CORE INC

The CORE Vocational Training Program provides individual assessment and job skills training to individuals with disabilities specific to the needs of businesses including, but not limited to, retail operations, merchandising, pricing, cash register operations, cash handling, customer service, housekeeping, inventory management, product management, manufacturing, landscaping, and food service. CORE participants are also trained and assessed in the development of soft skills related to the work environment. Individuals accepted into the program come through referrals from area private and parochial high schools, organizations, homeschools, Vocational Rehabilitation of Fort Wayne, and various community partners. When participants enter the program, they are interviewed and a skills assessment is completed to ascertain their needs. After the assessment is complete, an ITP (Individualized Training Plan) is created to assist in job/soft skills development and career search/identification. Participants transition from the Discovery process, where they identify their career interests and skills, to Work Experiences, where they "try out" their chosen career and applicable skills. If the Work Experiences prove successful, the participants are then transitioned to Job Placement where they acquire permanent employment. Once placed in a local business, participants continue to be assessed with the employer's help. CORE provides support to both the employer and the employee. All training throughout the process is completed onsite at local businesses at a 1:1 Employment Specialist:Participant ratio. This includes job support once the participant acquires employment which lasts until the participant can work independently.