Jayme >> Good afternoon, everyone. My name is Jayme Pendergraft, and I am the Director of Communications and Outreach for Social Security's Ticket to Work Program. I'd like to welcome you to today's webinar as well as take a moment to introduce you to my colleague, Ray Cebula, who will serve as today's moderator. Ray received his law degree from the University of New Hampshire's Franklin Pierce Law School. Oh, I'm sorry, Franklin Pierce School of Law. He spent 23 years providing legal services to individuals with disabilities in their interactions with Social Security. He then became a part of Cornell University's Work Incentive Support Center. And in 2005, he joined the staff at Cornell's Yang-Tan Institute on Employment and Disability. He now serves as the Program Director of YTI Online, Cornell's Work Incentive Practitioner Credentialing Program. Ray, welcome. Thank you for joining us, and I will hand it over to you.

Ray >> Thank you, Jayme. I'm happy to be with you again, and serving in a different role today. Because we have a guest speaker who is going to be familiar to you but is truly an expert in our topic today. And our topic today is, “Volunteer Your Way to Success in the Workplace.” We're going to get set with a little bit of the setup that you're using today. 
In order to manage your audio on our Adobe Connect board here. You can manage your audio using the audio option at the top of your screen. It will look like a little speaker. There is a little carrot there, or a downward facing arrow. That will give you a drop-down menu so that you can choose “select speaker.” And select the speaker that's appropriate for your listening option today. All attendees will be muted. We will have time for questions and answers. So please feel free to put your questions in the box. And we will take them, a few of them, midway through, and a little bit later during the presentation. So select an option for how do you want to join today's audio meeting? The device speaker will enable the sound to be broadcast through your computer. Make sure your speakers are turned on, or your headphones are plugged in. 
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Archived events. We will be archiving today's event once it's finished and processed. And this webinar is being recorded and will be archived within two weeks of today. And you can find those at WISE On Demand. Technical assistance. If you experience any technical difficulties during the webinar, please use the Q&A pod to send a message. Or you can email webinars@choosework.ssa.gov. And you've already met me through Jayme's introduction. I'm Ray Cebula of Cornell University. And today's presenter is an expert and friend of mine who really has a lot of experience in volunteering and internship. And you're familiar with him if you've been here to a few webinars. Derek Shields. We're just turning around our roles today. 
Webinar overview. Today's topics that we're going to cover is volunteering. Why, how, and where. Making the connection. Volunteering and the Ticket to Work. Who can help you achieve your work goals and putting it together? We're going to meet our -- today's success story, Robert. And I'm going to turn it over to you, Derek, to take us through the rest and share your expertise with us.

Derek >> Thank you, Ray, and welcome everyone. Thanks again for joining us for our April WISE webinar. Ray will be back in a little bit as our moderator, and we'll have two Q&A sessions today. So as he mentioned, please submit your questions. We'll be pleased to give you some answers and some ideas and resources along the way, too. It's great to be back together. And as Ray mentioned, I do have some experience in volunteering and community service as tools, of course, to give back, or to give to your community. But also to give to yourself and gaining new skills and experiences and meeting new people to help you in your job path, or your journey to financial independence. 
You know, why did we select this topic, volunteering? Well, for a few reasons. One, we haven't done this before and thought that you might gain some valuable tips and ideas through this webinar. And also, April is National Volunteer Month or Volunteer Awareness Month in the United States. It's held every April, and it's obviously an opportunity for us to celebrate and recognize the contribution of volunteers. And an opportunity to also, kind of, join that impact if you're not doing it through volunteerism, and encourage more of us to be involved in our communities. So you know, it's a great month to, kind of, affirm our commitment to giving back. And like I said, also a great way to gain new experiences, and skills, and relationships that can help perhaps identify the type of work you're interested in. Which would lead to developing your personal, or Individual Work Plan and really a future career path. 
So Ray went through the agenda on this slide. We're going to cover why, how, and where volunteering and, of course, connect it back to the Ticket Program. And how the Ticket Program can help you kind of take those experiences. And today, you know, we're going to meet Robert at the end, a success story. But we also have two other success stories, three people who have leveraged the community service pathway to full-time employment, and really Ticket to Work success from that on their journeys to work in financial independence. So we're excited to cover all of that today. And like I said, you know, we're going to cover the why, how, and where. Why is volunteering a good way to launch or relaunch your job or career path? How can you find the volunteer, or community service organization, or perhaps a community service activity that is the right fit for you? And then, where to go to get assistance in pulling that all together? Or where to go to find, you know, a good organization and connect the Ticket Program to supporting your volunteering experience? And really transitioning from volunteer work, to paid work, to full-time work and really, you know, leveraging this as a pathway to the career that you've always dreamed of.
