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Maine's CHOICES CEO Project

Expanding Opportunities for Workers with Disabilities

Welcome!

To remain competitive, Maine's employers need reliable and skilled workers. Many Maine residents with disabilities seek the improved quality of life that comes from obtaining and building a career.

The CHOICES CEO (Comprehensive Employment Opportunities) project is working to create more opportunities for people with disabilities who want to enter the workplace, and enhance the experience of those who are part of the workforce.

What We Are Doing

About this Web Site

We have endeavored to create a web site that is usable by people regardless of ability or technology. Read our Accessibility Statement to learn more.

What's New

DHHS On-Line Employment Specialist Training - Fall 2009. The reimbursement form for approved on-line training (VCU and Georgia Tech) can be found here.

Working Together News: September 2009. Check out the most recent edition of our newsletter!

Employment Specialist Training This training, “Building Relationships with Business: What You Can Do Now to Prepare for the Economic Turnaround,” was held in Lewiston (November 5) and Orono (November 6). The facilitator and keynote speaker was David Hoff, of the UMass/Boston Institute for Community Inclusion. A resource page containing materials from the conferenc is being developed and will be released in the very near future - Stay tuned!


ANNOUNCING A NEW WEBSITE RESOURCE for individuals or organizations seeking Work Incentives Planning & Assistance (WIPA) services: www.benefitsandworkinme.org provides information, referral forms, and a statewide listing of Community Work Incentives Coordinators (CWICs).

How many workers in Maine have a disability? Has the number of workers with disabilties increased in recent years? What services are being used by Maine workers with disabilities? Snapshot 2008 answers these qustions and more!

Visit Maine's Disability and Employment Dashboard!

Read more about What's New.

Spotlight

Working as a Customer Service Representative for Time Warner Cable

Dave Cann enjoys working as a customer service representative for Time Warner Cable in Portland Maine. Cann has been employed by Time Warner Cable for almost seven years. “I’m pretty lucky with this job,” he said. “The part-time schedule is good for me. It keeps me busy. I like the idea of being productive and knowing that I contribute.”

Cann, who suffered a spinal cord injury 33 years ago and uses a motorized wheelchair to get around, heard about the Time Warner Cable position through a relative. Cann contacted the company and requested an interview. Previously, Cann worked for L.L. Bean at its Portland call center. The telephone and computer skills he acquired at L.L Bean helped Cann get the Time Warner Cable job and become a successful customer service representative.

Read the full article: Spotlight on Workers