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The Able Trust: The Miami Business Leadership Network received a grant in September 2006 to support an Internship Placement program, which would place individuals with disabilities in employment. The impact of this grant would be results on two goals – employment for individuals and a positive experience for employers. Now a year later how has the results been for both individuals and employers?
Miami Business Leadership Network: There is no doubt that our objective has been accomplished. We define our mission as taking action that makes life better today than it was yesterday for a person with disabilities and the internship program has been instrumental in allowing the Miami-Dade BLN to achieve that mission. For the interns, the opportunity to work is immeasurable and for businesses, the opportunity to dispel myths regarding employment for people with disabilities goes a long way towards that business embracing the idea of broader employment for people with disabilities.
AT: In your experience what is the key to having a successful relationship with an employer?
MBLN: Matching a good quality candidate to the position/job and providing an incentive to the employer, vis-à-vis the internship program where the employer is (1) not required or obligated to offer employment at the end of the internship and (2) reimbursing the employer for the actual payroll cost including payroll taxes.
AT: When you speak with employers are there any common concerns that they have? How does the BLN help work through these barriers?
MBLN: The common concerns, all myths, focus on potential employment litigation for issues such as lack of accommodations or wrongful termination. The BLN addresses these concerns through (1) education and training of our members at our regular membership meetings, (2) education and training for all employers in the community at large through partnerships with local SHRM chapters and local Chambers of Commerce and, (3) providing opportunities for businesses to experience employing a person with disabilities in a non-threatening way through the MDBLN internship program.
AT: What specific marketing efforts do you do to reach employers in your area?
MBLN: Our primary vehicle has been our employer awareness campaign supported by informational presentations through the Greater Miami Society for Human Resource Management and customized on-site training for employers.
AT: What does it take to have a successful match between an individual and a particular internship opportunity?
MBLN: It is most critical to match the skills and abilities along with the interns’ career aspirations to the employer’s job description. Our three primary placement partners, South Florida Workforce, Best Buddies and the MEED program at Miami-Dade College have done a wonderful job in making effective matches.
AT: For individuals how has working benefited them?
MBLN: The internships have provided a realistic opportunity to gain regular employment as several of our interns have been hired by the organizations they interned with, earn a paycheck resulting in greater independence and a feeling of inclusion in the broader community, build a resume, gain references and valuable work experience.
AT: Are there any particular challenges an individual with disabilities might face in gaining employment in a busy metropolitan area like Miami?
MBLN: The continuing challenge is gaining acceptance in the broad business community that people with disabilities are most often more productive and less problematic than non-disabled employees.
AT: What types of jobs are your clients obtaining? Any unique placements?
MBLN: All of our placements have been with white-collar employers in an office environment ranging from health care and law firms to financial services and organizations serving people with disabilities.
AT: How have you solved transportation issues for your clients?
MBLN: Our placement partners work diligently with community resources to ensure that transportation is not a barrier to employment. Our placement partners are the secret to our success in that they provide very personal attention to both the candidates and the employer so that there is only one point of contact for the entire process.
AT: If you had this grant to do over again, is there anything that you would approach differently? Any lessons learned you would like to share?
MBLN: No. The grant-making process was clear and efficient.
AT: If an employer in the Miami area has questions about how to accommodate an individual with a disability in the workplace or if they are looking to network with other employers – how would they contact you?
MBLN: Through our website, www.myabilities.org. Just click on the link to the Miami-Dade BLN.