And to think about the why, how, and where, we're going to start off with our first success story. And this one's about Hazel. And perhaps if you've joined us before, you might recognize Hazel's story. But she's an example of workplace success through volunteering. And perhaps like some of you attending this webinar today, you know, these are a variety of ways to get back to work. And with Hazel, she was struggling with her mental health and the recovery process. And in 2013, Hazel entered a substance treatment program where doctors helped her in finding effective medicines and therapies. And those treatments had worked, and she had given up these addictions and felt better than she had in years. And at one of those recovery centers that she had connected with called Polaris House, one of their counselors there, you know, was focused on kind of supporting Hazel. But then thinking about kind of what would be good for -- what's next for Hazel? And so, you know, this Polaris House is a clubhouse community. And then that Web Links pod in the bottom right corner, we have link number eight. 
You know, clubhouses are -- you know, the members there are individuals that are living with mental illness, and they find peer connection at these clubhouses. This is a worldwide organization and there's clubhouses across the United States. And so she was there and, you know, the best way to kind of sum up the volunteer experience that Hazel had after going through her own treatment, was she wanted to help others in recovery.
And Hazel says, "When I became a member of Polaris House, I volunteered in the kitchen at first, so I didn't have to be around too many people. You know, I was still vulnerable. I came in every day because it was a safe place where they understood me. There were others there like me who understood what I was going through." You know, so she felt connection to this community. So why did she end up volunteering? Perhaps it was to be in that safe place, a place to be understood. And she found that caring community and she could help others. And there's a mission or a purpose that's really important in that service, or in volunteering. And we all need to find that. You know, Hazel found that. And when we think about, you know, discovering how that volunteer work turned into paid work, you know, she found where she had meaning. 
After about six months of that volunteer service, she actually went into paid work and went on to their payroll. So six months of volunteering, Polaris found that she was a team member that could contribute in a paid position. And then by the end of that year, she was offered full-time employment as a clubhouse generalist. A job that had a lot of facets, but importantly, wasn't in the kitchen. She started getting into different areas and taking on leadership roles. So she started in one place, started to engage with others. And this was in fact part of her full-time recovery. And she said, I was needed there. Being needed and valued are a lifeline. Polaris House has been a sanctuary. So for Hazel, it started as volunteer service and it became full-time employment. And her pathway to work is one of recovery, including recovery through treatment and volunteering. So excited to share her story. 
And with that, we're going to now explore how volunteering can start you on your path to a career, or on your path to financial independence. We'll have two more success stories, as I mentioned, coming up soon. So what is community service when we think about volunteering? You may have had experiences when you were younger, where you supported an organization or a community event as a volunteer. But, you know, we all have had different experiences. So let's get a joint description here that we can share for this session. Community service is when you volunteer your time to help others in your community. And it's also an important way to gain experience that can support your growth and preparation. Preparation for a better community. Preparation also potentially for your own work or career. And when you volunteer, there are plenty of opportunities to receive training so you can learn new skills. It's a great opportunity to meet new people and to make a positive difference, of course, for others. 
You know, and I recently heard something about meeting new people. There's a professor, Tanya Menon at Ohio State University, and she has a great TED talk that's called “The Secret to Your Success is the Person You Haven't Met Yet.” And so when you volunteer and you meet new people, you're also going to open up to, yes, learning. But also connecting with new people and contributing. So we get that bit of a win-win-win there. And that's -- you know, the first one is going to propel you towards the next one. Like Hazel had, right? She decided to get treatment. She then decided to volunteer and that led to them providing part-time work. So when you get engaged somewhere and work, whether it's volunteer or paid, in effect, one experience or one job commonly leads to the next one. 
So with that, I'm going to offer some other tips on learning through volunteering. And with this, we have this slide that says, “Volunteering: develop assets and skills” And when we volunteer, we have the possibility to develop new skills or skill sets. And when you think about the new knowledge, skills, or abilities that you gain through those experiences, this is where we change our value. So if you feel like, oh, I wish I could do something, but I'm not going to bring that value to that employer. Or I wish I knew those skills because that's what that employer wants. Well, volunteering is a way to develop those assets and skills, and to bring that to an employer. And some of these ideas today that we're sharing are rooted in work that's been done by the California Transition Alliance and their previous president in the thinking about an asset inventory. And if we had our skills, and skill sets, and really our personal value that we bring to employers as an assets inventory. And we could expand that through volunteering, then we're expanding our value. 
