DDA Employment Services

Offering personalized support to adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities to obtain and maintain competitive, integrated employment.

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Ready to meet you where you are.

The Arc Northern Chesapeake Region, a licensed Maryland DDA provider, offers personalized and innovative employment support for people in Harford and Cecil Counties. Programming is designed to meet adults at any stage of their employment journey with the five unique offerings featured below.

Discovery

Unlocking potential through assessing skills and interests.

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Community Development

Innovative curriculum for developing desired skill sets.

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Career Exploration

Real-world, paid work experience with direct support.

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Job Development

Assembling a job seeker profile and pursuing employment matches.

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Employment Coaching

Establishing and maintaining competitive, integrated employment.

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Achieve with us.

If you are interested in applying for The Arc NCR’s Employment Services, visit the “Apply for Services” page linked in the button below.

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Contact Us

Reach out to the Employment Services team today.

Email: rmahoney@arcncr.org
Call us: 410-836-7177

Discovery

Setting foundations for fulfilling careers.

The Arc NCR’s Discovery process is sure to elevate workforce potential toward personally valued employment through the following 3 milestones:

Observe
Learn how your unique skills and interests can align with workforce needs. In our first milestone, our team will:
- Engage with you, your loved ones, and support network to glean insights into your aspirations.
- Conduct comprehensive observations to discern your communication style and preferences.
- Strategically address any potential workforce obstacles or challenges.
Assess
Strategically identify aptitudes, strengths and abilities. This second milestone seeks to:
- Evaluate your technical proficiencies, soft skills, dexterity, and marketable talents.
- Utilize cutting-edge assessments and tools to uncover your innate aptitudes and vocational preferences.
- Collaborate with seasoned professionals to compile a comprehensive data set for informed decision-making.
Develop
Create a person-centered plan to transition your skills into the workforce. This final Discover milestone will:
- Craft a detailed Vocational Profile based on assessment outcomes and observational insights.
- Curate a resume showcasing your unique skill set and qualifications in a compelling light.
- Convene key stakeholders to review Discovery findings and align employment strategies with your aspirations.
- Facilitate a seamless transition into a rewarding and purpose-driven career path.

Community Development Services

By participating in our Community Development Services, you will gain valuable skills and knowledge that will make you more marketable and prepared for the ever-growing job market. Our pre-employment training modules provide hands-on experience and practical tools to help you secure employment and excel in your chosen field.

This program is designed to increase marketability and enhance career prospects through building transferable skills for today’s competitive job market in three main areas.

Pre-Employment Prep
To stand out in the competitive job market, our team is here to help you prepare for success through a wide range of job readiness modules:
- Active Listening
- Effective Communication
- Stress Management
- Customer Service
- Digital Literacy
- Financial Literacy
- Professional Hygiene
- Time Management
- Self-Advocacy
Skill Application
Apply job readiness skills in real-life scenarios through our innovative program offerings to develop those skills for the workforce, including, but not limited to:
- Digital Media and Mass Communications
- Professional Skill Development
- Creative Entrepreneurship and Micro Enterprises
- Volunteerism and Internships
- Ability Connect
Employment Readiness
Transition the resources gained from this program to active career advancement in our Job Development services.

Career Exploration

New career paths await.

This program is designed to help people learn transferrable and marketable skills, while training in a real-world employment setting with three key components.

Onsite Coaching
Develop employment skills with the guidance of a coach every step of the way.
- Hands-on training.
- Education on essential, in-demand skills.
- Small group settings with personalized assistance.
Community Contracts
Real-world experience in an inclusive and supportive environment.
- Apply essential employment skills in a real-life work setting.
- Learn professional communication and teamwork dynamics.
- Build your resume.
Paid Training
Learn the value of your work by earning a paycheck on your career exploration journey.
- Increase your confidence by seeing the value of your work.
- Sustain your efforts in learning by earning weekly pay.
- Take pride in being an active community member.

Job Development

Finding the perfect fit.

This program is designed to match your talents and strengths with
the unique needs of a local workplace, where you can thrive in competitive, integrated employment.

Matching
Begin the search for a workplace that will work for you. Our Job Development team will take an in-depth look at your skills, interests and aspirations to identify opportunities that align with your potential and goals.
Connecting
Network with all the right people in all the right places to find the right fit. Let our team propel you toward success in a competitive and inclusive work environment by:
- Considering employment opportunities that are a match.
- Researching and studying resources to assess the quality of the match.
- Connecting you with the people who will help you learn more.
Securing
Establish yourself in a new position with job placement support. Our team will help you to:
- Identify and understand position requirements.
- Address and plan for transportation needs.
- Provide guidance through orientation, training, and workplace culture.

Employment Coaching

Your success is our priority.

Employment Coaches are dedicated to understanding what works best for people receiving services so they can thrive in their employment.

Follow Along Supports
After someone obtains a job, an Employment Coach is assigned to offer personalized support and guidance to help them stay on track for successful, long-term employment.
- Our coaches will visit a workplace twice per month for consistent support.
- Coaches work closely with supported employees and their supervisors to ensure roles are being fulfilled and exceeded.
- Support includes anything from assistance with learning new tasks to aligning work with employer needs.
Continued Development
We are committed beyond Follow Along Supports to further enhance the employment experience of those we serve through:
- Offering skill building workshops.
- Providing performance evaluations.
- Identifying areas for growth along with the resources needed to do so.
Grow in Independence
With more than 65 employment partnerships, across many different industries of employment, and serving over 100 people in competitive, integrated employment, The Arc NCR’s Employment Services team has the experience you need to grow in independence and thrive in your employment.

DDA Employment Services

Ready to meet you where you are.

Achieve with us.

Contact Us

EVENTS

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DDA Employment Services

Ready to meet you where you are.

Discovery

Community Development

Career Exploration

Job Development

Employment Coaching

Achieve with us.

Contact Us

EVENTS

GET INVOLVED

DONATE

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