June 8, 2020
Lebanon County has now transitioned to the Yellow Phase of the Governor’s reopening Plan.
QUEST’s Adult Day Program (2380) will remain suspended for regular operations and we will continue with a no visitor’s policy in our program areas and business offices.
QUEST is offering one to one and/or one to three Community Participation Supports Service to participants who are currently enrolled in our Adult Day Program. All individuals have been contacted by their Program Specialist and information was relayed that our Day Program Direct Support Professionals are available to provide services in their home and in the community based on the interests and goals of the individual. All staff are following required protocols including temperature being taken at the start of their shift, wearing masks, as well as thorough cleaning of all vehicles. Social distancing is being observed when providing services as well. Please contact Verna Morris at 717-679-0944 Ext 103-if you are interested in learning more about resuming Community Participation Support Services.
QUEST Employment and Habilitation Department have been supporting people from the beginning of this COVID-19 situation. These supports will continue and we are encouraged by the dedication of these staff members who have worked tirelessly for the past several months to help train and maintain jobs for people with disabilities.
QUEST’s Janitorial and Lawn Care Essential Workers have also been front and center during this pandemic with continued service to our Janitorial and Lawn Care Contracts in the Lebanon and surrounding counties for the past several months. Additional tasks have been added with cleaning work surfaces daily for all contracts as well as specific individualized requests from all businesses. If interested in finding out about the janitorial or lawn care services available to your business please contact us at: vmorris@paquest.com

QUEST, Inc. Mission Statement:

"QUEST Inc. is dedicated to providing vocational and life skills, which empower people with disabilities and other vocational disadvantages to achieve a quality of life of their individual choosing."

About QUEST, Inc.

QUEST, Inc. has its roots in the movements of the 1950’s. It was a time in which facilities and programs flourished in communities in an effort to respond to populations of people that were deprived of educational, vocational, social and community opportunities because they did not fit the existing systems. Initially the agent was incorporated under the name of the Lebanon County Workshop, Inc. As time passed and thinking and findings in the field of vocational rehabilitation changed, the agency changed, as well . In the process of these changes the focus moved from that of a " sheltered workshop" to that of a comprehensive vocational rehabilitation agency. In 1995 our name was changed to QUality Employment Services and Training, Inc. or QUEST, Inc., which was in keeping with the emerging programs and services being offered by the agency.

Today, QUEST offers options for people with disabilities that include specialized occupational training, extended work in the industrial training facility, job placement, employment services, and expanded community integration opportunities. With over fifty years of providing Community Benefit, vocational rehabilitation training and work experiences, and employment opportunities for people with disabilities, QUEST, has become a major provider of vocational programs and services for the residents of Lebanon County and surrounding areas. QUEST Inc., is a licensed vocational rehabilitation agency licensed by the Department of Public Welfare 2390 Regulations for Vocational Facilities and 2380 Regulations for Adult Training Facilities. As a Community Benefit agency, QUEST Inc., is a member agency of the United Way of Lebanon County, Lebanon Chamber of Commerce and the Community of Lebanon Association.

2019 PAR AWARDS

HERSHEY ENTERTAINMENT & RESORTS HONORED AS

COMMUNITY EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR

Company Honored for Embracing Employees with Intellectual Disability by PAR (Pennsylvania Advocacy and Resources for Autism and Intellectual Disability)

Harrisburg, PA (October 21, 2019) - Hershey Entertainment & Resorts is being honored with the Central Region Community Employer of the Year award by PAR, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s leading disability provider and advocacy association for people with autism and intellectual disability, in recognition of its efforts to hire and provide outstanding support to employees with disabilities. Hershey Entertainment & Resorts will receive its award at the PAR Annual Solutions Conference “We Are Worth It.” Awards Ceremony on October 21 in Harrisburg. One of the largest employers in Central Pennsylvania, Hersheypark is the centerpiece of Hershey Entertainment & Resorts. Hersheypark has an established record of hiring individuals with disabilities and making accommodations that promote each employee as a valued and contributing member of their diverse workforce. Job coaches and employment support staff are always welcome throughout the hiring process, and accommodations are offered during the online application and in-person interviews to ensure each applicant is given full and equal opportunity to become part of the Hershey team.

Each department has been very accommodating with schedules to maximize each person’s transportation situation, skill sets, stamina and abilities. Throughout the Park, individuals with disabilities can be seen integrated in the working environment. Supervisors and schedulers work with the employment staff from various provider agencies to maximize the chance for individuals with disabilities to succeed at their job and be valuable contributors at Hersheypark.

“Including people with disabilities in a company’s workforce makes good business sense, and Hersheypark is a perfect example of this,” says Mark Davis, PAR President and CEO. “We are thankful for Hersheypark’s fantastic efforts in hiring people with intellectual disability or autism and providing them with the support they need to thrive and contribute.”

RYAN SPOTTS TO BE PRESENTED SELF ADVOCATE

EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR AWARD

Self Advocate and Excellent Employee Honored by PAR (Pennsylvania Advocacy and Resources for Autism and Intellectual Disability)

Harrisburg, PA (October 21, 2019)—Ryan Spotts, a self advocate supported by QUEST, Inc., has been selected as the Self Advocate Employee of the Year for Pennsylvania’s Northeast Region by PAR, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s leading disability provider and advocacy association for people with autism and intellectual disability. Spotts will receive his award at the PAR Annual Solutions Conference “We Are Worth It.” Awards Ceremony on October 21 in Harrisburg.

