Celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month
This October is the 75th observance of National Disability Employment Awareness Month by the Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy, and culminates the Department’s commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
We join the Department of Labor in celebrating America’s workers with disabilities, and in celebrating employers who see the importance and benefits of inclusive hiring practices.
Having placed 130 individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities in inclusive work settings, TotalLink sees firsthand the positive impact employment has on the quality of our clients’ lives.
Additional progress in the employment arena was made last month when the Commission on Civil Rights called for the end of the Section 14(c) programs. The provision in Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act dates back to 1938, and allows employers to obtain certificates from the Department of Labor permitting them to pay workers with disabilities less than the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. The provision allows employers to set up ‘sheltered workshops’ where individuals with disabilities are reported to make $3.34 per hour on average.
“The commission today calls for the end of the Section 14(c) program, because it continues to limit people with disabilities from realizing their full potential,” said Catherine E. Lhamon, chair of the Commission on Civil Rights. The civil rights agency notes that people with developmental disabilities who are currently working for subminimum wage “are not categorically different in level of disability” from those working in competitive integrated employment.
In 2019, the House of Representatives voted for the first time to outlaw subminimum wage, though the bill known as the Raise the Wage Act, has not been considered in the Senate. The Commission on Civil Rights – an independent, bipartisan agency established by Congress - is the latest in a long line of agencies to urge an end to the practice. This is slow, but encouraging progress. We are proud to be so far down the road in the progression of this change.
We value the potential and contribution of every young adult we place in a competitive integrated employment setting. And we know based on feedback from their employers they are valued members of their work environments.
Each of their successes is cause for celebration.
As always, we thank you for your support of our work.
Susan Mack Hans
Board President
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AN APPEAL FOR SUPPORT
Join us for our iRevelry Virtual Presentation
Thursday, November 5th at 7pm
Silent Auction + Raffles
TotalLink needs your financial support now more than ever during this pandemic
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Junior Board
Virtual Beer Tasting
On July 25th, the TotalLink Junior Board hosted a virtual beer tasting featuring beers from Goose Island Beer Company. The tasting was led by Christina Perozzi, Goose Island’s Director of E-Commerce, and featured a flight of six different beers and a tasting discussion. All the funds raised from the event directly support TotalLink’s programs. Special thanks to the TotalLink Junior Board board members, Josh Weinstein, Julia Hagen, and Rachel Becker who coordinated the event.
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Last month, TotalLink had a beautiful day on the course at Stonewall Orchard Golf Club for our 2nd annual golf outing. Nearly 90 golfers joined us and the event raised over $35,000 in support of the employment and social and educational programs at TotalLink.
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Special thanks to our Event Sponsors:
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Hole Sponsors and Supporters:
Scott & Beth Brady
Eric Weitz
Loeber Motors
Kovitz, Shifrin and Nesbitt
Greg Kunkel
The Thursday Game
R & R Cases
Kiwanis Club of Glenview-Northbrook
Restore
Sunset Foods
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PICTURED ABOVE, L-R: Andrew Wenk, John Maki, Mike Schneider, and John Ross; Ellen Jacobs, Sara Cohen, Jill Muldoon, Mary Broccolo, and Maureen Kogen; Ron Watula, Linda Weinstein, Debbie Munoz, and Greg Kunkel; and Chad Souders, Matt Moodhe, and Kelly Elmore
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Facilitator Spotlight:
Pam Tokowitz
Q. How long have you been a facilitator at TotalLink?
I have been a facilitator with TotalLink for 4 years.
Q. How did you get involved with TotalLink?
I met Scott and Janice Weinstein (Founding family and TotalLink’s former ED) through Scott’s sister, Becky. Additionally, about seven years ago I wanted to merge my Masters Degree in Social Work with art so I opened a small local art school in Northbrook called Art and Soul. I wanted the art school to offer creative art classes for all people. I was fortunate to teach a class with a few young adults who are now part of the TotalLink community - Amara, Sarah and Mary!
Q. What programs are you currently facilitating? What have you facilitated in the past?
I currently facilitate a weekly Yoga and heARTwords class. This summer I also created a Virtual Summer Camp that met weekly.
Q. What is your favorite part about being involved with TotalLink?
I love every aspect of my work at TotalLink. As a trained Social Worker, I’m drawn to connecting with people in a supportive style. I am also someone who respects differences and appreciates the challenge of finding ways to engage people that encourages self-respect and growth. I love all the programs I facilitate but my most favorite gift is observing a TotalLink Yogi experience a calm stillness at the end of yoga class. I also love it when we do rolling OHMs and I see the awe on everyone’s faces as we feel the vibration from the ohm sound. It’s very exciting to watch these young adults gain self awareness.
Q. Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I am married with two kids, a son who is 25 and a daughter who is 23. I love hiking and nature and practicing and teaching yoga. In my spare time, I love to take on a project that requires sandpaper and some tools. I just derive pleasure in working with my hands and building things…even if they don’t always turn out that well.
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BACK TO WORK at Andreas Hogue
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After a long couple of months off, Eric, Becca, CJ, and Amara are back working in the Andreas Hogue Salons in Northbrook and Vernon Hills. “I am happy to be back at work. It feels nice having a routine again. I also like how alive and vibrant it is when I am at work,” explains Becca.
Salon owner, Andreas Hogue said, “It was exciting to get back to work after the COVID shut down, but something was missing. TotalLink is part of our salon family. Now that Eric, Becca and CJ are back, our salon family feels whole again.”
While Eric, Becca, CJ, and Amara have returned to work, many of our young adults have not been able to return due to job cuts, furloughs or because they are in the high risk group during the Covid climate. Our employment team is working hard to make connections for our current job seekers. If you know of an employer who is looking to add a dedicated and reliable employee to their team, please contact Emily Raming at eraming@totallink2.org.
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"Words and hearts should be handled with care, for words like hearts are meant to share.”
TotalLink’s heART Words program is an inclusive community for writers of all abilities. The program encourages self-expression of emotions, courage, imagination, experience, and heart. Recently
our heART Words writers created poems about who they are.
We are excited to share Jorie’s poem with you.
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ALL ABOUT ME POEM
I am Jorie and here is my story
I am jazzy and hardworking
I am trustworthy and creative
I am working on being more independent
I strive to be my own individual person
I love to bake tasty treats like a nice warm apple crisp
and mouthwatering chocolate treats
I love to make my own Guacamole by adding a little kick of cayenne pepper
or sometimes even a spicy Jalapeno pepper
and one of my favorite chefs to watch on TV is Chef Emeril Lagasse
I love when he says BAM!!
I am a theatrical person who loves to sing
I can even memorize some of my lines from plays that I have done
and even the songs as well
I am beautiful and I am proud of the person who I have become
I am very excited for December 3rd, 2020 I will be celebrating the big 30!!!!!
I hope you all enjoyed the story of Jorie
AND ALL THAT JAZZ!!
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1200 Shermer Road, Suite 109 | Northbrook, Illinois 60062 | 224-412-4718
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