And so volunteering can help you develop such things as soft skills. You know, when we think of those, we think of things like, maybe communication skills, or some of the things that aren't the hard skills but are really how we connect and engage with people. Getting into also organizational time management skills, too. Along with this idea of a social responsibility that is at the root of volunteering and empathy for our community. These are skill sets that we aren't necessarily great with. But if we have the opportunity to practice, then we could bring those to a future employer, too. 
The second bullet here is technical skills. This is a little bit more direct and literal. I could volunteer and learn new applications, like, maybe my job is working in support in an administrative role, and I get to work with Microsoft Office, maybe Microsoft Word or Excel. Or I get to do community engagement emails through Outlook. Or help do research through the internet, or perhaps other advanced programs. You know, one of the things that I did a long time ago was I supported a Center for Independent Living, and I'll tell you how long ago it was. I offered to volunteer for a Center for Independent Living in Northern Virginia. And I said, what can I do to help? And the executive director at the time said, "Derek, we need a website. Everybody's creating websites. What can we do?" And I said, “I'll figure it out.” I didn't know HTML, but I taught myself HTML, and I created the first website that they published. Luckily, they've since had many more websites that look and provide a lot better content than I provided. But in doing that, I gained a new technical skill. And it really helped me later be able to talk to web designers and developers, because I better understood HTML and really about how to create websites. 
In the last bullet here, connecting to the community helps you learn communication skills and become aware of the community's needs and challenges others face. I think I mentioned communication skills and some other soft skills. But this idea of being aware of needs and challenges and then also being attached to solutions. Every employer I've ever worked with had a mission, and their purpose was to drive value for their customers or consumers. So if we practice that in a volunteer or community service way, and understand how our help met the need and brought value to the community, then we could also explain how we would see our work at an employer, do the same for them with their mission. 
So these are the reasons why I think volunteering is an excellent thing to do in terms of -- yes, service is a good reason. But also, to gain new skill sets and help position you for your next job or your first job. That's a great reason, too. So I hope you find a connection there about developing your own asset inventory along with that notion of giving back through community service. 
All right. Next, we bring up -- determine where you can serve. You know, so this is when we think back to those three big questions: why, how, and where. It's important to think, you know, first about the kind of service or volunteer work that interests you. There are so many different types of community service and volunteering options. So I'd really recommend finding something that you're passionate about. Do you enjoy the outdoors or gardening? Do you enjoy connecting with people? Do you prefer working with equipment or tools rather than connecting with people? Some of us like sports or the arts. Make that list. Really create a list that's all the things that you're passionate about. Because that's going to tell you, well, if I'm engaged over here, I'm going to put 100% into it and I'm going to get a lot out of that experience. 
Next, you know, after you have that passions list, identifying your employment goals and determining the skills that you need with those goals. You know, do you want to work at a nursery, or do you prefer to run a sports league for youth? Or how about building or being a contractor in a trade? Once you make, kind of, that goal decision, you can start to build a bridge between volunteering and paid work. And if this sounds overwhelming at this point, you might be like, I can do the passions list, but that work goal setting is something I'm not ready to do. Well, that's okay because when we talk about the employment team and the service providers in a little bit, we're going to point you to some folks that can really help in this bridge. 
You know, helping with identifying your work goals and then building a bridge between those passions, volunteering, and paid work. So with all that in mind, you know, I mentioned a couple of passions area. But when we think about the where, you know, where are the places that we can volunteer? This is a great list we have for you. I'll review them and hopefully one or more will really connect with you about your passions or your areas of interest for work. We have food pantries and soup kitchens. In a minute, I'll give a detailed example there. We also have animal shelters and Habitat For Humanity. These are organizations that are across the country and looking for volunteers all the time. On the middle line, we have environmental organizations, youth-facing programs. This could be groups like mentoring programs or other programming that's designed to assist at-risk youth in transition. Really from, you know, educational programs into work pathways, hospitals and nursing homes. And then we have schools, libraries, community events, religious organizations, and government organizations. There's a little bit for everybody in here. And so when you look at your passions and you start processing, well, I've always wanted to be in the education field. I can't go down the pathway at this point in life to do exactly what I wanted to do. But maybe if I volunteered and I was in a school or a library setting, I could get reconnected. So this is the type of thinking that we have. And when we think about the places to volunteer, there's so many options. Like I said, I'd like to explore one example to, kind of, take you through it. And maybe this will help you think about your personal interests too. 
