Vocational Services

The primary focus of AIS vocational support programs is to provide a work environment that promotes growth in a variety of work skills areas specific to each individual’s choice, strength and need.

Work skill areas include vocational, communications, social, and professional image.  The strategy is to develop skills which are conducive to employment within the general community for those who so choose.

Within our vocational settings, our employees may access a wide range of work experiences.  These would include various restaurant job responsibilities; work in a mailing environment; assembly line work; and, support work in a print shop environment.  Also, because our vocational programs are fully integrated into our small businesses, we are able to expose our employees to the experiences of meeting firm, and sometimes short, deadlines; quality control concerns and strategies; customer service; dealing with the public; teamwork; and, working independently.

Our vocational program is complemented with a literacy program offered at 2 levels in partnership with our local literacy network and various training programs to reinforce the ‘softer’ work skills.  These skills include social interaction, activities of daily living, and communication.

At AIS, we work hard to ensure people have the opportunity to express their choices and that they receive support to realize their goals.  Our staff work very closely with our employees on a day to day basis coming to know their strengths and preferences.  This knowledge is incorporated into decisions and directions taken.  Formally, the information gleaned is shared in an annual planning process that involves people who are important in the employee’s life.