Community Workshop Puts Lie toTerm'Unemployable'

Federation Agency Looks Ahead to Increased Service to Aged, Retarded

By CHARLOTTE DUBIN
evaluation process during which
A job. In a society that too often
his occupational aptitude is as-
uses It to measure a man's worth,
sessed through simulated industrial
the functionally unemployable —
work sample tasks. His perform-
the mentally and physically handi-
ance on these and on psychological
caped, the emotionally scarred,
tests will provide the direction for
the culturally deprived—are out
future work.
of tune.
At the same time, he is assigned
At least one agency is proving,
to paid production jobs and is ob-
however, that they do have worth,
served by evaluators. If at this
that they do have a useful place
time it is determined that the
in society.
client won't work out, he may be
referred to other community serv-
The Jewish Vocational Service,
ices, or back to the state. No one
-- -ri,..ough its Community Workshop,
is "fired."
averages hundreds of small mir-
acles a year. Small, that is, to the
Most often, however, the client
observer. They are monumental
continues in the program or enters
to the men and women who work
work adjustment training, whereby
in the modern plant converted
he is prepared for competitive
from a block of rundown build-
employment. This program closely
ings on Woodward Ave. near
resembles the actual industrial en-
Wayne State University.
vironment, with foremen function-
ing much as they would in business
A small agency (the Detroit
situations.
It is at this time that
League for the Handicaped is
work habits and attitudes, as well
five times larger), the JVS Com-
munity Workshop nevertheless pro-
as interpersonal relationships, are
molded.
vides comprehensive services to
bring about those miracles. Here,
What gives the Community Work-
those who have been unable to
shop an enviable reputation is a
compete in a competitive system
wide
array of "fringe benefits,"
Two Community Workshop clients, Rochelle Granat and Andy Lebove, work at assembly and
are tested, counseled and trained
ancillary services like group coun-
packaging jobs contracted to the agency by outside companies.
-44 th' perform financially remunera-
seling and a job readiness clinic.
tive tasks.
To the average person, job hunt-
—those who probably never will ulations requiring public-supported them out to us, the manufacturer
It doesn't always work—JVS be able to function competitively
agencies to remain nonsectarian, can save a lot of money. And he ing can be worry enough. But to
Executive Director Arthur Ascher on the outside. These primarily
the handicaped, the job interview
the workshop must accept state gets good quality.
is the first to admit it — but it are the retarded and the elderly
and filling out applications are
referrals or lose those funds. "By
"We also provide some storage
does enough times so that the of the Jewish community.
having
the
availability
of
govern-
space that the manufacturer may monstrous — Possibly impossible—
usual end result is an individual
ment funds, you can serve the not have. And, don't forget, we're tasks. The clinic tries to remove
This "Sheltered Workshop"
who can respect himself.
Jewish community better." said training people to work for him." some of the fears.
concept will be developed furth-
Who are the workshop's clien-
Ascher. "You can afford staff and
Several of the JVS' ancillary
er, if Ascher's hopes are real-
tele? A breakdown of the 126 ref-
Assuming responsibility is no services draw clients from other
equipment
you couldn't possibly
ized.
There
have
been
increas-
errals from July through October
small part of that training. "Most workshops, such as the Detroit
afford
with
the
voluntary
dollar."
ing
requests
for
expansion
of
gives a fair idea.
people here can't hold jobs be- League for the Handicaped, which
this service to the Jewish re-
Nevertheless, Ascher, an East-
The largest number, 58, were
cause they can't meet the rules has a close working arrangement
tarded and aged. Until the phy-
erner who arrived in Detroit
characterized as having emotion-
and because they can't get along with JVS.
sical plant can be expanded,
earlier this year, is sensitive to
al problems, with a frequent
with fellow workers and the fore-
however, the demand cannot fie
The Community Workshop also
the demands of the Jewish com-
record of hospitalization and
man," said Goldstein. "We try to has a selective job placement serv-
met fully.
munity, which founded the JVS
little work experience.
inculcate the rudimentary rules ice for its clients. Those consid-
In addition to the retarded cur- agency to assist refugees after
Thirty-two were classified as
with two reinforcements: First, ered employable are referred to a
rently being serviced, there are World War II. It soon became evi-
- 'tetentally retarded, in all ranges
he knows he'll be paid, and second, specialist who is responsible for
plans
to bus 15 elderly residents dent (in 1954) that to properly
of severity and with varying voca-
he gets counseling."
individual job development and job
tional potential. There were 26 of Federation Apartments to the serve these needs, the community
That the reinforcements work is placement needs.
"sociogenic" cases, those exhibit- workshop starting this month. would require a special workshop
Very often, the placement spe-
best
evidenced
by
the
absentee
This
arrangement,
too,
if
success-
setup.
ing what is commonly referred to
as "the ghetto syndrome" — in- ful will open new horizons for the
When the two separate agencies rate, which Goldstein insists is cialist must convince the potential
ability to hold a job, cultural de- agency within the Jewish commu- proved u n wieldly, they were less than that at General Motors. employer that his fears at hiring
the handicaped are groundless.
privation, possibly functional re. nity.
merged into the Jewish Vocational
Workers generally are paid on ,
Still, there is always the debate Service and Community Workshop. the piece rate basis — the more There are 10 epileptics, for exam-
tardation.
