For more than 70 years, families have counted on the Ollie Webb Center for assistance, advice, advocacy and services for family members with developmental or intellectual disabilities. They are on the frontline fighting for funding and equal opportunities for people dealing with developmental or intellectual challenges.  

Part of that work includes helping people with developmental disabilities find jobs. Nebraska’s unemployment rate is well below the national average. Many businesses struggle to find employees, and some are forced to close because they cannot find staff. However, the unemployment rate for individuals with disabilities in Nebraska is much higher than the overall number. According to the Nebraska Department of Labor, the statewide unemployment rate for individuals with disabilities is 7.5%. 

Supported employment for people with developmental disabilities

Ollie Webb’s Supported Employment Program helps people with developmental disabilities build job skills and find jobs. They offer job placement, coaching, and ongoing support. This gives the individual regular opportunities to interact with coworkers without disabilities as well as the general public. They earn pay and benefits equal to those received by coworkers without disabilities in comparable positions.  

The Covid-19 pandemic dramatically affected the program. Many participants were temporarily or permanently laid off. In addition, individuals with developmental disabilities were at high-risk for Covid complications, making their return to the workforce challenging. 

Using funds awarded by the City of Omaha’s ARPA Community Grant Program, Ollie Webb hired six Career Services employees to bolster the Supported Employment Program.  

“This ARPA grant definitely helped us provide more supported employment services to help people find a job that is a good fit,” said Jill Conway, Assistant Executive Director at Ollie Webb. 

Supported employment is based on the idea that work should be accessible to everyone, regardless of disability. With the necessary support, individuals with developmental disabilities can increase their opportunities for community integration, independence, and productivity. 

Lindsey’s success story

David Green, Employment Services Manager at the Ollie Webb Center, has worked with Lindsey in supported employment over the last several months. He said Lindsey was recently hired at T.J. Maxx as a store associate in February and really excelled at her job duties – willing to help out anywhere that is needed and always has a positive attitude. 

“Going through the job development process was challenging,” Lindsey said. “It was hard for me to decide what area I wanted to go in. David was patient in helping me find the right fit for me. Working at T.J. Maxx has been the perfect fit, and I enjoy coming in to work for my shift.” 

Her manager agrees that Lindsey is a great fit at the store. 

“Lindsey always has a positive attitude, listened to directions, gets all her tasks done in a timely manner and is very well-liked by her team members,” said Robyn, Lindsey’s manager at the store. 

Lindsey is just one of many participants finding success thanks to the Supported Employment Program. With the six additional Career Services employees, 30 people are served each month. 

“We are grateful that our efforts in workforce development are supported by the city. Our Supported Employment Services are crucial for improving the lives of so many people locally and benefitting local businesses with hard-working employees,” Conway said. 

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The City of Omaha partnered with the Omaha Community Foundation to administer the ARPA Community Grant Program because of the foundation’s work with local nonprofits and awareness of community needs. The grant program focused on providing funding to expand or enhance existing programs in areas of Crisis Intervention & Violence Prevention, and Workforce Development. 

The ARPA Community Grant Program awarded $9.6 million to 35 nonprofit organizations. Eligible programs included youth programs such as mentoring, gang prevention and intervention, mental health, crisis response, and assistance to unemployed workers including workforce readiness training, certification, and employment services. 

See all ARPA Community Grant Program grant recipients 

This project is being supported, in whole or in part, by federal award number SLFRP0230 awarded to the City of Omaha by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.