Providence, Rhode Island -- This summer, Rhode Island's Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities, and Hospitals (BHDDH) is funding four local lead organizations to bring an innovative, person-centered employment program to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities across Rhode Island.

The initiative is called the Person-Centered Supported Employment Performance Program (PCSEPP), and will include Perspectives Corporation and its partners: AccessPoint RI, the J. Arthur Trudeau Memorial Center, Skills for Rhode Island's Future, Able Opportunities, and the Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI) at UMASS Boston.

PCSEPP 3.0 and Its Partnerships

Since 2014's Consent Decree, Rhode Island has been committed to bringing a more inclusive environment with better integrated services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the state, and PCSEPP aims to build on that, as it is specifically built for individuals who have never been employed before. This new iteration of PCSEPP focuses on the positives: the strengths of individuals, the specializations of the providers that serve them, and collaboration to help further connect individuals with their communities as a part of the workforce.

Providers like Perspectives, AccessPoint RI, and Trudeau will provide the tools necessary for individuals to succeed, such as the expertise of trained employment professionals. These professionals will be there to support individuals in going through a personalized discovery process to paint a vivid picture of who they are.

Likewise, national and local partners like Skills, Able Opportunities, and the ICI will contribute an equally valuable piece to the program: the networking resources individuals can use to connect with RI businesses, the communication and training necessary for all professionals involved to work seamlessly together, and the training in modern technology and advocacy skills. With these resources, individuals will learn new ways to succeed in a digital age as they work towards their goals with Customized Employment.

What Is Customized Employment?

Customized Employment (CE) is a method of job-seeking that opens up individuals to finding work beyond a business's typical open positions, allowing employers to meet their productivity needs in ways that standard job titles and their associated collection of responsibilities can't. PCSEPP, built on the premise of CE, is an approach designed to help match an individual's talents, skills, and goals to the workplace needs of local businesses; it is designed to meet individuals where they are and focus on the things they can and want to do, rather than their limitations.

As a result, CE provides more than a skills test or interest inventory; it provides a way for individuals to truly know and understand themselves through an in-depth self-discovery process, all while working with professionals to find out where they as a person--a combination of their personality, talents, interests, and more--can thrive alongside business partners, allowing them to break the mold of typical job titles and create something new: a truly customized experience.

Taking the Next Step

PCSEPP is here as of July 1st. If you or someone you know qualifies for this program, you can learn more by contacting the Perspectives Employment Services team by e-mailing them at employmentservices@perspectivescorporation.com or by calling (401) 294-3990.