If you volunteer at a local soup kitchen, you can obviously connect with community. And you're going to learn a few things in doing so. You know, perhaps you're going to learn how to cook. They need assistance in the kitchen. Or if you're interested not in becoming a chef, but maybe in really the dialogue that you have in service, then maybe you could be a food server and engage with those individuals that are using the soup kitchen services. And you know, we have this idea of communicating with a variety of people. That could happen whether you're the cook or in the service side of the soup kitchen's experience. You know, when we have that in mind, you're getting a little bit more with that experience too. You're going to have to be able to demonstrate time management or schedule management skills. I have to be at the soup kitchen at a specific time. I have to be able to be organized in either my cooking tasks or making sure that I'm in the right part of the service line and assisting there. You might have to do more planning. You know, things like ordering or purchasing are volunteer responsibilities that you can support as well. That allows all the supplies to be available for preparation, the cooking, and the service. And over time, all this could give you a chance to explore the various components of an enterprise. 
You know, when we think of a soup kitchen, it's a nonprofit organization or connected to one. And it has all the different elements of really a small business. This is a great place for you to maybe start in one section and then explore another. You know, customer service, purchasing, staffing. You know, it gives you the planning and organizing. And you might not be able to connect all the dots today, but working with members of that employment team in the future, they could assist you in how do we transfer what we've learned to what we want to do? 
So let's move now to “how do we apply?” Once you've decided what you want to do, where do I go to apply? And there's different ways and places to handle that. Here we have some great recommendations that you can search online for. You can search online at Indeed. Maybe you've heard of Indeed if you've been looking out there. You can look on Indeed and search your area for a specific position that's volunteering, or a remote position that's volunteering. One example I found is a traveler's aid volunteer. This was in Tampa, Florida at their airport. And if you didn't know it, there's volunteers at every airport assisting travelers who do not have support with them. Maybe they're alone and they've been isolated in travel because their flight was canceled. You can get training and skills in crisis management and in the travel industry in that job. So something to consider. 
At Volunteers of America, there's one and a half million people a year being supported through volunteer positions. This is in every state, District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. They have services like at-risk prevention, veterans’ assistance, treatment and recovery, and more. For an example I found in Texas you can be a volunteer at a Brightening Birthday celebration. Helping them put those events on. You can provide support to adults with disabilities at a life enrichment center. Or you can lend your support to women in incarceration who are planning their rebuild pathways. So a lot of different options out there. 
And then there's volunteer.gov. This is a discovery center of the United States federal government volunteer potential options. You know, I looked at Arkansas and they have 27 volunteer options open. Some are positions and some are one-time events. But all of the work is needed. From administrative support to engineering projects. So I recommend checking that out. And then last, volunteermatch.org. Definitely check that out. This is where you can put in what you're seeking and they can help match you. So you put your application in and they can find a match in their system. I put in Atlanta and I found two. One of them I thought was really cool. I'm a soccer fan and the Atlanta United soccer team has concession stands that non-profit organizations run. And there was one for entrepreneurs mentoring youth, EMY, non-profit. And they look for volunteers. They'll give you training. And then you actually staff the concession stand during the games. So you can learn, kind of, all the sales skills that go along with that along with customer service. 
And of course, the last one, using your own network. Asking friends and family for a visit to a local community center or their ideas. So a lot of opportunities to apply there. We have in that Web Linkks pod, at number nine, 10, and it looks like 11 and 12, the links for you to check those out. So open those up and explore those if you're interested. 
All right. On the next slide, we talk about the time to apply. You know, we won't spend a lot on this. It's a three-step process. But if you decided that one of these things is right for you, you find that community service organization that matches your passions and your interests. Step two, you contact the organization and figure out how you can apply or you can do that online and submit your application. And then you wait for feedback. So three steps to activating your plan, important steps towards your success in volunteering. And then when we have the opportunity to experience this volunteer or community service, we give you some tips here on really how to make the most out of that experience. You know, and coming in with a plan to be successful and to meet new people. You know, yes, choose a cause you're passionate about. And passions lead us to areas we enjoy and can really commit to. 
Next, when you're volunteering, be sure to be consistent, and reliable, and also open-minded. We're going to learn new things. Sometimes we're going to have to do tasks that are done in a way that maybe we didn't think of at first. So we should be able to take that instruction and learn how to do it. And, you know, how about this next one? Take initiative and network to learn about jobs and careers. So when you meet new people, you know, when appropriate, asking them, “Well, how did you get involved with this as your job? What do you like about it? If I was to consider this as a job, what would you recommend?” And then this last one, as you are learning through community service to reflect on your experience, maybe write some things down. What new skills have I learned? Did I add them to my resume? Or if I have a LinkedIn profile, did I include some key words that were really important? Customer service, inventory management, sales. You know, making sure those key words are in your profiles. And you know, what new professional contacts did I make? And can I stay in touch with them? Really important. And maybe people that you would connect with later on. 
