Supported Employment (SEMP)
Supported Employment facilitates competitive work in integrated settings for individuals with disabilities. Supported Employment provides assistance such as Job Coaching, Case Management, transportation, assistive technology and specialized job training to individuals who need ongoing support/services In order to perform their job.
Supported Employment encourages people to work within their communities and encourages work, social interaction, and integration.
Types of Employment:
Individual Placement - A consumer is placed in a job within the community which best suits his/her abilities and preferences. Training is provided by a Job Coach. As the employee gains skills and confidence, the job coach gradually spends less time at the worksite and is eventually replaced by a Case Manager.
Enclave - A group of consumers (generally 2-5) working in a community business or industry, while receiving training, supervision, and support by a Job Coach. At times in an enclave individuals may be assigned separate tasks and the group may be dispersed throughout the jobsite.
Supported Employment Staff:
Job Coach: A person hired to provide specialized on-site training to assist the consumer with learning and performing the job and adjusting to the work environment. This individual also provides transportation to job sites and provides oversight/supervision to consumers while working in an enclave or mobile work crew.
Case Manager: A person hired to provide complete oversight of the consumer in all aspects of their employment needs (i.e. completing 6-month service plans, monthly worksite visits, providing or arranging Job Coaching (if necessary), maintaining contact with employer(s), family/caregiver, medical professionals, MSC worker (if applicable), etc.).
Café Keon
Café Keon is a convenience food shop in the Keon Center that is operated by Keon consumers and staff. The Café is adjacent to the lunchroom and offers ready-to-eat foods, cold beverages, hot beverages, and microwavable foods in the morning, at break time, and lunchtime.
Consumers who work in the Café assist in all facets of its operation, from purchasing goods to customer service. They go to stores to pick up items, transport them back to the cafe, stock and price them, decorate the Café, create signs and food displays, interact with customers, take money, operate the cash register, give change, and clean up. At least one Keon staff person is present at all times to provide support as needed.
The Café is a bright and pleasant marketplace that gives consumers the opportunity to serve one another and acquire vocational skills. The Café currently employs 5 Part-Time employees and has several volunteers who help out sporadically.
This Site is Dedicated to the Memory of
Dennis Keon.
Dennis was one of our original consumers, and we had the pleasure of sharing his life for over 50 years.
Dennis' family were pioneers. They raised Dennis at home and he truly became an active part of the community. We are named after Dennis' father who was instrumental in giving us the brick & mortar of our first school.
While we have grown over the years from a school to an agency now serving disabled adults in a variety of programs, we have maintained the Keon name to honor the efforts put forth by Dennis' family in fostering the dream of community living and reaching goals that at the time seemed unreachable.
We are truly blessed for all that Dennis gave over the years. He will always be with us.
Go Yankees!