The others were: Orthopedic, 25; as to just how "Jewish" the There is one board of trustees, work done. the bigger the pay ple, in the workshop program. With
cardiac, 12; epileptic, 10; drugs, agency is, and how Jewish it currently serving under Arthur check. Goldstein claims a client special medication, most epilepsy
is controllable. The placement spe-
9; brain damage, 7; speech, 6; ought to be. There are those who James Rubiner, president.
can make "as much as a normal
cialist's job is to convey that fact
visual, 6; auditory, 3; cerebral argue that by accepting state ref-
worker doing the same amount of to the employer.
The
$1,000,000
plant
is
impres-
palsy, 4; alcoholic, 2: multiple errals, the vast majority Gentile,
work in industry." He added that
sive—a
far
cry
from
the
old
work-
Fortunately, for both the client
sclerosis, 1; and 11 with medical the Jewish Welfare Federation shop on Brush and Monroe that no this rate of payment is in accord-
disabilities including d i a bete s, agency ceases to serve its own one was overly fond of. The new ance with state and federal wage and the potential employer, the
facts generally do emerge.
ulcers, thyroid, vertigo and arthri- community.
and hour laws.
Pointing out, first, that the Com- one, dedicated last year, was
tis.
There are many success stories
funded by the federal government,
All clients are assigned to coun- at the Community Workshop—too
also are several elderly munity Workshop clientele is only by UCS and the Jewish Welfare
residents
residents of the Catholic-spon- a small portion of the total Jewish Federation and by private dona- selors, nine of whom have offices many for Ascher and Goldstein to
sored Carmel Hall who are work- Vocational Service caseload, Asch- tions, notably the family of the in the workshop, and there is a recall. The fact that the agency
ing at JVS until Carmel completes er explained that without the state late Arnold Frank, for whom the staff psychologist. A total of 17 will place more than the 90 re-
professionals, nine clerical and six quired each year by the state is
involvement there probably would
its own workshop.
building is named.
business, personnel a r e on the a point of pride to them.
Although the number of clients be no agency, or at least not to
In return for the government agency rolls.
fluctuates, at this time there are the sophisticated degree that ex- funds, JVS had to meet stringent
But more telling than the figures
The new client enters the work- are the little victories: the deaf
about 90, a little more than two- ists today.
fire and safety regulations. The
State support (from serving 360 present location still brings raised shop program with some trepida- woman who did such a
thirds of them state referrals. Ac-
job
cording to JVS- agreement with referrals) totaled $240,000 this
tion. Often, he has behind him assembling chairs that great
the con-
eyebrows in the Jewish commu-
the state, the agency accepts an- year. Almost $142,000 came from nity, but Ascher said convenient disappointments a n d rejections tractor hired her on the spot. The
nually about 360 clients sponsored United Community Services; and access to the general public was that, piled one on the other, make "graduates" who have gone on to
by Michigan's Vocational Rehabil- the Jewish Welfare Federation — vital. One day, transportation may him wary of a new employment further skilled training in voca-
itation Service. These state-sup- through the Allied Jewish Cam- be provided, but for now clients experience. The agency must prove tional schools. And the one-armed
ported referrals are considered paign — contributed $140,000. A must provide their own.
to him that this isn't just another
man who was so invaluable that
trainable.
little income is generated from the
A tour of the Vocational Work- false hope.
JVS had to hire him as assistant
Twenty per cent of the total 100 workshop's contracts with busi- shop with assistant director Gerald
After the initial orientation pe- foreman — or risk losing him to
available seats in the workshop nesses.
Goldstein reveals a wide range of riod, the client goes through an industry.
are reserved for long-term clients
Because of federal and state reg- contract work being produced by
clients of all ages.
In three large, hangar-like rooms
behind the JVS administrative of-
fices, workers sit or stand at their
tasks, packaging auto parts, fin-
ishing expandable clothes rods for
automobiles, assembling chairs.
There are about 20 to 30 cus-
tomers who have contracts with
JVS, and the new operations man-
ager Ray Calcatterra, is deter-
mined to generate more.
"We have a lot to offer a busi-
nessman," said Goldstein, "There
are so many simple, repetitive
jobs in industry that our people
THE JEWISH VOCATIONAL SERVICE COMMUNITY WORKSHOP
can do better. Short-run, low-profit
AT 4250 WOODWARD.
jobs are strictly a nuisance and
INTERIOR OF ONE OF THREE WORKSHOPS AT THE JVS
56--Friday, Doc. 1, 1972
THE DETROIT JEWISH HEWS highly expensive. By contracting
COMMUNITY WORKSHOP.