All right. We're at our second success story, and this is Jesus. You know, I've gone through from Hazel to Jesus. We've talked about, kind of, these three big questions: what, how, and where. And with Jesus, we talk about another volunteering success story. And on his road to full-time employment, he volunteered with a group called Telecare. This is a group that works, again, with people with serious mental illness. And as a volunteer, he found out, you know, kind of his contribution in supporting others in their career path. So his role grew. And so he explored this. And as a volunteer, Telecare, if you want to learn more, that's in number 13 in the Web Links pod. He decided that he wanted to explore, kind of, what else is available in his career. So through that experience, he also connected in to the Ticket Program. And he worked with a benefits counselor at an EN called Career Connection. And she helped him explore the different programs like Ticket to Work and other Work Incentives. And through that, he started to understand, kind of, the supports he would have in planning and creating his Individual Work Plan. And with those steps, he created a roadmap and a schedule. And then he applied to the Social Security Administration. And by using some creative federal employment steps and working with the Ticket Program, he turned his volunteer work at Telecare into an application and full-time employment with the United States Social Security Administration. A fantastic success story and another way for you all to consider your potential pathway, volunteering to full-time employment. So we applaud Jesus as a success story. And perhaps you can be one of those as well. So with that, I'm going to ask Ray to come back in and come into our first Q&A session, right? So Ray, if you're talking, I believe you're on mute.

Ray >> You're absolutely right, Derek. I was on mute. And I was doing a great job asking you questions. We do have one that just corresponds with Jesus's story. And the question is, I've never had a job. Can that Ticket Program help me?

Derek >> This is Derek. Thanks, Ray, for providing that question. Yes, you don't have to have had work experience to be involved with Ticket to Work. I mentioned that with Jesus, you know, he started with volunteer work, connected with the Ticket Program, and then applied and got the job with Social Security. I think it's important to know you don't have to have had a job to be with the Ticket Program. And you don't have had -- you know, you don't have to have had a job to get a volunteer or customer service -- a community service position. So both things. You can have no experience and be successful with both.

Ray >> Okay. Thank you, Derek. The next question is, can I use volunteering experience on my resume?

Derek >> This is Derek. Absolutely. And it's one of the reasons why we should think about community service is to, yes, give back and be supportive of our community, and of organizations and people that we want to support. And to help evolve who we are and what we're doing as a person. So yes, it can go onto your resume. If you feel like you have an employment gap, well, certainly if you haven't worked before, then you have an employment gap. And one way to start building experience is through volunteering in community service. If you do well, you also get a referral out of that. So you could have that volunteer experience supervisor become a professional reference. I often feel that people look at volunteer work and community service work as not work. But that's not the case whatsoever. It's all work and it's all experience. And it is certainly acceptable to put it on your resume or a LinkedIn profile. And you can use those coordinators, whether it was unpaid or paid volunteer work for professional references. And Ray, let me just add something. I just said that… paid volunteer work. It's out there. You know, so if you think this is all unpaid work, it's not. It depends on what you're looking for. But if you are looking for those community service positions with pay, they are available too.

Ray >> Okay. Thank you, Derek. And in that line of questioning, if I do have a volunteer spot, how do I add it to my resume and where would I put it?

Derek >> Now, that's a good question. This is Derek again. So like, finding the volunteer spot, you can kind of look at it a couple of different ways. You can add it in a timeline, right? So if you have a resume that's organized by time -- like, let's say you were working and had two jobs in the beginning part of your career. So those are going to be more at the bottom of your timeline. You're going to put your most recent experience up top. You could put those work experience in, you know, reverse chronological order and explain that some were paid, and some were unpaid experiences. If you prefer, you could also have your paid work experiences in one section, and another section as volunteer or community service experience. It might help to talk to a service provider that's an expert in employment about each of those approaches and get their feedback. Saying, well, with your specific, you know, situation, we would recommend combining them into a set single work history. Both paid and unpaid. Or with somebody who's had more paid experience, maybe you would break them into two separate sections. I think the key is if you're proud of what you've done, you have community service, you gain skills, and you could tell your story about how that happened and pull in that professional reference from the community service experience. Don't hide it. Be proud of it and bring it out to that potential next employer. They're looking for people that have passion, that are committed to community. And I think you'll be surprised by some of the outcomes you'll have from those discussions.

Ray >> Thanks a lot, Derek. I thought that last response was great. I think we have to realize that every volunteer experience, every job has dignity. And you should be proud of what you're doing. And I did receive a note from the people who are behind this webinar that we need to move on. So we will take some questions at the next Q&A session. And Derek, I'm turning it back over to you.

