Sun staff
The Clermont County Commissioners approved a $10,000 contract to continue a program that employs individuals with developmental disabilities to prepare county documents for electronic scanning.
The commissioners made their decision during their regular meeting on Feb. 10.
The contract with Clermont Sheltered Work Administration Services, Inc. and Clermont County Board of Developmental Disabilities is retroactive and runs from January 1 to December 31, 2016.
The program, which is part of CCBDD’s mobile work crew initiative, provides document preparation services for the Office of Management and Budget/Records Management Division.
Individuals with developmental disabilities remove staples, paper clips and other bindings, while keeping the documents intact and in exact filing order, with no torn edges, rips or tears.
“Their help to prepare documents for us really speeds up the scanning process tremendously,” said Michelle Snyder, records manager.
The Records Center has utilized the program since 2004, when the county’s electronic records program began, according to Snyder.
The program employs four individuals who work Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Two of the individuals have been with the program since it started.
The program provides two-fold benefits, according to Snyder.
“The program provides a service to the county because to hire someone to keep on top of all the work would be cost prohibitive,” she explained.
She added, “It’s beneficial to the individuals because they are able to get out of the house and the work does a lot for their self-esteem; they’re able to contribute and realize the worth of their involvement.”
Disabilities Superintendent Dan Ottke appreciates the relationship CCBDD has with the Records Center.
“This partnership affords the opportunity for individuals to practice work skills that we hope will translate to building skills that can be reflected on a job application or resume,” he said in an email. “We have seen that happen for individuals over the years and this partnership has helped promote that goal.”
The mobile work crew initiative has been in place for many years, according to Lisa Davis, director of community relations for CCBDD. The initiative allows individuals to develop the work and interpersonal skills required to find and be successful in competitive employment.
“The experience creates opportunities to build relationships with people on the job and in the community, as well as develops healthy relationship skills in the process,” Davis said in an email.
Fairfield Inn and Suites, Bryan Equipment and American Micro Products also host mobile work crews.
“The mobile work crews allow people to work in the community as part of a crew with the support of a [CCBDD] staff as needed throughout the day,” said Tim Vogel, work services coordinator in an email. “The experience allows for ‘real life’ work situations that can only occur on a job site.”
Snyder said the individuals in the Records Center’s mobile work crew add positivity to the department.
“They have fantastic attitudes. They are positive all day and they love their work, which brightens our day too,” she said. “We all go back there to talk to them and they just make everyone feel good.”
She added, “They promote a pleasant atmosphere; it’s nice to have them here.”