Supported employment helps to match businesses, workers Jen Loelius is an employment specialist, or job coach, with the Center for Vocational Rehabilitation (CVR), which has locations in Eatontown and Toms River. Loelius helps mainstream individuals with disabilities into the workforce through a supported employment services program. Program participants prepare for permanent jobs by attending learning sessions focusing on communications, health, problem solving, and cultural and social awareness, followed by job training at the center's Monmouth County or Ocean County job production center. Once a capable and reliable participant is ready for employment, CVR provides off-site job training and support to the new employee and the new employer. Employment specialists will stay on the job with the employee until each is able to perform all job-related tasks and provide ongoing consultation and support to the employer as needed, according to a press release. Loelius has a caseload that consists of participants who reside in Ocean and Monmouth counties. She is one of 11 job coaches on staff at CVR, serving Monmouth, Ocean, Middlesex, Mercer, and Somerset counties. The center places more than 200 individuals with special needs in jobs every year. "People with disabilities are chronically under-employed in New Jersey," said Russell Anderson, president and chief executive officer for the center. "Statewide, the percentage of working age people with disabilities employed is approximately 58 percent, which is 15 percentage points lower than the statewide average for those without disabilities. "Everyone wants to have a job, live independently and be competitively employed," Russell said. "At the Center for Vocational Rehabilitation, we work with individuals and employers to mainstream people into the workforce and help them achieve these basic goals to the best of their abilities." Steven Landsman, 43, is one of the participants in the supported employment program. Landsman has been working a full day shift at Value City, Manalapan, every Tuesday and Thursday since September 2006. His primary duties include hanging clothes, moving items between the selling floor and the back room, breaking down boxes and any other jobs he is asked to do. When Landsman is not working at Value City, he is at CVR's production center on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays. "From 8:45 a.m. to 3 p.m. I pack boxes and do whatever else they tell me to do. I am their 'all-around guy'. I concentrate on the work that needs to get done and I feel happy about it," Landsman said. Landsman lives with his mom and dad. He enjoys going to the movies and playing bingo. He often spends time with his sister and his nephew. Landsman commended his job coach, Loelius, for her efforts, saying, "Jen helped me get my job and she is the best." Employers who are interested in learning more about supported employment or individuals who know someone with a disability who is searching for employment may contact Maria DeSeno at (732) 544- 1800, ext. 201.