Employment Services

Everyone wants to give back and feel productive. Pittsburgh Mercy offers many employment programs for adults with intellectual disabilities.

Bridges to Employment Program

Bloomfield
Pittsburgh Mercy
4749 Baum Boulevard
Pittsburgh, PA 15213-1320

Pittsburgh Mercy’s Bridges to Employment Program is a specialized employment program that teaches adults with intellectual disabilities job readiness skills in a supervised setting. Individuals receive hands-on training with a vocational curriculum and simulated work with volunteer and internship opportunities to promote empowerment, positive self-worth, and community inclusion.

We offer two types of training:

  • Intensive employment training
  • Relaxed employment training.

Pre-Employment Services

  • Job training in areas such as retail, janitorial, housekeeping, customer service, etc.
  • Community experience
  • Transition to employment
  • Assistance with résumé writing
  • Social and life skills.

Interview Skills                                                                            

  • Effective communication
  • Mock interviews
  • Dressing for success on the job.

Volunteer & Internship Opportunities

  • Activities to practice job tasks
  • Skills enhancement
  • Unpaid, hands-on training.

Job Assessments

  • Assess strengths, likes, dislikes, and barriers to various jobs in the community
  • Learn different work skills at various businesses
  • Participate in interest surveys to match jobs with skills
  • Transition to employment services.

For more information, please call 412-932-2323 or 412-867-0651.

Enclaves

Enclaves are work settings that are slightly more demanding than the vocational rehabilitation environment, but less demanding than the competitive job market. Enclaves offer participants the opportunity to work for local businesses two to three days per week and receive a paycheck.

Individuals may spend their time at the vocational rehabilitation facility when the enclave is closed or seek other community activities to fill their day.

For more information, please call 412-344-6400.

Supported Employment Program

Pittsburgh Mercy’s Supported Employment Program is a specialized employment placement service for adults with disabilities. We help individuals obtain and maintain meaningful employment in the community while earning competitive wages.

Experienced employment specialists provide job placement, training, and support to individuals, including:

Pre-Employment Services

  • Job readiness
  • Transition to employment
  • Assistance with résumé writing
  • Support in job search and obtaining employment.

Interview Skills

  • Effective communication
  • Mock interviews
  • Dressing for success on the job.

Job Match Services

  • Ideal placement for the employee/employer
  • Educating co-workers and building strong relationships
  • Work in the community at a job with competitive wages.

On-the-Job Training

  • Train the employee to meet and exceed job duties
  • Build natural supports and relationships with co-workers
  • Empower the employee to succeed by enhancing skills.

Maintaining Employment

  • Continuous follow-up services
  • Ensure employee and employer satisfaction
  • Develop independence and self-sufficiency.

Mobility Training

  • Promote self-sufficiency, independence, and mobility by training the individual to use public transportation (e.g., Port Authority bus, trolley, or ACCESS).

Community-Based Assessments

  • Try actual jobs while working under the supervision of an employment specialist
  • Learn different work skills at various employers
  • Assess strengths, likes, dislikes, and barriers to various jobs in the community.

For more information, please call 412-932-2323.

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