Positive Results through Pride, Hard Work and Achievement
Valley Educational Associates operates 4 sites in Western
Massachusetts and serves over 80 individuals with disabilities.
Individuals are trained and supported to perform paid jobs within local
community businesses as well as our own workshops.
Some of the Many Satisfied Employers Who Work with
Valley Educational Associates
Olympic Manufacturing Group
“VEA provides added value to OMG through our outsource/ subcontract
packaging program. VEA and OMG have been successfully partnering in
business since 1994.”
P. Tilden, Distribution Mgr.
Valley Educational Associates has established a fine reciprocal business
relationship with Olympic Manufacturing Corporation since 1993. We began
working with OMG performing miscellaneous outsource work, the vast
majority of this was packaging and assembly. VEA sent the first enclave of
(4) Members accompanied by (2) Job Coaches over to operate drill presses
for OMG. This experience turned out to be a very large success, as these
(4) people maintained their positions of value for many years to come. To
date, VEA Members
and Staff continue to provide a great deal of packaging & assembly
services for OMG at VEA work centers in Springfield and Chicopee. (3) VEA
Members are currently employed by Olympic Manufacturing that perform work
(5) days per week in the packaging department. Each Member is paid
directly $8.00 per hour for their work. (2) VEA (Spfld) Members are paid
for (30) hours per week, and are supported by (1) VEA Job Coach; separate
(non-VEA) transportation arrangements exist for the (2) Members from Spfld.
(1) VEA (Chicopee) Member works (22.5) hours per week, and is provided
support and transportation by (1) VEA Job Coach.
STCC Foundation
“We have relied on VEA to support much of our bulk mailing needs. It
has been important for us to fall back on a reliable, efficient and
effective team of workers from VEA.”
W. Kwolek, Exectutive Director
Hillside Plastics
“VEA has been providing services to Hillside Plastics for many years.
Theirs is a unique service and one with which Hillside is proud to be
associated. There are many ways to support your local community; but none
as satisfying as seeing VEA people become part of the “regular workforce.”
J. Haas, Personnel Mgr.
Hillside Plastics and Valley Educational Associates have been in
partnership since1993. The VEA work team performs a wide array of
janitorial tasks to include: dusting, mopping, vacuuming, washing windows,
cleansing break rooms and bath rooms, recycling & trash removal, also
policing of grounds. Currently (1) VEA Job Coach accompanies (2) VEA
Members while at Hillside Plastics and provides transportation to and from
the work site in Turners Falls. The work crew attends a 3-hour shift on
Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Hillside Plastics Management prefers to
be billed monthly by VEA. VEA bills $8.00 per hour for (18) hours per
week. VEA sends an invoice (for supplies), on a monthly basis (as per our
agreement).
Samson Manufacturing
VEA began working with Samson Mfg. of Whately, Mass, in August of 2008.
Initially one VEA Member was trained and successfully placed in various
areas of the facility. Primary duties became light assembly and packaging,
a variety of tools (including pneumatic machinery), were tried and
mastered. President Scott Samson was so impressed by the abilities and
performance of this VEA Member and her Support Staff that he would add two
more VEA Members to his roster of employees as the year progressed.
Currently, (3) workers are paid directly from Samson Mfg. at $8.00 per
hour. The Samson employees attend work (5) days per week, (4) hours per
day, totaling (20) hours of paid work. The (3) Members are accompanied by
(2) VEA Job Coach professionals that have specialized in supporting these
particular Members in this unique work environment.
The Hampshire Mall
For over a decade, VEA has been providing quality janitorial services to
the Hampshire Mall in Hadley, Massachusetts. Starting in October of 1998,
VEA started sending a gentleman with a passion for cleaning accompanied by
a Job Coach for support. Following the initial training period, it was
clear that VEA had provided the right person for the job. Through the
years the same gentleman with exceptional work ethic has survived numerous
layoffs and change in management which is testament to his level of
performance and devotion. This model VEA Member has been a Unicco employee
for 4+ years, makes $10.20 per hour (4) hours per day, (5) days per week,
and is an active union member. To this day this man continues to cleanse
and shine every table in the Mall’s food court, sweep the floors, remove
the trash, cleanse trash receptacles, and
perform other occasional tasks (as requested). One VEA Job Coach
continues to accompany the Unicco employee providing him with
transportation to and from work, and includes on the job support (as
needed).
