary school now works. The job was part time washing pots and pans by hand. When we went for a meeting with the job coach and a Vesid counselor, we told them that our son would have to get a job near our home if we had to provide transportation, or near where my husband works, or on a bus line. They knew that we could not drive long distances due to our own work schedules and we have other children at home.

The job washing dishes was at a place 25 minutes highway driving from our home. His work hours conflicted with the bus schedule and he had no ride home from work. We voiced our concerns and said we didn't think it was going to work out, etc. and they ignored us. After several weeks of driving him back and forth, and his friend who is autistic driving him back and forth, we told him to let them know that it was not possible for him to keep the job. So he worked there about two weeks.

There is another facility that is right near our home that is the same employer. Why they didn't try to place him there is beyond me. I guess because he knew the chef at the other place that is far away, they thought he'd get along better there. I don't know. Now they are telling him that he cannot apply here for a year because he left under bad circumstances. The only circumstances I can see is that the job coach did not check out the transportation before getting him to take a job that was so far away in the first place!

Sorry for going on and on, but would you wait a year like they said, or apply and explain to them if you get an interview what happened? That the job was suggested before transportation was checked out?

 

[wdwfan16]

He quit after just two weeks. That does not look good. I would think that applying now would result in a resounding NO and prevent future employment. I would wait the year and have him apply other places.

 

[akcire]

Do you have any Marriott properties near you?

My neighbor's kid (who is a mentally disabled adult) makes a really good wage setting up rooms for banquets and also sorting silverware etc. She has worked there for like 15 years, she is benefits eligible, and loves her job! She is lucky and normally takes the bus to work.

Occasionally, she will work special events and then her parents or one of us neighbors just drop her off. I have gotten to see some pretty swanky private events by being her driver on occasion, including some big time celebrity things. (The catering department really likes when Elizabeth works these events, because she does not get distracted by the celebrity hoopla. Elizabeth is a GIANT fan of New Kids on the Block, everyone else on the planet is just another person. It is funny she will be like there were 11 TV people at the dinner and she can name them all; she just doesn't care. Everyone in the world is the same to her be it a big time movie actor or our mailman, with the New Kids exception--if they ever showed up all bets are off).

 

[rhiansmom]

Here is the deal... supported employment jobs are very HARD to find. Just because one place was willing to work with your son doesn't mean the other place would. She probably placed him there because she knew someone and was able to create a spot.

I know this because I worked in this industry (supporting them not direct care) for many years.

However a few things did bother me about your post. You said you are involved in his plan and they didnt listen to you. That would be a red flag to me. Does he have a case worker that doesnt work for the same agency as the job coach? Is there another agency you can switch services to?

 

[eh24fan]

Occasionally, she will work special events and then her parents or one of us neighbors just drop her off. I have gotten to see some pretty swanky private events by being her driver on occasion, including some big time celebrity things. (The catering department really likes with Elizabeth works these events, because she does not get distracted by the celebrity hoopla. Elizabeth is a GIANT fan of New Kids on the Block, everyone else on the planet is just another person. It is funny she will be like there were 11 TV people at the dinner and she can name them all; she just doesn't care. Everyone in the world is the same to her be it a big time movie actor or our mailman, with the New Kids exception--if they ever showed up all bets are off).

If NKOTB ever showed up somewhere I was working, I'd die. LOL <~~~ see Tag.

 

[finz2left]

I would absolutely have him apply right away! No point in waiting...what would he do for the rest of the year? Perhaps his old Chef could call and put in a great word and explain????

 

[akcire]

If NKOTB ever showed up somewhere I was working, I'd die. LOL <~~~ see Tag.

That's funny. She only listens to the New Kids, about 10 hours a day!

My husband got her an autograph from one of them, Donny I think, and she keeps it above her bed.

I suppose there are worse things for her to be in love with.....

You must be the other person in America, I bid against on ebay for her Christmas/Birthday gifts

 

[TupperMom7]

Here is the deal... supported employment jobs are very HARD to find. Just because one place was willing to work with your son doesn't mean the other place would. She probably placed him there because she knew someone and was able to create a spot.

I know this because I worked in this industry (supporting them not direct care) for many years.

However a few things did bother me about your post. You said you are involved in his plan and they didnt listen to you. That would be a red flag to me. Does he have a case worker that doesnt work for the same agency as the job coach? Is there another agency you can switch services to?

That is correct. We were right there with him and told the counselor and job coach that public transportation would need to be used if the job was not close to home (I work in our neighborhood at different sites) or close to his Dad's employment. Instead of checking out the bus route first to make sure it would work out, they placed him there and then ignored us when we told them he could not get there by bus. They told him to buy a car or take a taxi! He doesn't even have a driver's permit yet! As far as I know, there is not another agency, but if his counselor does not come back with a reply that isn't a brush off, we will be asking for a different counselor.