Derek >> Hey, thanks, Ray. Appreciate that. Yeah, and you know, be proud of who you are, what you've done. And be proud of those skills and skill sets you're acquiring. I'll just add that in. That asset inventory I mentioned before, we all have strengths and skills. We all learn new ones at different times in life. And when you expand that asset inventory and have new skills and skill sets, it's something that gives you a story about how you're learning and evolving. So be proud of that too and make sure that's part of your story. 
So speaking of story, we're going to switch into the next section of our agenda, and that is “Making the connection, volunteering in Ticket to Work.” And with that, as you would expect, we would explore, well, how do we connect that? Now that you've learned about, you know, what is volunteering and community service, how do you connect your experience to work and to Social Security's Ticket to Work Program? A couple of times I've mentioned the employment team. We'll talk a little bit more specifically about the ways that you could partner with that employment team. But first, it's important that we learn about what the Ticket to Work Program is, if you're not as familiar with that. So how we start with that is covering the two Social Security Disability Benefit Programs. Because these are important for your eligibility to Ticket to Work. 
First, we have on the left, Social Security Disability Insurance, also called SSDI. And with that one, please note the word insurance. That's exactly what it is. It's an insurance program which people have paid into while working. So, you have had to have worked in the past, and they would have removed or withheld taxes, what we call the FICA taxes from your paycheck. That's being used to fund those disability insurance benefits. And each person's amount who's receiving SSDI is going to vary, because it's about -- you know, it depends on how long you've worked, and how much you've earned. And so, that's going in, and each -- there is a maximum to the amount. And it's important that everyone recalls that this is going to be different for each person. In some cases, you're going to need to have, you know, a fairly long work history, maybe up to 10 years, and then you become insured. So this can vary, but with SSDI, please recall that's the insurance program, and you have to have paid into it. 
To contrast that, on the right side, we have Supplemental Security Income, or SSI, and notice that one doesn't say insurance. This is a needs-based program that Social Security is providing to people who have not worked enough to be insured through that SSDI program. Or do not have a work history at all. There’re some people that are unable to work up until a certain point, perhaps. So it's very, very different SSDI compared to this one: SSI. They're going to look to see about resource amounts and income amounts. That's not happening with SSDI, but it is happening with SSI. Social Security administers this SSI program and will pay monthly benefits to people with limited income and resources, who are either blind or have a qualifying disability. A note, SSI, if you've heard, is also available to people who are 65 or older and to children with disabilities or who are blind. They can also get access to SSI. So we have SSI and SSDI, two programs of -- disability programs that Social Security administers. 
So let's proceed with that in mind, because next we're going to say, “well, how do we find out what do we have?” And as Ray and I always say, we'd highly recommend signing up for a my Social Security account. This is where you're going to find out which benefit that you may be receiving, or both, potentially. So you can look to these my Social Security accounts or my SSA accounts to go to their website, and they will ask you for some personal information. And this is a secure, safe space that's being run by Social Security, and you can sign up for an account there. What will happen is, you know, they'll give you your information about your past work history. So if you're eligible for that disability insurance benefit, they'll tell you how much you will receive or are receiving. They'll also tell you how much your family members will receive if you have dependents as a survivor benefit. I look at mine a couple times a year. You log into your my SSA account. You read your Social Security statement. It provides projected disability benefits and those projected survivor benefits. And you also see your eligibility for benefit status. On the SSI side, it clarifies that your benefits are SSI and also how much those benefits are, if you're receiving them. All of that information, both the SSDI status and the SSI status, is important information that you'll want to bring to that employment team. So if you don't have one of those accounts yet, please research that. We recommend it. You can go to ssa.gov/myaccount and start that process today. And there are some links to how to do that in the Web Links pod. 
All right. Next up, once you understand which benefits you have, then we think next about, well, what about choosing work? You know, this is a pretty straightforward question. Why choose work? And the answer is because work works for a lot of people. You know, it sounds straightforward and it really is straightforward. It can help people. It can help people get out of poverty. It can help people give themselves more flexibility and choices in life. And when you have more choice because of your working and earning more than your benefits are, then you're going to have some excess money. And, you know, that could be a great thing to give you the flexibility and to have that excess money. So the act of working itself can also improve self-confidence. You know, when people say, “well, what do you do?” You know, generally in our society, people are talking about work. And so, if you are able to contribute to an employer and to their mission, you can drive your self-confidence, and you can also share your own story. But we also understand that choosing -- earning through work isn't an option for everybody. And that's why we have the Social Security Disability Benefits. So if you want to explore this, but you find out that you're not really able to work, that's okay too. Because we have the Social Security Disability Standard. And if you qualify, that's there.
