Imagine for a moment that you are looking for employment. The first person you are told to talk with works for a Vocational Rehabilitation agency. Next, you’re directed to staff from a Department of Labor office. Then it’s suggested that you contact a Benefits Specialist. Next, you’re directed to the Department of Social Services to see what services and supports might be available to you from their agency. And you are already working with someone from a local Center for Independent Living, Mental Health Center or Community Support Provider. So let’s see now, we’ve mentioned eight different doors that you may be directed to knock upon in your quest for employment.

Over the past several years, one of the comments heard more and more is that people are growing weary just from all the doors they are being directed to knock upon as they seek employment. In an effort to identify a different way to access needed services and supports, yet lessen the burden on those seeking employment, the Freedom to Work Project developed and is promoting a new approach. That new approach is utilizing a “Career Development Team” in your search for employment.

So your first question might be, “What is a Career Development Team (CDT)?” A CDT is a group of community members who are committed to supporting people with disabilities in reaching their career and employment goals. Your next question might be, “Who makes up the CDT?” That really depends on you! Depending on your career goals, teams can be made up of people from several different parts of the community. Some examples are: Human Resource personnel, a Benefits Specialist, a Rehabilitation Counselor, a Job Developer, one or two successfully employed persons with disabilities, a Department of Labor Disability Navigator, an Independent Living Specialist, someone from a post-secondary educational institute, and the list could go on and on. You select whom you want on your CDT. They may change as your process continues. The important piece is that all team members are supportive of you working towards and reaching your career and employment goals.

Your next question probably is, “What makes this such a unique approach?” First of all, team members are volunteering their time and efforts because they believe in the abilities of people with disabilities. Secondly, team members truly have a desire to assist people in reaching their career goals. Third, team members come together at one time to work with you. This helps with time management, and it provides more opportunities for the team members to bounce ideas off one another. Next, you – the person with a disability – are the ultimate designer of the outcome of the team’s efforts. Finally, you decide on whether or not you accept the recommendations made by the team, and whether or not to act upon them.

So you’re probably wondering, “If I want to work with a CDT, how do I start?” A first step is to contact Shelly Pfaff, Freedom to Work Project staff, and visit with her in more detail about this concept and how it can work for you and your community. You can reach her at 1-800-210-0143 or by email at shellyp@sd-ccd.org. Shelly will describe to you how a team has worked in one of our larger communities, as well as the concept that has been explored in smaller communities. Once you have a game plan in place – Shelly will work with you to get it established and then you and your CDT will work on making your career and employment goals a reality.