OUR PROGRAMS

The LR-BLN offers terrific programs, services and activities to assist businesses to attract new employees and customers with disabilities. The LR-BLN staff can help you develop a customized plan to take advantage of the opportunities presented by this valuable emerging market.

EDUCATION

LR-BLN members receive professional development and networking opportunities including employment & disability awareness training, regular membership meetings, special topic presentations, seminars and special events.

Training Topics Include:

* Disability awareness
* The ALL WAYS WELCOME seminar for increasing your customer base
* Interviewing people with disabilities
* ADA and effective recruitment strategies
* Mental Health in the workplace
* Other topics designed to meet your needs

CONSULTATION

LR-BLN members receive a variety of personalized consultation opportunities to meet workforce and customer service needs. Consultation services can include:

• Individualized assistance in developing customized recruitment outreach initiatives.
• Worksite/Job Accommodation assistance and information referral
• Employer Training and Hiring Incentives: including internships, situational assessments, on-the-job training and Work Opportunity Tax Credits
• Job Modification and Restructuring
• Other consultation services tailored to meet your needs.

JOB & RESUME SERVICE

• We offer a recruitment service that assists employers in advertising job opportunities to all organizations representing people with disabilities in Lander & Riverton and neighboring communities.
• We provide employers with individualized assistance in developing customized recruitment outreach initiatives.

MEMBERSHIP

• In addition to the training and consultation services, LR-BLN members enjoy networking opportunities, information, access to the job ad service and a copy of the comprehensive Disability Employment Practices Handbook for your Human Resource department.

MentorAbility- Youth Initiative

MISSION: The MentorAbility-youth Initiative(MB-YI) believes that all students with disAbilities (regardless of type or extent of disabilities) can and want to work. The American dream is a powerful and worthy goal of all citizens, and young people with disabilities have the same rights and responsibilities as all Americans to get the best education and opportunities possible to achieve their dreams. MB-YI helps to make this a reality by working closely with school districts to provide extra resources to local high schools, thereby creating competitive advantages for students with disabilities.

GOALS: The MB-YI program works with local high schools to achieve the following:

• Reduce Drop Out Rates- MB-YI provides creative, hands-on learning opportunities to challenge and inspire youth, increasing their desire to stay in school and get the most from their educational experiences.
• Engage Business Leaders- Employers dedicate staff time, resources and opportunities for students to explore new career choices- and they help to provide the guidance, motivation and connections that students need to explore careers, meet & network with more employers, and ultimately succeed in the world of work.
• Customize Programming- Participating school districts can customize MB-YI core program components, so that activities and services provided are in keeping with the unique needs and interests of both the special education program and students with disabilities.
• Improve Employment Outcomes- The primary goal of MB-YI is to work very closely with high schools, businesses, youth (and their parents), government agencies and other key stakeholders- to cultivate and deliver new opportunities that will help students to become employed.

CORE PROGRAM COMPONENTS:

• Individualized Career Planning
• Skills Building Seminars
• Employer Site Visits
• Mentoring
• Job Development Services & Career Expo
• Professional Development of Transition Staff

MentorAbility- Youth Initiative is emerging as a major program for our BLNs. Its an exciting program for youth with disabilities to learn necessary skills while making extra income.
We have excellent staff at our local school districts working for opportunities for our youth.

• Fremont County School District #1 -- Ken Nielsen, Special Education Director, (307) 335-8580
• Fremont County School District #25 -- Mike Kouris, Special Education Director, (307) 856-6526