We also want you to consider choosing work. For those of you that are out there and want to explore this, there's a program that helps you understand how to get those services and that's the Ticket to Work Program. And today, we're going to focus a little bit more on what it is and what you can do with the program. So the program is free and voluntary. Administered by the Social Security Administration, and it offers career development, along with supports and services for people ages 18 through 64 who receive Social Security Disability Benefits and want to work. That's really the only requirement. You want to work. It's free. If you're age 18 through 64 and receiving SSDI, or SSI, or both and you want to work. So if it sounds like you, this is something we would encourage you to explore. 
How do you explore it? There’re a few ways to do so. It connects you with those services and supports that I mentioned. These are those free employment services and they can help you navigate a few different areas. This includes deciding if work is right for you. You know, sometimes it's an easy decision. Other times, it would really help if you talk to that service provider about where you are and, kind of, where you want to be, and if work is going to help you achieve that. So you can make your own choice and make an informed decision. 
How about preparing for work? You know, when we think about preparing for work, potentially, you know, preparing for work through community service could be part of your goals. In this regard, a Ticket to Work employment service provider -- we'll talk about them, but they could help you, kind of, list out how community service would be a steppingstone. Where you could try to learn some new skills, contribute to a community mission, and then take that and then go find the next one, a paid work opportunity. The Employment Networks that we'll talk about can help that process. They'll help you with an Individual Work Plan. They'll help you connect to employers that have openings. That are, you know, willing and successfully placing other beneficiaries of Social Security disability benefits into paid work. And then, at the end, that final service area, the Ticket Program, does well. It's succeeding at work. You know, they're not going to leave you after that experience. But they're going to stay with you and help you understand, you know, maybe communicating with your service -- the service provider will help you with communicating with your supervisor. If you have questions about how to do that. Or maybe you need reasonable accommodations after you start a position, they'll help you with understanding how to explore that as well. So we do have a fact sheet on this if you're interested in that. There's a four-step tutorial as well. Both links are in the Web Links pod, and we encourage you to explore those to learn more. Especially that self-guided tour. There's a lot of tutorial features that you might enjoy there. 
All right. I've been talking about the Ticket Program, and now I'm going to talk about who can help you to achieve your work goals. And when we think about that, we're talking about the specific service providers that can help turn volunteer experiences into paid work experiences and can answer your questions and provide support. So really connecting with those Ticket Program service providers, they'll help you develop those achievable goals in the steps to get you from where you are to that job and maintaining that employment or your career path. So these service providers can really help you identify so many things. And if you feel like this is overwhelming right now, I'll tell you, these providers are a great asset in your employment team. And you should really consider talking to one, if you like some of these ideas but need help in creating your personal roadmap about taking your assets, adding community service in. And then figuring out how to take that towards maybe part-time work, but with an end objective of full-time work. And we have two service providers on that employment team that we're going to cover today. And we'll go into each of these in a little bit more detail. But we have first those Employment Networks or what we call ENs. And then we have the State Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies or VRs. And they're important to explore both. 
So let's start first with the Employment Networks. If you haven't heard of these service providers, they are private or public organizations that have a signed agreement with the Social Security Administration to provide employment support services at no charge to people who are eligible for the Ticket Program. And that's those folks that want to work, right? If you want to work and you're in the age range of 18 through 64, and you're receiving SSDI and/or SSI, well, then these are free employment team members. Some of these ENs that are across the country or provide national services through remote support could be found through Workforce ENs. These are American Job Centers, part of the American workforce system. So you might hear us say an EN, or you might hear us say a Workforce EN. Well, they're all providing employment support services. And as you'll find out, you can choose the employment service provider that's right for you. 
With that in mind, let's now cover how working with an EN can specifically help you. I've talked about this in, kind of, general areas. But I'll give you some specifics around these services and supports designed to help you. The first one we have is identifying your work goals. In this, an EN will help you create an Individualized Work Plan that includes your specific work goals. And that could include steps through volunteering. Next, they can help you write and review your resume. Remember when we talked about adding your skills and skill sets that you're gaining into your resume, or perhaps the community service work itself? Well, that EN can help you update that resume if it's been a while. And you'll have more confidence in presenting yourself through that resume, too. Of course, they can also help you identify some possible volunteer opportunities. If you're looking to gain skill sets or explore work in an area you're passionate about through community service, you can have that conversation with them and they can build that into your plan and help you apply. 
