ALTERNATIVES TO EMPLOYMENT

Alternatives to Employment (ATE) is a unique division of SPARC Enterprises, Inc. ATE provides non-traditional employment or day activities for individuals with disabilities.

The mission of ATE is: To build bridges (relationships) that will allow people with disabilities to be valued members of our community and experience life as we do.

The ATE program serves individuals who find that traditional employment does not work for them as a result of physical, mental or emotional issues. Once an individual joins the ATE program a plan is developed for each individual this plan involves the people who care about them and is designed and intended to identify what activities the person finds most important and enjoyable so these activities are incorporated into their daily activities. The role of the ATE staff is to assure those activities occur for the individual.

The ATE program and its employees also believe that all people have the ability to contribute to their community. As such, the ATE staff assists individuals to volunteer at various locations in our community including nursing homes, the humane society and a local animal shelter.

The staff at ATE looks beyond a person's disability to support each individual to experience the joy life has to offer in a manner that assures their health and safety.