Beginning in January, the Employment Services division of Walton Options will be offering the following classes to those in the CSRA community with disabilities.  The classes offer support and encouragement in teaching participants how to manage daily tasks to help them live independently. Instruction includes such topics as rights and responsibilities as a person with a disability, personal financial planning, household management, personal health management, and how to access community support systems (e.g. transportation, housing, employment services).

There will also be classes focused on obtaining job readiness skills necessary to enter the workforce through enhancement of soft skills that emphasize interacting with others in the workplace, as well as balancing employment related requirements with other demands of daily life.  All classes are held at the Walton Options for Independent Living Augusta Office at 948 Walton Way.

As a non-profit organization, Walton Options is a Center for Independent Living providing non-residential independent living related services to people of all ages with all types of disabilities. Our core services of Advocacy, Information & Referral, Life Skills Training, Peer Support and Transition Services benefit the entire CSRA in both Georgia and South Carolina.  Additional information on the programs with work with can be found on www.waltonoptions.org.

Life Skills Training - Join us for a month full of topics to help build independence! Walton Options for Independent Living will be offering Life Skills Training for people with disabilities!  All classes are held at the Walton Options for Independent Living Augusta Office at 948 Walton Way.  For more information and registration, please contact (706)724-6262.

Personal Growth Development – January 14, 2016

1:30 PM – 2:30 PM

Personal Growth or self-improvement refers to self-guided improvement—economically, intellectually, or emotionally—most frequently with a substantial psychological and or spiritual basis. The process of improving oneself through such activities as enhancing employment skills, increasing consciousness and building wealth. In this class you will be able to share your experiences and thoughts of how you achieved your personal goals and development. You will also learn new techniques and methods on how to fully achieve your personal goals and aspirations.

Health & Wellness – January 21, 2016

1:30 PM – 2:30 PM

The goal of this class is to encourage consumers to enhance their personal and physical well-being, through increased awareness of the fundamentals of health, fitness, and nutrition. In this class consumers will be able to discuss the importance of eating healthy and physical fitness. Consumers will learn techniques they can utilize to build upon their ability to become and remain healthy. Consumers will also learn how to calculate their body mass index (BMI).

Organizational Skills – January 28, 2016

1:30 PM – 2:30 PM

The goal of this class is to learn different techniques and strategies on how to organize your home or everyday task more effectively. In this class the instructor, you and others will also share techniques and ideas of how to organize items, and discuss what organizational tips have been most effective.

Self-Advocacy – February 4, 2016

1:30 PM – 2:30 PM

The goal of this class is to assist consumers in understanding the American with Disabilities Act and State disability rights and laws. Consumers will learn about the different types of advocating, and how they can advocate for themselves and others. Consumers will also learn how to access advocacy resources and advocate for themselves effectively in the job market and in their home community.

Money Management – February 11, 2016

1:30 PM – 2:30 PM

The goal of this class is to assist consumers in acquiring more advanced money management skills so they can better manage their personal finances and bill payments. Consumers will learn about managing their personal finances and bills in a timely manner, and learn about managing checking and saving accounts. Consumers will also learn to better understand credit and interest rates, the advantages of budgeting, record keeping, and how to become more financially responsible.

Emergency Preparedness – February 18, 2016

1:30 PM – 2:30 PM

The goal of this class is to teach consumers how to identify and be prepared for an emergency and a natural disaster at all times. Consumers will learn about the different types of natural disasters and how to safely be prepared for each. Consumers will learn what items they should have in their home, in case of an emergency. Consumers will also learn safely regulations through ready.ga.gov and dph.georgia.com. And what local agencies to contact when an emergency occurs.

Identity Theft – February 25, 2016

1:30 PM – 2:30 PM

The goal of this class is to educate consumers on how to protect their identity.  This class will teach consumers techniques and strategies to avoid identity thief, as well as teach consumers the warning signs to look for to avoid being a target of identity thief. Consumers will also learn the legal actions to take if identity thief does occur.

Community Resources – March 3, 2016

1:30 PM – 2:30 PM

The goal of this class is to educate consumers about the different resources out in the community that can be utilized for services. This class will educate consumers about community resources such as Housing, Shelters, Health Care facilities, Transportation, Employment Resources, Food Resources, Clothing Resources, Child Care Resources, Financial/ Utility Assistance Resources, as well as other resources.

Gaining Preparedness Skills - training is designed to assist persons with disabilities in obtaining job readiness skills necessary to enter the workforce through enhancement of soft skills that emphasize interacting with others in the workplace, as well as balancing employment related requirements with other demands of daily life.  The workshops are designed to help participants be more marketable when looking for employment and to reinforce their ‘people’ skills in order to gain, maintain and sustain employment and increase work performance and productivity. The focus also consists of timeliness, evidencing respect, preparedness, alertness/attentiveness and compliance with policies and procedures of the work place.  GPS Certificates of Completion will be distributed to Participants that satisfactorily complete the 8 week preparedness training. 

