Meet the great people behind the great programs and services offered at Ometz! Our colleague Edina Markovitz discusses Ometz Supported Employment Services, and how our team helps individuals who may have a mental health diagnosis, intellectual disability, learning disability or autism spectrum disorder to secure and maintain employment.

What is your work position and how long have you been working at Ometz?

Over 20 years ago, I started working at Ometz as an Assistant Counselor in the Employment Department. I then worked for 15 years as an Employment Specialist in Supported Employment and for the past 4 years, I have been proud to serve as the Manager of this service.

What are your day-to-day activities?

In addition to managing a team of 3 highly skilled Employment Specialists, I also handle incoming referrals and informational calls. These inquiries can be from prospective job seekers, their family members, health care providers, or other organizations. I also work directly with job seekers, network with employers and promote our services through outreach and education about inclusive hiring practices.

What can a job seeker expect from Ometz Supported Employment Services?

Clients can expect support at every level of the job search process. Our Employment Specialists understand the diverse needs of each job seeker so services can be tailored to their specific situations.

We help job seekers identify employment goals, assist with CV writing and provide guidance on how to conduct the most effective job search. Job seekers are coached in proper interview etiquette and in certain cases Employment Specialists accompany them to job interviews.

A unique aspect of Supported Employment is the job coaching we provide in terms of on-site training, integration and job retention.

Nothing brings me greater joy than hearing from a client that is still in the same job that we matched them with, 10-15 years later. Hearing them describe how their lives have changed and knowing that Ometz played a huge part in their journey to independence is exactly what we hope to achieve in our day-to-day work.

How will Ometz Supported Employment Services evolve in the future?

We are committed to providing our clients with the best service possible and adapting services to their needs. We have identified a growing need for assistance for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder and our team has responded accordingly.

To find out more about Ometz Supported Employment Services, click here.