Category: Supported Employment

UCP Customer Featured on KGW

3/4/2020

A UCP customer, Alex, recently appeared on KGW.

Alex worked with Julie Guzman, an Employment Specialist with UCP's Employment Solutions, to get a job at Parr lumber. As Julie says, “Work is so much more than a paycheck. It's the ability to be socially active, to meet new people, to build friendships, to grow."

Alex experiences Fragile X Syndrome, but doesn't let it hold him back. As Julie says, "Alex is just an amazing guy. He has significant challenges, but he is so resilient, and he just overcomes them with his personality, with his enthusiasm and he is one of the hardest workers I know."

Chris Hansen, the Parr district manager, says that he doesn't know who "gained more from the experience, my guys or Alex, or myself. It was just completely a good experience all around.”

Watch the KGW Video

Learn More About Employment Solutions at UCP

Congrats to Linda

2/13/2020

Congratulations to a UCP customer, Linda Akagi! Linda was accepted for her first research publication--Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and Artificial Intelligence!

Linda Akagi, B.S., is a research assistant in the at the PSU Universal Design Lab, and experiences cerebral palsy and complex communication needs. Linda leads the AAC Design Council, a forum for people with complex communication needs to influence the direction of AAC technology and research. She is dedicated to helping serve children, teenagers, and adults obtain AAC systems and be inspired to change people’s expectations.

PS: Kudos, too, to Linda's UCP Employment Specialist (Alex Raines of UCP Oregon’s Employment Solutions), who assisted Linda to get her job at PSU.

AbilityAware HaPpy Hour

10/26/2019

On Thursday, October 24, 2019, we had an amazing time hosting our very first “AbilityAware Business Awards Happy Hour."

The event was held at the Armory in Downtown Portland. We celebrated businesses that are committed to employing Oregonians who experience intellectual and developmental disabilities.

It was empowering (and fun) to hang hang out with so many leaders, innovators and advocates! Thanks to everyone who attended or helped with the event!

Congrats to Katie

6/14/2019

Katie is a customer of UCP's Supported Employment (which we call "Employment Solutions"). She uses our services to support her in her employment goals.

Katie works at PetsMart in Tualatin. We're excited to announce that Katie was recently awarded Employee of the Month!

Her management team says that Katie "is amazing with customers! She loves the animals she works with and always has a smile."

Congrats, Katie. We are so happy for you!

Learn More About Employment Solutions

Kristin Talks about Real Jobs

3/26/2019

Kristin is a hardworking, friendly, person who wants a job that is meaningful to her. UCP's Employment Solutions worked with Kristin and a local coffee shop to make it possible! Watch this fun video to learn more.

It's About the People

12/12/2018

If you're lucky, you like your job. If you're really lucky, you get to like your co-workers, too.

Billy is a News Seasons employee who likes his job--and his co-workers, especially Phillip. UCP's Employment Solutions supports Phillip to work at New Seasons, so we're super excited to hear what Billy has to say about Phillip:

"Thursdays are my favorite day of the week because that's the day I get to work side-by-side with Phillip. It's an absolute honor and pleasure to have a co-worker like Phillip. He adds to my quality of life and I add to his; it's a win-win situation!"
--Billy at New Seasons

Find Out More About UCP's Employment Solutions

Congrats to Our Ability Aware Award Winners

11/7/2018

UCP Oregon’s Employment Solutions department assists job-seekers who experience disabilities to find meaningful jobs in the community. Once the individual has the job, we can provide initial training and on-going supports as needed—all with the goal of ensuring the newly hired employee is as independent as possible.