New York State Association for Retarded Children Inc, Erie County Chapter

Community Pre-Employment Training

“Now more than ever, technological skills are essential for the workplace. Yet, for people with intellectual disabilities, there are very few opportunities to learn and practice these skills. As a result, this population is often over looked for positions that require computer-based skills like email communication, word processing, and internet research. Currently, only 15% of Heritage Centers clients use technology at their place of employment with the majority of clients in roles that only offer manual labor.

Including computer-based learning modules as part of the pre-vocational program will allow individuals a structured opportunity to use technology to prepare for, secure and maintain paid employment within the community. Specifically, the program will help individuals learn to use apps and various devices (smartphone, computer, tablet), and will also provide support in developing resumes, completing online applications, researching career options, and conducting job searches.”

CATEGORY: Programs & Services
LOCATION: Buffalo, NY
AMOUNT: $100,000 over Two Years
YEAR AWARDED: 2016
WEBSITE: http://www.heritagecenters.org


Perpetual Motion

Have you heard the Tower Foundation’s origin story?  It has now been freshly told by Cassandra Gainer in the recent issue of Traffic East, a Western New York journal celebrating entrepreneurial and creative energy.  Gainer interviewed daughters Mollie Byrnes and Cynthia Doyle in telling the story of Peter and Elizabeth Tower’s life together and how they came … Continued