CDC Resources, Heartland Employment Services reaches out to area schools

The local not-for-profit agency CDC Resources has added a new program which helps individuals with disabilities. V.O.I.C.E. or Vocational Outreach In Community Employment has been launched with the help of a grant provided by Vocational Rehabilitation.

Through V.O.I.C.E., Carmen Cox, the new transition coordinator, will help high school students with disabilities prepare for the next phase in their lives. However, V.O.I.C.E. is not limited to assisting high school-aged citizens, but to all people with disabilities who are interested in employment.

The transition coordinator is an advocate for Heartland Employment Services (HES) and by visiting school corporations in the five-county region covered by CDC - Jasper, Newton, White, Carroll, Benton. Portions of Pulaski and Tippecanoe will also be assisted.

While Heartland specializes in finding suitable and stable employment for people with a wide range of abilities, V.O.I.C.E. is designed to reach out into the schools and teach the students about life after high school, particularly employment.

The transition between high school graduation and the next step, being either post-secondary education or the workforce, can be hard for anyone, but can be especially difficult for people with disabilities.

Cox's main job is informing teachers, students and parents about the many services offered at CDC Resources, along with referring them to Vocational Rehabilitation and assisting them in signing up for important benefits - such as Medicaid waivers.

Some of the waiver benefits have a five-year waiting period, so it is very important that waiver forms are filled out as soon as possible.

Cox will be visiting area schools, however parents of teenagers with disabilities or any adult with disabilities interested in CDC's services are encouraged to contact her or HES manager Ryan Musch at the Heartland Employment Services office at (219) 866-4401 or (574) 583-8227, extension 249. One-on-one consultation is also available.