Fort Wayne, Ind. — The Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne (CFGFW) has awarded a three-year grant totaling $45,000 to Easterseals Arc of Northeast Indiana in support of employment services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
The grant of $15,000 per year from 2023 through 2025 will help Easterseals Arc empower people with IDD with skills, knowledge, resources and support needed to achieve their employment goals.
Easterseals Arc will collaborate with community partners to:
- Increase job placement, job retention, wages and employment opportunities for people with IDD
- Educate local employers on best practices related to neurodiversity in the workforce
- Establish an inclusive workforce culture that values neurodiversity, reducing stigmas and negative stereotypes
- Improve social determinants of health for people with IDD
Easterseals Arc offers a wide range of employment services for people with disabilities including individual assessments and supports; supported work groups; learning labs; the Employment Readiness Academy; and Pre-Employment Transition Services for high school students.