This training consist of confident explorations for employment and or volunteer opportunities, examining the benefits of volunteering to gain  desired work industry  experience;  Understand  the nature of  Knowledge Skills and Abilities in relation to job skills, familiarization of job duties and demonstration of  customer service and telecommunications skills.

GPS Orientation – January 20^th,, 2016 and January 21^st, 2016

10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

“Get You to Working” ORIENTATION: Introduction and presentation to all the services of Walton Options and the services of Walton Options employment services program including Ticket to Work. This orientation is geared towards the serious job-seekers with disabilities.

Identify Your Skills – January 25^th-28^th, 2016 (Monday-Thursday)

10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Consumers will obtain information and resources that will help them learn and determine their skills level, type of work desired, and transferable skills to gain a better understanding of their level of work readiness.

Resource-Management Skills – February 1^st-4^th, 2016 (Monday-Thursday)

10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Consumers will learn effective access, management and utilization of resource information about other service organizations services that can be used to personally assist and/or maximize successful goal outcome.

Marketing Your Skills & Work-Life Balance Skills– February 8^th-11^th, 2016 (Monday-Thursday)

10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Marketing - Consumers will practice matching their personal skills to employer needs through a pro-active approach of reviewing perspective job-descriptions for clues and useful information that can be used during the interview or other communications with potential employers to demonstrate a good-fit; which increases the potential for convincing an employer to hire, i.e., choose your brand.

Work-Life Balance - Consumers will gain knowledge on how to balance independence between work life and home life. The ideal work-life balance varies from individual to individual and changes for each of us over time.   We must regularly find and create for ourselves, the balance that makes the most of our opportunities and responsibilities to assume accountability for his/her performance and output. 

Resume Writing Skills – February 15^th-18^th, 2016 (Monday-Thursday)

10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Consumers are provided guidance from start to finish through the self-assessment process in utilization of self- marketing skills to establish a solid resume.  The importance of having a solid resume is key to any opportunity to catch the eye of employers. Information and resources will be shared on resume skill building to provide participants the opportunity to create an effective resume and or transformed current resume for potential employment opportunities.  

Job Searching Skills – February 22^nd-25^th, 2016 (Monday-Thursday)

10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

The objective of the JOB-SEARCHING SKILLS training session is to enhance the employment-strategy of the individual job-seeker experiencing a disability to the point of knowing how to Locate Access and Apply for potential employment opportunities. Individual job-seekers will learn proven techniques for accessing disability friendly employment related websites and resources.

Basic Business Communication Skills – February 29^th – March 3^rd, 2016 (Monday-Thursday)

10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Consumers will be exposed to communication strategies to learn effective basic fundamental business communication skills to communicate effectively, resolve conflict and handle any situation with decorum and confidence that can be used as an added tool in the employment search. Good communication skills is important in everyday life but speaking the language employers want to hear makes good business sense. 

Interview Skills – March 7^th-10^th, 2016 (Monday-Thursday)

10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Consumers will learn about the proper interview techniques and some of the common mistakes that happen in interviews. Understanding the importance of appropriate attire for interviews, learn what employers are wanting in prospects, the importance of proper body etiquette in interviews, decision regarding disability disclosure, the concept of salary negotiation and compensation and the procedures for follow-up. Participants will be able to participate in mock interviews.

Employment Pursuit/Job Searching Skills – March 14^th-17^th, 2016 (Monday-Thursday)

10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

This training consist of aggressive exploration for employment and or volunteer opportunities, examining the benefits of volunteering to gain  desired work industry  experience;  Understand  the nature of  Knowledge Skills and Abilities in relation to job skills, familiarization of job duties and demonstration of  customer service and telecommunications skills.

The People Principle Profession Customer Service Program – February 22^nd-25^th, 2016

10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Our Professional Office Skills Course are informative seminars designed to help enhance your customer service skills and to increase your knowledge about the importance of good customer service, a critical component of a successful business. Topics to be covered include:

• Telephone Etiquette Skills

• Customer Service Interaction

• The People Principle

• Use of Office Equipment

• Assistive Technology in the Workplace

• Serving Customers with Special Needs

• Creating a positive first impression for your customer

This informative training will allow you to gain access to valuable employment skills to help you to become more employable in related fields such as a customer service representative, front desk associate, greeter, retail sales associate, etc.  A Certificate will be given upon completion of the course