Ryan started working at the Jonestown location of Ingram Micro in August 2017. Ryan initially started out as a warehouse associate supervising the conveyor belts that route packages, but when technology upgrades phased out the position, Ryan quickly acclimated to learning new tasks.

Today, Ryan serves as a lead box maker and works in conjunction with numerous area supervisors to ensure the facility has the proper supplies and materials needed to keep production and shipping running smoothly. Ryan independently sets up the box making machines, gathers needed supplies and materials and consistently meets production quotas and transfers finished products to various departments. Ryan has a good working relationship with his supervisors and effectively communicates daily departmental activities, often working alongside new employees and assists with training and mentoring new workers.

Ryan’s success in this position has opened the door for other individuals with disabilities to obtain employment at Ingram Micro earning well above minimum wage. More than a dozen individuals with disabilities have now been given the opportunity to work at Ingram Micro, and Ryan’s initial success played a key role for others to obtain these opportunities.

“Ryan is truly a role model at work and in his community, and I’m so proud of what he’s accomplished,” said Mark Davis, President and CEO of PAR. “He is a great example of many other Pennsylvanians with intellectual disability or autism contributing in their communities.”

When Ryan is not working, he is an active member of his community. He is a volunteer firefighter at the Rescue Hose Company #4 in Lebanon, shows his skills with Special Olympics basketball and serves as an assistant coach for the Lebanon High boys’ varsity basketball team.

Employment Division Garners Recognition in 2018

The employment division had an eventful calendar year culminating with numerous awards and recognition for services provided, successful business partnerships and the enhancement in the quality of life for our clients via vocational successes. Throughout the year Quest worked in conjunction with various funding sources including OVR, Lebanon County MH/ID, CMU, SAM, Inc. and the United Way of Lebanon County to provide employment support in the forms of job development, job placement and job retention to an ever increasing number of clients seeking gainful and integrated employment opportunities in our community and the surrounding areas. The department was bolstered with the addition of Jenner Davis-Brandt who transitioned from vocational instructor to employment specialist. Jen joined Emily Jones and Amy Klink to form a triumvirate that excelled in job coaching services throughout the county at a variety of businesses ranging from Fortune 500 companies to small family owned and operated local businesses. All three have completed ACRE endorsed trainings specific to employment services for individuals with disabilities and are professionally trained in providing individualized one-on-one services for our clients while serving as liaisons to the businesses where job coaching services occur.

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month as designated by ODEP and the employment division was very active innumerous events throughout the month related to this. At the annual RCPA conference October 2^nd-4^th, Mike Barnhart was given the 2018 Community Leadership Award for his “grass roots” advocacy efforts with innovative job development strategies that have led to new, ongoing and ever strengthening partnerships with local businesses. Mike obtained Certified Employment Support Professional status through APSE in 2016 and continues to enhance his credentials while handling job development responsibilities for QUEST. On October 18^th, Work With Us, the local employment coalition, held its annual award luncheon with two QUEST nominees receiving awards. Ingram Micro received the Employer of the Year for actively promoting a diversified work force. On hand to receive the award presented to Ingram by State House of Representative Frank Ryan were four individuals receiving employment support from QUEST who work at Ingram. Also receiving recognition at this event was QUEST client Lyndsey Laudermilch who was recognized as Employee of the Year for her work through Service Source at Fort Indiantown Gap. On October 22-24 QUEST was on hand at the annual PAR Conference representing Work With Us in a workshop giving an overview of the value of employment coalitions as relates to employment initiatives with individuals with disabilities. Mike, the current chairperson for WWU was part of a panel presentation that included Dawn Wolfe from Lebanon County MH/ID/EI. The presentation was well received and had a direct influence on an employment coalition being started in York County. The highlight of the conference, from QUEST’s perspective was again two awards given to our clients and business partners. Ingram Micro was again recognized as employee of the year and Nick Rinker was given the Self Advocate Employee of the Year Award. Both Ingram and Nick were showcased at the recognition dinner, given a tour of the capitol building and Nick was given a letter of commendation by the State House of Representatives.

2019 looks to be an innovative and groundbreaking year for the employment division. QUEST is partnering with Developmental & Disability Services to form an employment services collaborative funded by the United Way of Lebanon County. This service model varies significantly from the traditional system service model in which agencies compete for service dollars. Instead QUEST and DDS will work together to increase manpower, assets, resources to assist a greater number of individuals in Lebanon County in need of employment support services. As we celebrate our 60^th year, QUEST continues to seek new and better service models to help individuals improve their quality of life through competitive, integrated community based employment opportunities.

Employment 1st
Take Charge of Your Life- CHOOSE WORK

Everyone can work and there is a real job for everyone. A real job is one with real wages, benefits, side-by-side and with co-workers without disabilities.

Not working should be the exception. All individuals, schools, families and businesses must raise their expectations.

People will be hired because of their ability not because they have a disability.

Communities embrace people who contribute.

Everyone has something to contribute and needs to contribute. Having a real job and real wages helps people have a lifestyle with value, choice and empowerment.

Real jobs should be the first priority and preferred outcome for people with disabilities. We will be creative and tenacious in providing support.

Employment is a win/win for everybody!