Erika Kahn is an employee at Eegee's Restaurant in Tucson and one of thousands of workers hired through Beacon Group. The organization's mission is to find work for adults with disabilities. Serving over 450 adults in Tucson, Beacon Group provides training, development and access to real work.
Job employment opportunities include:
Center-based Employment: Work brought in to Beacon Group's facility and handled on-site
Group Supported Employment: Beacon Group job opportunities handled off-site at various work sites
Individual Supported Employment: Work offered at companies, with additional support and supervision by Beacon
Competitive Integrated Employment: Work offered at companies (most similar to traditional employment)
Beacon Group's goal is to find work that best matches the individual's abilities. Greg Natvig, President and CEO at Beacon Group says, "We serve people from all over the map, people with high level of technical skills and very sophisticated positions all the way to people with developmental disabilities."
Eegee's Restaurant has worked with Beacon Group for over a decade. Area Director of Eegee's, Rosemary Follanbee describes this hiring process. "We look at the different positions that they can do, and then wherever they feel most comfortable, that's where we position them." When asked about Beacon Group she says, "Beacon is fabulous. I think they create independence, where maybe some of them wouldn't have independence, and what I've seen with all of our Beacon employees, I see them grow every year. Every single year, they're growing. They're independent. They're making their paycheck, and that's all credited to Beacon."
If you think your local business can create opportunities for disabled individuals in need of work, contact Beacon Group here.
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Have a 'Totally Tucson' idea you want to share? Email stephanie.dunlap@kgun9.com
