"Can I hire a job coach through RewardingWork.org?" is a common question we hear - and the answer is yes. Knowing this is top of mind for many families, Rewarding Work reached out to three employment experts for advice on who can benefit from a job coach and how to find a great match.
But first, what exactly is a job coach? According to Utah State University researcher and educator Tim Riesen, PhD, “A job coach provides individualized support to help learn job tasks, navigate workplace culture, build relationships with coworkers and achieve greater independence and success in employment.”
Job coaches promote interaction between supervisors, coworkers and the new employee “in a natural way, encouraging inclusion and belonging from day one,” adds Gina Oswald, PhD, Senior Extension Associate at Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations. For those with little employment experience, they can “figure out how to accommodate or modify tasks based on the employee’s abilities and then help negotiate with the job site adjustments that might need to be made.” In the process, Oswald says, job coaches promote “unwritten rules” and employability skills for all such as punctuality and communication. The only rule for Jill Eastman, MA, Training Associate II, Institute for Community Inclusion at University of Massachusetts Boston is “There is no ‘rule’ as to who should have a job coach.” By this, she means the job should be “very individualized.”
To Find the Right Job Coach, Ask the Right Questions
“Individuals and family members should feel comfortable asking questions about the coach’s experience, training, and approach to providing support,” Riesen notes. He and Eastman suggest asking questions such as:
- What training and qualifications do you have as a job coach?
- How do you help individuals learn new job tasks and become more independent over time?
- How do you communicate and collaborate with employers, coworkers, and family members?
- How do you handle challenges or barriers that arise on the job?
- Describe your experience in supporting people with disabilities in employment. What did you find challenging? What resources did you use to assist individuals secure and retain employment?
- Describe how you would approach teaching/supporting a person to learn how to operate the copy machine at their new job…what strategies would you use to ensure successful task acquisition/performance?
- How might you approach a situation in which the person you are supporting seems to be struggling to learn what you (or the employer) are trying to teach them?
- What strategies have you used to develop a relationship with a person you’ve supported?
- Provide an example of a person you supported. What did they need? What do you like most about job coaching? What do you find most challenging?
Top Benefits of a Job Coach for Employees with Disabilities
- Assisting individuals in learning job tasks and workplace routines.
- Providing individualized training and support tailored to the person's strengths, needs, and learning style.
- Helping individuals understand workplace expectations and culture.
- Building confidence and promoting greater independence on the job.
- Identifying and developing natural supports within the workplace.
- Assisting with problem-solving when challenges arise.
- Facilitating long-term job retention and career growth.
- Communication and building a bridge between employer and employee, recommendations and negotiations for accommodations and modifications, and the facilitation of inclusion.
Job Coach Qualifications: What to Look For
“Job coaches should have training in the essential principles and practices of providing employment supports to individuals with disabilities,” Riesen explains. “This training should include topics such as career planning, workplace support strategies, systematic instruction, communication, and promoting independence in employment settings. Most states require job coaches to complete some form of structured training before providing job coaching services.
Can We Afford a Job Coach?
For many individuals, the answer is yes. “Many individuals with disabilities receive job coaching services at little or no cost through state and federally funded programs,” Riesen notes.
- In most states, job coaching is funded through the state vocational rehabilitation (VR) agency for eligible individuals who are participating in supported employment or customized employment services. When services are authorized through VR, there is no cost to the individual or family.
- Individuals who are enrolled in Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waiver programs may be eligible to receive ongoing employment supports, including job coaching, through their waiver services at no cost.
- Because funding options vary by state, families are encouraged to contact their local vocational rehabilitation office, developmental disability agency, or case manager to learn about available resources and eligibility requirements.
A job coach is a vital part of the employment process for many people with disabilities, ready to “coach” individuals as they learn and perform to the best of their abilities. If you use RewardingWork.org to find and hire support, begin your search by adding "job coach" to your search filters.