The ADA: Your Employment Rights as an Individual With a Disability--The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) makes it unlawful to discriminate in employment against a qualified individual with a disability. View information on your rights in the workplace.
Allentown School District
Central Family Center: 829 Turner St., Allentown, PA 18102
610-765-4815
Jefferson Family Center: 750 St. John St., Allentown, PA 18103
Educational and employment-related services.
Bethlehem Area Vocational-Technical School
3300 Chester Ave., Bethlehem, PA 18020
610-866-8013
Provides vocation-technical programs: construction related, mechanical, technical, creative, service, health, and medical. Separate classes for high school students and adults in continuing education.
Bethlehem YWCA
22 W. Broad St., Bethlehem, PA 18018
610-865-7081
Runs the Women Achieving New Direction program (WAND). WAND helps low income or unemployed women "discover the power within" and get higher-paid occupations. Offers help with job search, resumes, and interviewing skills in a 6-week training program. Free job-appropriate clothing is also available.
The Career Key
Choosing a career path doesn't come easily. Whether you are heading straight into the work force or you are entering college first, the Career Key helps you get an early handle on who you are, what you are interested in and what kind of career may be right for you.
Career Link
Allentown: 1601 Union Blvd., Allentown, PA 18109
610-437-5627
Bethlehem: 2 W. Broad St., Bethlehem, PA 18018 (use New St. entrance)
610-861-2035
Provides GED prep classes, career development (job training, job placement, job search techniques, work experience), financial aid information, Summer Youth Employment Program, Supported Employment Program for individual with disabilities, and English as a Second Language (ESL) classes.
Casa Guadalupe Center
143 Linden ST., Allentown, PA 18101
610-435-9902
GED prep classes ESL classes, Homework Club, After School programs, Entrepreneurship Program (students learn how to set up a business either in the restaurant, fashion or publication industry, which reinforces important academic skills as well as life skills), and Summer Program.
Clubhouse of Lehigh County
610-433-9910
Psychosocial and vocational rehabilitation programs for adults (ages 18+) involved in mental health treatment. Transitional Employment Unit (work experience opportunities), Janitorial/Maintenance Unit (work experience with maintenance and janitorial services).
Community Action Committee's Supportive Work Engagement Program
1337 E. 5th St., Bethlehem, PA 18015
610-691-5620
Serves anyone who receives cash or food stamp benefits in Lehigh or Northampton Counties. You must be referred by the Department of Welfare. This program offers special help to get and keep a job: identifying your needs, job coaching to placement plus child care, transportation, car repair or purchase, driving lessons, other help. Contact your caseworker at Public Assistance. Bilingual services.
Council of Spanish Speaking Organization (Spanish council)
520 E. 4th St., Bethlehem, PA 18015
610-691-5448 or 610-691-5448
Provides life skills, information, referrals, resume help, employment counseling and holds job fairs. Services in English and Spanish. Provides life skills, information and referral, resume help, employment counseling and holds job fairs.
Disability.gov
Information on employment, education, housing, transportation, health, income support, technology, independent living, civil rights, etc.
Educational Opportunities Centers, Inc.
610-432-4839
Academic counseling/occupational interest testing, career resource library/career guidance. Free of charge.
Employment, Life skills & Referral Services
610-691-5448
Employment services program.
Good Shepherd Work Services
1901 Lehigh St., Allentown, PA 18103
610-776-8350
Provides work services to individuals with disabilities including, but not limited to: mental health issues, mental retardation, autism, learning disabilities, physical disabilities, traumatic brain injury, and hearing and visual impairments. Offers Orientation groups (vocational testing, goal-setting and decision-making skills, vocational assessments, vocational exploration, work skills training, etc.), Sheltered Employment (transitional work in preparation for community-base employment, long-term employment, job search assistance, interview skills, and job coaching), Driving Evaluation/Training Program (assistance in evaluating an individual's ability to safety operate a motor vehicle/drivers' training program).
Great Schools
Helping kids with learning disabilities focus on life after high school. Transition to Employment--view article with great tips on transitioning for young adults with learning disabilities.
Hispanic American Organization
610-435-5334
Offers educational and vocational programs and a job training and placement program funded by Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare. Services in English and Spanish.
Job Accommodation Network
1-800-526-7234
Consultants provide information, practical solutions, options, and accommodations that can be used in hiring, training, retention, and career advancement of people with disabilities, within the job training environment or classroom. Practical solutions or options for individuals with mental health disabilities such as Maintaining Stamina During the Workday, Maintaining Concentration, Difficulty Staying Organized and Meeting Deadlines, Memory Deficits, Working Effectively with Supervisors, Interacting with Coworkers, Difficulty Handling Stress and Emotions, Attendance Issues, and Issues of Change. Other areas addressed are physical limitations, blind and/or hearing impairments, learning disabilities, cardiac conditions, etc.
Job Corps
1-800-733-5627
A residential education and job training program for at-risk youth (dropped out of high school), ages 16 through 24. There is no upper age limit for otherwise eligible individuals with disabilities. Pennsylvania has vocational programs in medical Assistant, Carpentry, Cement Mason, Hotel Clerk, etc. also offers GED programs, vocational training, intensive career counseling and related assistance.
Lehigh Career & Technical Institute (formerly Lehigh County Vo-Tech)
Community Education Department
4500 Education Park Dr., Schnecksville, PA 18078
610-799-2300
GED testing and School-to-Work program, Vocational-technical training classes for high school to adult: construction, CDL, truck driving, mechanical,, culinary, health (over 40 skill areas).