Kamins Real Estate
Over the past 8+ years, Kamins Real Estate has entrusted Valley
Educational Associates Staff and Members with the maintenance of (5)
apartment houses in Amherst, the Hadley Barn Shops (businesses), and the
(5) apartment complexes of Lantern Court in Sunderland. Each assignment
hosts a variety of tasks including policing grounds, maintaining
cleanliness of common areas, laundry rooms, bathrooms, and stairwells. VEA
Members perform the tasks of vacuuming, dusting, sweeping, mopping, trash
removal, sanitizing, window washing, and generally inspect the area for
safety. Kamins Real Estate has been able to depend on VEA Staff to report
any discrepancies or maintenance issues that are beyond their power to
negotiate. This position has been and is seen as a doorway opportunity for
VEA Members to begin gradually immersing themselves in their local
community. moderate level of community exposure while on this assignment.
With the assistance of their (1) VEA Job Coach, (2) VEA Members are
transported to their work centers, and are accompanied as they perform
their duties. Pat Kamins (Kamins Real Estate) has opted that VEA bill
monthly for the work performed. VEA Members are paid $8.00 hourly for
their efforts and a 20% administrative/supply fee has been built into our
contract.
Highland Valley Elders
For 8+ years, Highland Valley Elders (Meals on Wheels) service has
depended on Valley Educational Associates Members and Staff to provide the
valuable service of delivering meals to and interacting with Elders at
their residences. This service provides an opportunity for those we serve
to exercise their social skills and foster confidence as they build an
“invaluable” relationship with people that (in many cases) have limited
contact with those outside their home. This is a (5) day per week
position. (1) VEA Job Coach accompanies and transports (1) Member each day
for approximately (2) hours of work. There are (3) VEA Members that
benefit from this position, that attend on a rotational basis. VEA Members
are paid directly from Highland Valley Elders,
@ $8.00 per hour, and are given a mileage reimbursement.
Staples
Since January 2007, Valley Educational Associates have supplied Staples of
Hadley with a dependable workcrew. After fulfilling the initial training
and safety requirements, the (2) training Staples employees demonstrated
their ability to adapt while working hard. Again VEA
Members defy traditional concepts of being “limited” with their work
capabilities. After 3 months as “Porters”, the new VEA Staples employees
began to exercise their customer service competencies. Before long,
customers were approaching Staples Managers with compliments regarding
their encounters with these budding professionals. After 9 months of
success, the VEA/Staples team was asked to expand services to the Staples
of Greenfield. Both Employees have won various awards to include: star
performer and 2x each worker of the month. To date, VEA continues to
provide on-the-job support for the two selected Members with (1) VEA Job
Coach and transportation to and from Staples. Both Employees are paid
directly from Staples; one is paid $8.25 per hour, while the other is paid
$8.15 per hour. The crew generally works for a 3-hour day, and weekly
schedules vary with sales.
Brookside Condominiums
Brookside Condominiums of Deerfield, MA, has been a successful landscaping
job for many at VEA’s Valley Bookcases located in South Deerfield, MA.
Current duties include policing grounds, lawn maintenance, grading,
trimming, and ice removal. We are on our second year as we started in
April of 2008. (1) VEA Job Coach assists and instructs (2) VEA Members as
they perform the duties described above. Brookside Management prefers to
be billed bi-weekly, VEA Members are paid $8.00 hourly for their time and
a 20% supply & admin fee has been arranged. Members work for a total of
(5) billable hours per week.
Sunderland Veterans Memorial
VEA has been working together with The Town of Sunderland to maintain and
beautify the town’s Veteran’s Memorial grounds. We began performing
landscaping duties in the spring of 2008. The duties performed are raking,
pruning, sweeping, transplanting, weeding, mulching, and applying oil to
benches. Members really seem to enjoy the recognition they receive from
the local townsfolk. Typically, this job is attended to (1x) per week in
the spring, in the summer and fall months we attend to our duties on an
“as needed” basis. The length of the shift varies too, on average the work
crew will spend (2.5) hours at this assignment. That would total (5) work
hours as a two Member work team that is accompanied mans this and
supervised by (1) VEA Job Coach. VEA provides transportation to and from
this work site.
Managers from The Town of Sunderland chose to be billed monthly by VEA,
paying the workers $8.00 per hour each for their efforts, with a 20% fee
that would cover various expenses that include insurance, fuel, supplies,
administrative work, etc;
