Early Youth Employment Services (EYES) is designed to provide vocational and educational opportunities to Cobb County students with disabilities. The youth of today are the workforce of tomorrow. We are supporting Cobb County youth as they prepare for seamless integration into the workforce and strive to achieve their professional goals.

Job Readiness Training is offered to assist with writing a resume, practicing job interviews, and learning to complete paper/pencil, and online job applications. Individuals work with employment specialists to design an employment plan to reach their desired career goal. Job shadowing to observe jobs in the community can be arranged to allow more first-hand information about a job of interest. When a specific job is identified, job sampling may also be an option in order for a program participant to “try out” the job for a short period of time for hands-on experience. Job coaching services are also available to assist in training on the job and adjustment to a new work routine.

Tommy Nobis Center is an authorized Ticket to Work provider. Ticket to Work is a federally-funded program that provides individuals receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and/or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits the support they need to enter the workforce.

Classes are offered to assist with teaching job readiness skills, job keeping skills and best work practices. Other classes can also include GED preparation and transportation training to teach individuals how to get to a job. Specific skills training is also offered in Computer Training. This self-paced course equips participants with basic computer skills including parts and use of a computer, typing practice, Windows Operating System, Microsoft Word, Internet and email basics. The program can be customized based on the job goal. Forklift training is also offered for those interested in employment in a warehouse type of setting.

A comprehensive vocational evaluation is a combination of hands-on, computer and paper/pencil testing to measure an individual’s vocational interests, aptitudes and academic abilities. An individual assessment plan is written with each individual to determine assessments to use that will relate to the person’s job goal. Tests are adapted to individual learning styles.

Work adjustment training assists individuals with disabilities in building stamina, improving communication skills with co-workers and supervisors, and preparing for employment. Training is provided at community-based employment sites. Tommy Nobis Center provides on-site supervisors at the community-based sites for on-going support and training.

In partnership with the Department of Veterans Affairs, Tommy Nobis Center helps Veterans residing in Cobb County with vocational services at our facility. Veterans who want to work can learn about the opportunities available to them from the VA and its partners. Topics include Compensated Work Therapy, Training, Benefits, Resume Writing, Job Search and Coaching, and more.

The EYES Summer Youth program is an continuum of the EYES program administered within local schools during the academic year. This summer offering for youth with disabilities reinforces skills learned during the EYES classroom-based program, while also exploring new curriculum and skills to further prepare youth for workforce entry. Students have access to personal social adjustment classes and job readiness training, as well as hands-on engagement opportunities with community professionals within the work environment. Summer Youth takes place in June and July at the Tommy Nobis Center facility.

Through Tommy Nobis Center, individuals with severe disabilities who are enrolled in the Medicaid Waiver program have access to elevated offerings specifically designed to meet their level of need. This includes the availability of community access services, prevocational services, and supported employment. Reliable transportation to engage in these services is also provided.

This program directly addresses the challenges experienced by ex-offenders with disabilities as they reintegrate into the community and re-enter the workforce, creating pathways from incarceration to employment. Through the provision of structured prevention and education programming, specifically vocational rehabilitation services and personalized support, ex-offenders (including youth in the juvenile justice system) become equipped to secure and maintain employment, while overcoming the formidable obstacles associated with the dual stigma assigned to ex-offender status and possessing one or more disabilities.

Tommy Nobis Center's Vehicle Donations Program provides a simple, stress-free way for individuals to donate their vehicle, helping provide job opportunities for people with disabilities. A vehicle donation is tax-deductible and is like any monetary donation with one added step - the donated vehicle will be sold if operational or scrapped and recycled. Proceeds will help fund our programs, providing opportunities for people with disabilities. We will accept cars, vans, truck, SUV's, RV's, motorcycles, boats, or jet skis. Please visit https://tommynobiscenter.org/vehicle-donation.

Tommy Nobis Center's Business Solutions helps program participants learn and refine the job skills they need to gain independence, all while working on real-world projects from companies that partner with us. This offering presents companies with the opportunity to change the lives of people with disabilities or other barriers to employment, while conducting your daily business. Our participants complete training that allows them to become familiar with working in an office, warehouse or retail environment. Through training and real-life work experience, individuals develop the social skills, technical skills and confidence required to help them solve problems and successfully complete your business orders and projects. This includes government contract-fulfillment opportunities though Nobis Enterprises, as well as partnerships with our Community Sites and production and fulfillment solutions taking place in Tommy Nobis Center's 39,000-square-foot warehouse in Cobb County. Additional information can be found at https://tommynobiscenter.org/business-solutions/.