How Individuals with Disabilities Take Charge of Their Job Search with PCSEPP

PCSEPP, BHDDH, Employment, Opportunity, IDD, Disabilities, Rhode Island, ADA, Empower, Equality, Job Tour

Stacia and Casey

A new job means so much more than a new source of income. It means a new community of professionals and friends, new skills to learn, and, depending on the industry, a new cause to work towards. It means a lot, actually, more than we might realize, and that's why it's so important to get a feel for an agency or business before making the decision to come aboard. So when a lighting production company in Warwick, Lumetta, invited a group of individuals in the Person Centered Supported Employment Performance Program (PCSEPP) to tour their factory and offices, it opened the door both ways--allowing their professionals to meet potential new team members while individuals learned more about a fantastic place to work.

The work Lumetta does can be seen in offices and other buildings around the country, as the agency describes itself as "an innovative US manufacturer of decorative commercial luminaires, driven by engineers, craftsmen, and artisans." With their work lighting the spaces of institutions like St. Joseph's University in Pennslyvania, Tri-County Orthopedics in New Jersey, and the 929 Office Tower in Washington, their skill and attention to detail reaches nationwide--and after the pandemic caused them to see a twenty-five percent reduction in their staffing, they're looking for capable, talented professionals to come aboard with them, making a job site tour a fantastic opportunity to connect them with people looking to join the workforce.

"It's been hard, especially with the pandemic," says Lumetta Finance Controller Patricia Martin. "There's so much to do, but not many people to do it, so we're excited to bring potential employees in to learn more about what we do here; we're looking to expand our workforce to help make everything more efficient."

So when individuals like Stacia, from Perspectives, AccessPoint RI, and the J. Arthur Trudeau Memorial Center, came to check out the factory where such fixtures are made and the offices where administrative work happens, Patricia and Lumetta President Ian Prichitt were happy to get to know them and introduce them to the company. All across the floor that day were smiling faces--of employees happy to show off the great work they do and of PCSEPP participants learning what the inside of the Lumetta factory looks like. From the machines that help clean and prepare metal frames for lights, to the many fabrics and materials used to make each fixture unique, it was an eye-opening experience for the group as they toured the grounds.

"I think [job tours] are a great way for individuals to know what they'd be signing up for before accepting a job."

"We're finally getting back into things like these workplace tours after the pandemic," says Perspectives Career Developer Casey Getchell, "and I think they're a great way for individuals to know what they'd be signing up for before accepting a job. We're also making a lot of great connections."

Those connections prove invaluable as businesses like Lumetta come face-to-face with pools of talented professionals looking for work. And with the PCSEPP crew there, and the warm welcome Lumetta gave them, everyone took in all that Lumetta had to offer, asking plenty of questions and chatting with Patricia and other professionals about their roles--and learning about the advancement opportunities and other perks of life as a Lumetta employee. There was something for everyone available, whether on the production floor or in the offices, and individuals left the tour curious, excited, and most importantly, informed about a potential career option. Such is the work of PCSEPP--and you can find out what opportunities are available as a job seeker or a local business here!

How Individuals with Disabilities Take Charge of Their Job Search with PCSEPP

Read More From Perspectives ...