Employment Initiative for Adults with Deaf-Blindness

Most deaf-blind young adults seek to join their hearing and sighted peers in the workforce, making employment the most urgent need for this population. The Employment Initiative, a partnership of the Center and the Joint Distribution Committee-Israel, is the first program in Israel to comprehensively address the professional training and employment needs of 18 to 40-year-olds with Usher Syndrome. This program encompasses two separate approaches: work placement for those who wish to enter the job market and workplace assistance for already-employed individuals who wish to remain in their current positions. The goal: increasing the independence of deaf-blind adults and decreasing their dependence on their families, communities and state assistance.