Mr. Bill Bichsel, a job coach / employment specialist with Life'sWork of Western Pennsylvania received the GPSEA Job Coach of the Year Award on October 29,2002. Bill is a 1991 graduate of Edinboro University and has been with Life'sWork for the past three years. Bill has a lead role in a transition grant funded to Life'sWork by the Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board to provide employment services to students with significant disabilities from Langley High School, a Pittsburgh City High School. Mr. Bichsel partners with school staff to build a continuum of community based vocational services for the students while they are still in school. This continuum includes community based assessments, followed by paid internships. When the student is ready, Bill then develops a competitive placement with job coaching support and follow along services. This Project is a unique partnership with a school and an adult service provider. According to his nominator, Marjorie Eckman, Transition Facilitatorwith the Pittsburgh Public Schools, "Bill has become an integral member of the transition team at Langley High School and has been well received by the students and their parents. He is a real team member, is always pleasant and seems to really love his job. He is conscientious and provides regular updates to the school staff and makes frequent calls to parents to keep them informed on issues critical to student success. Bill also brings back instructional issues to the teachers that need to be taught or reinforced in class to improve effectiveness on the job. The students really like Bill. I think they sense his sincerity and genuine caring." Barbara Lehman, Coordinator of Community Based Services at Life'sWork, and Bill's supervisor comments: "Mr. Bichsel uses a variety of strategies to encourage, support and facilitate the acquisition of successful work skills in these consumers who are working for the first time. He also maintains ongoing relationships with employers to ensure his ability to network on behalf of the consumers. Most importantly, Mr. Bichsel is dependable and trustworthy in all that he does."

 

 

Special Thanks To Our Sponsors:

• AHEDD Allegheny East MH/MR Center, Inc.
• Angora Gardens
• Competitive Employment Opportunities
• Easter Seals of Western Pennsylvania
• The Gatehouse
• Goodwill Industries Of Pittsburgh
• Mercy Behavioral Health
• Peoples Oakland
• Turtle Creek Valley MH/MR