The WOA 100 Owl

Welcome to the second installment of the WOA 100 Owl. Our hope with this newsletter is to continue to elevate the good work of the students who have gone through this series and highlight the connection of how this training directly impacts outcomes for people with disabilities in their job pursuits. If you were a previous WOA 100 student, we highly encourage you to fill out our survey that showcases the jobs you are supporting people to get. Tuning in as a community partner? We are glad you are here and hope you can learn more information about the value of our training, how our students are shining and have a little fun while you are here (ahem: new word search alert).

To all: if you have ideas about what you would like to see in the Owl or would like to be featured, we want to hear from you! Let’s continue to build a network that can influence the workforce far and wide. 

Emily Harris, Senior TA and Training Manager/WOA 100 Project Coordinator

Supported Employment Word Search

Download and print the word search below with 20 Supported Employment related words. Take a photo of your completed word search and send it to Emily Harris, emily@gowise.org, for a prize!

Where are people coming from?

In 2022-2023, we were pleased to see WOA 100 students from across the world. Since, Wisconsin and Washington, D.C. have joined the map!

Pictured 2022-23 highlighted states/countries (dark green):

Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, New Mexico, Colorado, North Dakota, Georgia, Hawaii and New Zealand

Newly added states (light green): Washington D.C., Wisconsin

The Connecting Communities Program provide individualized services that help minorities that speak English as a second language in Oregon to receive Vocational Services that are essential to their employment success. We provide exceptional services to ensure that minorities with disabilities such as physical, medical, mental and/or emotional find and retain employment, obtain stability, and achieve happiness from equal opportunities to live, learn, work, and thrive in their communities. We work with participants and their families to obtain family-wage employment and economic self-sufficiency through a spectrum of culturally and linguistically responsive employment and human services. It also provides interactive experiences that give participants broad exposure to diversity, which serves to foster the awareness, understanding, and respect essential to success in workplaces.

Since 2003 our Connecting Communities program provides services, such as resume writing, mock interviews, and job application workshops; job development and coaching; ESL classes and tutoring; motivational, educational, and computer classes (in Spanish); individualized support; and access to community resources. In addition to employment, we offer culturally appropriate programs and activities on health and disability; law and interaction with law-enforcement; environmental stewardship and recycling; hate crimes and bullying; personal relationships and spirituality; school participation; LGBT and diversity topics; addiction awareness and education; and other pertinent issues. We offer these programs to elevate awareness, respect, community values, and positive human interaction.

We believe that there is a strong need in the community for the educational and experiential services and supports our program provides to the Latino, Asian and other minorities in our community. Our program is a time-tested success with an extensive history of positively impacting the lives of Latinos and other minorities and thereby benefiting the family as a whole.

We use evidence-based practices to attain benchmarks, which include becoming and remaining employed; successfully completing classes, trainings, and workshops; increased understanding and mastery of local and cultural norms.

What new things have your team members implemented into their work since going through the WOA 100 series?

"The better use of words in conversation with employers." -Tom C.

"I think we have implemented little more inclusive hiring practices that have emerged as a beacon of progress, ensuring equal opportunities for people with disabilities in the workforce. Recognizing that diversity fuels innovation. Through adaptable workplaces, reasonable accommodations, and a focus on individuals' unique abilities rather than limitations, inclusion at jobs for people with disabilities has become a fundamental principle. This not only enriches companies with a wider range of perspectives but also empowers individuals to contribute their talents and skills, creating a more equitable and vibrant professional landscape for everyone." -Esperanza A.

"The new thing it has implemented is informational interviews. I remember when I applied for my position it was the first time, I had done an informational interview. And now after having participated in the course that goes over informational interviews, I use them when I go tour a new company. It really does provide me with a chance to learn about a new company and what it takes for our clients to be able to work in those settings." -Mauricio G.

"I pay much more attention to how I write instructions after the systematic instruction course. It helped me understand how much we can overlook when it comes to communicating effectively with others and breaking down tasks. Now I write more specific step by step instructions, thinking the task through and looking for details that would be helpful to include. It encourages me to slow down and think through the complexities of a task that I might initially think is simple, due to expert bias. Through this, I’ve developed a greater appreciation for giving clear, sequential instructions." -Hannah H.