New Choices/New Options Programs: Assists single, separated, divorced, widowed individuals and homemakers entering or re-entering the work force. Two areas: Career Exploration and Training, computer, math refresher, college classes. Helps parents update skills and learn new ones. Child care funding and tuition funding available to those who qualify. New Choices/New Options classes are offered evenings or days. Cal 610-861-5350. Also helps those interested in non-traditional careers; for example, Heavy Equipment Operator for a woman, Nursing for a male. Available in Lehigh, Northampton, Monroe, and Bucks counties at various sites.
Lehigh Valley Toolkit
The Morning Call's new one-stop shopping resource helps you navigate the often-confusing world of unemployment, find local training programs and get a new job. It also offers advice on how to write a resume, prepare for interviews, find local job fairs and how to search for high-growth careers.
National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities (NICHCY)
Information on disabilities with focus on transition, vocational assessments, options after high school, transition services, state resources, fact sheets, etc.
National Organization on Disability--this site offers advice about job training, resume writing, the Adults with Disabilities Act, resources, and employment success stories.
New Bethany Ministries
610-691-5602
Mollard Hospitality Center Employability Program: GED preparation, basic computer skills, access to phone/internet/newspaper, interview behavior education, assistance with the application process and telephone etiquette.
Northampton Community College
3835 Green Pond Rd., Bethlehem, PA 18020
610-861-5300
Offers GED prep classes, English as Second Language (ESL) classes, New Choices/New Options Career Development Services (free career and personal counseling for those who qualify) and Adult Basic Education (ABE) classes (non-credit courses focusing on personal enrichment, personal skills building and other areas of interest). Tuition may be charged for some classes.
Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR)
Local office: 45 N. 4th St., Allentown, PA 18102
610-821-6441 or 1-800-922-9536
821-6144 TTY
OVR serves people who have disabilities that present a substantial impediment to employment. Services are provided to individuals who can benefit from, and who need, services to prepare for, enter into, engage in, or retain employment. OVR provides services such as Diagnostic Services, Vocational Evaluations, Counseling, Training, Job Placement and Supportive Services.
Parent Advocacy Coalition for Educational Rights (PACER)
Information and links to topics affecting families of young adults with disabilities such as Transition to Work, Employment Strategies for Young Adults with Disabilities, Health, etc.
Parents Education Network
Request a copy of the publication "Finding a Job: A Guide for Parents and Students".
Penn State Cooperative Extension
610-391-9840
Workforce Development Program offers interviewing skills, life skills, career exploration, addresses work readiness and has an employment training program.
The Pennsylvania Elks Home Service Program
This program provides in-home medical case management services, advocates for an individual's legal and human rights, provides information regarding resources and services available, assesses needs and helps access equipment, advocates for appropriate educational services, assists with finding activities, offers instruction regarding home care, provides emotional support, helps with vocational goals, assists with residential options, provides referrals to appropriate agencies in the community and interprets clinical findings and acts as a liaison between health care professionals.
Pennsylvania Labor and Industry
Links and information regarding employment, such as Pennsylvania Conservation Corps, Hiram G. Andrews Center, Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, Bureau of Blind and Visual Services, etc.
Pennsylvania Mentor
This web site features information on career exploration and preparing for college.
Post-ITT
This web site features a collection of resources and activities to help students, parents and educators plan for transition from secondary to post secondary schools.
Private Industry Council of Lehigh Valley, Inc. (PIC)
Local Office: 1601 Union Blvd., PO Box 20490, Lehigh Valley, PA 18002
610-437-5627
The PIC Supported Employment Program can prepare you for a job, assess your skills and interests, assist in finding a job, resume writing, on-the-job assessments, assistance with applications, on-the-job training, provides long-term support, financial aid information and computer classes.
SPOC (Single Point of Contact)
1601 Union Blvd., Allentown, PA
610-439-1123 x271
2 year training with job as a goal--up to 1 yr. literacy services and 2 yrs. of skills training. Provides GED, Clerical/Data Entry, Medical Office Assistant, Medical Insurance Program, Nurses' Aide Health Assistant, Data Entry training and CDL driver's license training, LPN training and many others are available. Child care is provided. You must be referred by your Assistance Office caseworker. Transportation funds are available.
South Bethlehem Neighborhood Center
700 Evan St., Bethlehem, PA 18015
610-865-2791
Offers job information.
US Department of Labor (DOL)
Employment and Training Administration, Office of Disability Employment, Wage and Hour Division, etc.
United Rehabilitation Services, Inc.
570-820-8480
A vocational rehabilitation agency that provides information, referral, advocacy, and training about assistive technology devices, services, funding, and resources.
VIA, Inc.
336 W. Spruce St., Bethlehem, PA 18018
610-317-8000
VIA, Inc. is a non-profit human service agency which offers community-based support for people with developmental and physical disabilities. Serves ages from birth through retirement. Employment, training and sheltered workshops, housing, leisure resources and early intervention.
Work Life Center
610-861-5350
Employment services.
Work Support--a clearinghouse for information, resources, research and training related to the employment of people with disabilities.
YWCA of Bethlehem
22 W. Broad St., Bethlehem, PA 18018
610-867-4669
Email: flordelisa@ywcabethlehem.org
Women Achieving New Directions (WAND): A 6-session career development and networking service offered by the YWCA. WAND helps women discover more about themselves, develop job readiness skills and career confidence, network with potential employers, and think about non-traditional career opportunities. The program is free of charge to women in the community.
Money Works financial literacy program: A 5-session financial empowerment workshop series offered by the YWCA. Emotional and mental stress goes hand-in-hand with living in poverty. The Money Works program is designed to help alleviate stress and financial overwhelm, and ultimately lessen poverty. The program is comprised of a series of interactive educational workshops and support group sessions that empower participants with all the basics about managing, saving and investing money. The program is free of charge to women in the community.