Tagged: Program

JWOD Program Employs People With Severe Disabilities

JWOD Program Employs People With Severe Disabilities

JWOD Program Employs People With Severe Disabilities As a hazardous materials technician in Fort Lewis, Wash., John Kartes spends his days physically assisting mechanics, a job that often entails driving a forklift to transport engines and other heavy items. He ensures that the mechanics have the materials they need, keeps an inventory of hazardous materials and then coordinates their disposal by putting everything in the correct drums, barrels and tanks. What’s unusual about Kartes is that he does all of this using prosthetic arms and legs. Kartes is an employee of Skookum Educational Programs in Port Townsend, Wash., where his...

‘Excellence’ Program Assists People With Disabilities

‘Excellence’ Program Assists People With Disabilities

‘Excellence’ Program Assists People With Disabilities People with disabilities remain an untapped resource in the nation’s work force, facing an unemployment rate of 70 percent. NISH, a nonprofit organization that helps secure federal contracts for agencies that employ people with disabilities through the Javits-Wagner-O’Day Program, is working to change the status quo. The organization has introduced a new program whereby agencies designated as “Centers of Excellence” serve as mentors to other agencies to help them improve the quality of the service and products they provide to the federal government. The Javits-Wagner-O’Day Program is the largest single source of jobs in...