We hope to see you at our Holiday Choir Concert coming up Sunday, December 10 at 2:00PM. Join us for lots of fun, joy and good music!

The date for the 2023 Trivia Night is Saturday, November 11th!

This event will take place at the Martin Luther King Center at 630 9th St in Rock Island, IL. Registration begins at 5:30 pm and the game begins at 6:30 pm. Bring your own snacks to the event, and get your ugly sweater ready for a fun and exciting night!

Register NOW at the following link: https://arcqca.org/events/trivia-night/

OR

Reserve a Table by contacting us at: wrights@arcqca.org | 309-786-6474

Employment is an important part of community inclusion for people with disabilities. Meaningful work fosters personal growth, equal opportunity, self-sufficiency, and independence. During National Disability Employment Awareness Month, The Arc is celebrating the many contributions and achievements of employees with disabilities in the local workforce and raising awareness of employment-related advantages unique to hiring people with disabilities.

Meet Tyler, a Loan Quality Specialist for QCR Holdings Inc. in Davenport. As an individual who identifies himself as a person with Asperger’s syndrome, he excels as a Quality Specialist where he gives meticulous attention to detail crucial to identifying and addressing even minor issues. Tyler double-checks that the information in their system is also correct on paper. His focus and dedication have contributed to high-quality outcomes. Say’s Jenny Miller, Director of Community Employment Services, “Tyler is the perfect candidate for his job.”

Tyler’s strengths in the workforce would not have been allowed to shine if not for the support of The Arc’s Community Employment Services program. Tyler was referred to The Arc through the Autism Society. He had found some quality matches in the job market, he just needed to refine how he packaged his educational and professional experience. Tyler graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Museum Studies and Biology from St. Ambrose University. He was working as a Contractor for the US Army Joint Munitions Command on the Rock Island Arsenal when his contract ended and he was looking for work.

Tyler was given some tools to track his interviews and most importantly the practice to help refine his delivery. Says Tyler, “That really, really helped. I was at a disadvantage.” People with Asperger’s can generally have good language skills, but they might still have difficulty picking up social cues or understanding context which can hinder their understanding of humor, sarcasm, or non–literal language which can come up in an interview. They also discussed whether or not to disclose his disability during the interview process. In Tyler’s case, he decided to disclose. Fortunately, the interviewer worked with other people like Tyler and was familiar with Asperger’s which helped open the flow of communication and created an atmosphere of mutual understanding where Tyler felt comfortable to discuss his strengths. After another interview and an aptitude test, Tyler was hired in his role at QCR Holdings.

Tyler has advice for anyone with a disability who might be looking for work. “It’s hard for everyone not just for people with Asperger’s. You are not the only ones.” Having a resource like The Arc made a difference for Tyler. “I do not view my Asperger’s as an excuse – I view it as an opportunity to get better every day.”

Employers like QCR Holdings are benefitting from the attributes that people with disabilities bring to the workforce. In Tyler’s case no special accommodations needed to be made to unlock his potential. Simply knowing where Tyler was coming from, made a big difference in establishing open lines of communication and clear expectations. As more people like Tyler are able to get the support they need to enter the workforce, employers are perfecting their practices to allow for a more neurologically diverse workforce and are rewarded with an extended talent pool.

The Arc would not have been able to help people like Tyler if not for the funding of the Genesis Health Foundation Community Assistance Funds for People with Disabilities which provided the gap funding needed to assist individuals who would not otherwise qualify for services. There are many people who are just outside of the service funding parameters that still require assistance to help them shine in the workforce. The Arc is grateful for its visionary leadership in this area.

During the month of October, we will be showcasing inclusive workplace practices that benefit disabled workers and employers. More and more employers are trying out-of-the-box thinking to address a tight labor market. Opportunities favor creative approaches, find out how The Arc’s Community Employment Services program can benefit your team at www.arcqca.org.

Employment is an important part of community inclusion for people with disabilities. Meaningful work fosters personal growth, equal opportunity, self-sufficiency, and independence. During National Disability Employment Awareness Month, The Arc is celebrating the many contributions and achievements of employees with disabilities in the local workforce and raising awareness of employment-related advantages unique to hiring people with disabilities.

Today we meet Shyanna who works at Washington Jr. H.S. as a server and dishwasher. There is so much to do in a busy kitchen that serves hundreds of Junior High school students every school day. From taking food temperatures to keeping up with the many dishes to putting food into and out of the massive ovens, Shyanna has welcomed every opportunity to learn all the elements that make the kitchen function. Her Food Handlers License gives her the knowledge and training to do her work safely. She is very aware of cross-contamination and the risk of foodborne illness as well as making accommodations for students with food allergies. Her license gives her the skills and confidence to maintain a healthy and safe food service environment.

Before Shyanna came to Washington Jr. H.S. Shyanna started her food service career at Denkmann Elementary where she spent six months learning the ropes. She got a call about an opportunity at Washington Jr. H.S. who were looking for someone who was dependable and skilled in many aspects of their big, busy kitchen. Her move happened at a critical time for Washington, because that kitchen was cooking for all the preschool classrooms in the district as well as for the junior high school students before the downtown district office kitchen was complete. “Everyone likes me,” says Shyanne of her colleagues and supervisor. “We all work together and help each other out.” In a busy kitchen, Shyanna’s great attitude and willingness to learn new skills are appreciated and help the kitchen accomplish getting the proper nutrition for growing students every day.

Working as a valued team member is secondary to Shyanna’s favorite of her job, interacting with the students. Says Shyanna, “It feels good to get out and help people.” She knows that this aspect of her job is really important. “Be nice to everyone, you don’t know what they might be going through.” Shyanna feels pride in making a difference every day in the lives of students. Nourishing bodies is what cafeteria workers do best, however, they also provide a friendly face, a listening ear, and a sense of community and belonging in the lives of busy students. Although not a formal part of her job description, Shyanna knows she’s making a positive impact on students’ well-being well beyond providing meals.

Shyanna has advice for any person with a disability who might be looking for work. “Give it a try, you will like it.” More and more employers are coming to appreciate the talent pool individuals with disabilities offer and are realizing the benefits will a loyal, committed employees. The Rock Island School District has shown its commitment to creating an inclusive and accessible workforce by hiring and supporting people like Shyanna.

During the month of October, we are showcasing inclusive workplace practices that benefit disabled workers and employers. More and more employers are trying out-of-the-box thinking to address a tight labor market. Opportunities favor creative approaches, find out how The Arc’s Community Employment Services program can benefit your team at www.arcqca.org.

The date for the 2023 Trivia Night is Saturday, November 11th!

This event will take place at the Martin Luther King Center in Rock Island, IL. Registration begins at 5:30 pm and the game begins at 6:30 pm.

Bring your own snacks to the event.

Get registered here: https://arcqca.org/events/trivia-night/