Our mission is to help individuals with developmental disabilities find employment and economic success through the resources within our community. Since our inception in 1972, we have developed long-lasting partnerships with many area employers and businesses. The PLUS Company, Inc. supports a diverse population of people seeking employment or working on those skills to enhance their chosen career. Supports are tailored with and for each individual to assure consistent, meaningful and ongoing community-based vocational services are always available. We reduce barriers in employment by providing information, referral, technical assistance, training, and negotiation services to employers and consumers. We are successful at finding jobs that specifically match not only the consumers's support needs, but of equal concern, meet the needs of the employer.

Our goal is for our consumers to develop the ability to learn about oneself and become more self supporting and independent.

Vocational services include:

• Vocational Assessment - designed to help an individual determine his/her capabilities, interests, preferences, limitations, necessary supports and potential for success.
• Work Adjustment - services to help an individual develop or reestablish his/her work skills, attitudes, personal characteristics, behaviors and functional capacity with the workplace.
• Job Placement - assistance in developing and transitions into a job that most closely meets with the individual's desires, capacities, skills and potential.
• Job Follow Along - assuring job retention through interventions, as necessary, that may affect an individual's job security. Developing those natural supports needed to be successful.
• Supported Employment - the provision of long-term intensive supports on and/or off site for those individuals who may not be able to tolerate the demands of competitive employment.
• Continued Job skills - individual guidance in communication and socials skills, resume writing, interviewing, attending job fairs, answering an employment advertisement, time management skills and self advocacy.

Happenings Art Program and Card Business
The PLUS Company has launched a new business plan that embraces the talents of our creative and hard working consumers. Uniquely designed art cards made by artists in the Happenings Art Program received a positive response from the local community. This program has inspired consumers of all levels of ability to reach beyond their comfort levels and gain a sense of accomplishment as they participate in creating a meaningful product and running a successful business. Consumers have expressed fulfillment in knowing their art work is appreciated and in being a part of a business that will benefit ongoing art programs and the community.

For more information on The Happenings Art Program, or to purchase cards, contact Leni Hodgins at 821-7407.