Garten’s Pre-Employment Services provide individuals with time-limited training and work experience to learn general work skills including: attendance, punctuality, working with peers, appropriate workplace communication, ability to take direction and follow instructions, understanding the demands of the workplace, dress codes and other daily living skills which are necessary to work in the community.

Garten is leading the way in helping people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to have successful careers. We ensure those who receive employment services are happy with their job and are meeting the expectations of their employer by providing one-on-one coaching and support.

Both our long-term and short-term Supported Employment offers on-the-job support from a Garten employee, called a Job Coach. Our Job Coaches wear many hats and are there to offer training, reminders, and quality checks of the work being performed. The type of support depends on the individual’s needs.

All job coaches complete rigorous Supported Employment training, which focuses on how to best support someone on the job. By keeping the person’s needs and interests as the core of the service, Garten has been offering successful supported employment services for many years.

Garten’s Summer Youth Employment Program provides youth with disabilities age 17 to 21 with paid community job experience, serving approximately 20- 30 youth each summer to help them build a bridge to employment. This program helps individuals transition from the education system to become contributing members of their community while learning work readiness skills and responsibility. Check out our application form below and email the completed copy to carp@garten.org.

Project Search is an international internship program that started at Cinncinatti Children’s Hospital and has spread all over the world. The program is made of three unique internship “rotations,” within a host business, where people with disabilities are able to work as a part of a team and learn valuable employable skills. Garten has partnered with the State of Oregon and Corban University in past years.