| Return 2 Work
A New Approach To Employment
By Homer Page, Return to Work
Return 2 Work, R2W, announces a new program
for the employment of persons with disabilities. The staff and
directors of R2W are busily making the final preparations to launch
a home-based employment program in the Information Technology
field (IT).
R2W’s President, Rob Brazell, became disabled
several years ago. Since that time, he has dedicated his life
to expanding opportunities for other persons with disabilities.
He has recruited an impressive team, found other organizations
with which to partner, raised funds, and perfected the R2W approach.
Now he and his team are preparing to offer direct services to
the disability community.
Once Sigmund Freud was asked, “What does
it take to make a person happy?” His answer was simple:
“Love and work!” Work makes us feel useful and productive.
It helps us to establish an independent lifestyle. It is a major
part of our identity and self worth. Yet for persons with disabilities,
work is all too often an illusive dream.
R2W is committed to assisting disabled persons
to achieve independence and happiness through work.
R2W was incorporated in 1998. Its purpose is
to assist persons with disabilities to find work at home in IT
occupations. This new technology offers many opportunities for
persons with disabilities. A person can work at home using the
Internet and newly developed software, which give even the most
severely disabled person access to the magic of the electronic
age. R2W brings work to persons with disabilities, where they
can do it.
In R2W’s model, people work at home and
by task instead of by the hour. There are no commuting or transportation
hassles. Workers also supervise themselves, giving them greater
freedom to deal with their disabilities. Tasks are short and well
defined, usually one or two weeks in duration, so managers only
track when tasks are started or finished. When a task is not started
or finished on time, managers act more like advocates to offer
assistance with insurance forms or in other helpful ways. If necessary,
since tasks are small, they can be transferred to someone else
possibly thousands of miles away.
Handicapped Media Inc. (HMI), one of R2W’s
leading community partners, offers an excellent example of how
home-based employment can work. Sally is the editor of one of
HMI’s magazines. She receives articles via e-mail or discs.
She reviews them and gets them ready for publication. Artwork
and photographs are also delivered electronically. She uses Quark
and PhotoShop, two publishing software programs, to layout the
magazine. When she finishes the layout, she cuts a disc and delivers
it to the printer. Sally finds home-based employment to be a meaningful
way to work.
R2W’s new service contains three parts.
They are evaluation, training and placement. A person working
with R2W will be evaluated to determine his/her aptitude and skill
level. Training needs will be defined and a training plan developed.
When an individual is ready for employment, he or she will be
assisted to find appropriate work placement, including self-employment.
Some people will want to build websites. Others
may prefer data entry or computer programming. Still others may
want to create their own home-based businesses. R2W will offer
the tools that one needs to fulfill one’s dreams. The evaluation,
training, and placement process is the key to success.
Contact Information
You are invited to visit R2W’s website
and fill out the questionnaire. R2W’s website is http://www.Return2Work.org
and you can reach R2W by telephone at (303)
415-9187. Volunteers play an important part in the R2W
program. If you would like to help, please contact R2W either
at the website or by telephone.
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