Apr 26, 2009

Morris County program helping disabled keep jobsBy Tanya DrobnessNJ.com

Susan Clavadetscher got a few jobs after high school in Chester Township, but when employers started cutting her hours, her concerns about having Down syndrome grew.

Refusing to face rejection, she joined a nonprofit organization based in Princeton called Community Options Inc., which offers people with developmental disabilities opportunities to learn job skills, gain work experience and, eventually, earn a living.

In June, Clavadetscher, now 24, was hired as a cashier at Presents of Mind gift shop in Mount Olive.

”They make me happy,” she said of the staff of the national program that helped her find a job — and keep it. The West Morris Mendham High School graduate works at the gift shop four days a week.

Her mother, Martha Clavadetscher, is pleased not only with the program, but by her daughter’s success.

”It was a relief to me. I wanted her to be successful,” she said.

The gift shop is the latest store to join six other nonprofit businesses operated by Community Options. The other stores include Vaseful, a flower and gift shop in New Brunswick, and three Daily Plan It office and print shops in Morristown, Moorestown and Princeton.

Through Community Options’ program, disabled participants receive counseling with employment specialists who help them work on their job skills as they receive a paycheck. There are currently 240 people in the program, and many move on to jobs in the mainstream market.

”It’s kind of a springboard for employment,” said Janet Rosequist, director of Northern Jersey’s Employment Services for Community Options, which also offers computer training and classes on job development.

There is no cost to enter the program, which is funded by the state’s Division of Developmental Disabilities, said Chris Dixon, executive director of Community Op- tions Enterprises.

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