The next one, preparing for interviews, is so important. Because we all get nervous before meeting new people in interviews. You could use some practice with these folks at the EN to talk about, kind of, well, this is how I would answer some key questions. You could role play, and then they could help you develop a list of questions that you might ask of the employer that you're applying to. And the last two, they're great assisting in how to ask for reasonable accommodations. If you choose to disclose during an application or interview experience, they'll give you some techniques of how to do so and talk about benefits counseling as you start work. Some ENs have benefits counselors, others could be found through other partners. But the impact of work on your benefits could be explored as you begin work. So a lot of opportunity there through those ENs to consider for you in helping you through the EN services and supports. 
Next, we have the state VR agencies. They can provide a wide variety of service to help people with disabilities return to work. They can also help you in considering entering new lines of work and entering the workforce for the very first time. So like that first question that we had and Ray said, somebody asked about, “you know, I've never worked. Can the Ticket Program help me?” The answer is yes, and that can be done with the state VR agency as well. You can also get that benefits counseling. So you can -- you know, when you think of VR, VR services begin at the age of 14 and they really go on through life. So you could explore vocational rehabilitation. You know, really more detailed vocational rehabilitation services, or a real robust training and education program. They can also help with those employment services and supports. So a lot of opportunities there. 
Some states do have separate VR agencies. So if you're in one of those states and you're blind, you might have a blind agency for those that are blind and visually impaired, versus all other disabilities being through a different VR agency. So just to, you know, explore your state. But state VR services can include, you know, working with individuals with more significant disabilities and more significant services. And it could include that intensive training, education, and rehabilitation. But in that next one, that job assistance services and counseling about how earnings from work may affect social security disability benefits is really critical. We encourage you to explore VR agencies and their services and supports as you explore your pathway to work. We know so many of you do successful return to work and going to work for the first-time services. It's great. It's a great option as your employment team member. 
Now, once you connect with the service providers, it's time to figure out really how to turn that volunteer experience into a job. Been mentioning this throughout and trying to connect some dots, but in this one, we'll try to tie it all together. Here, we look at these four areas of how your service provider can help put you on this path and support you on your own path. So we recommend writing down the tasks you have accomplished. So sometimes this is easier. You know, if you're at the soup kitchen and you're doing a service of food and you're in a customer service capacity. Then you can write a list of, you know, these are all the steps that I took. And then you can put next to that all of the skills that you may have learned. I learned how to greet people. I learned how to assist people from the service line to a table. You could build that up. If you worked in the soup kitchen as a cook and you learned prep skills, or if you learned ordering of supplies skills, you could put those down. And importantly, the impact you had. Each Tuesday, I worked at the soup kitchen in a community service role, and I greeted over 250 individuals as they arrived. And I ensured as they exited, they had their to-go information around other community benefit programs. And we gave them their, you know, to-go pack. So that would be the impact that you had, the number of people you contacted, and sure, how you felt and they felt, too. And that's what you gained from the experience as a whole. When you think back to the passion you had and the impact you had, how do you tell that story? That volunteering allowed me to contribute to the mission, and this is what I gained from that. So being able to write these down and take those to your service provider and talk to them about it. And they can help you, kind of, package your resume, package your skills, and tell you how to approach an employer about what you've learned, and what you're ready to do in your next position. 
So volunteering and Ticket to Work, the service providers are key. If you're interested in finding a service provider, of course, we have options of for you to connect. First, we recommend, there's no wrong way to connect. So here we're going to give you two options, but we recommend doing the one that feels right. And if you're not sure, then we recommend calling the Ticket to Work Help Line. We have beneficiary support specialists there answering the telephone and ready to talk to you Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time. For calls to their telephone line, that's 1-866-968-7842. Or if you are a TTY user, and this is a telephone line that's available for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, please call 1-866-833-2967 for that TTY line. 
Now, if you'd prefer to do some internet searches, we also have our Find Help page. There you can go to the Choose Work website and explore the Find Help tool. And that is at item number 16 in the Web Links pod. You can search by your ZIP code if you want somebody in your backyard to go visit in person, an Employment Network, or a Workforce EN. Or one of those VR agencies. We also have some protection and advocacy organizations. If you have some legal questions, you can search by services, by disability type, by your preferred language for the service provider, and, of course, that provider type that I just mentioned. So the Find Help page, or call the Ticket to Work Help Line. The important thing is if you have the interest to explore a service provider, to choose one of these and reach out to learn more and really find out about the great services and supports that the one you choose can offer you. 
Well, I mentioned that we had a third story, and here it is. We're going to wrap up this section with Robert. And we're going to put it all together through Robert's story. I really like this one, too. It's hard. I like them all because each one of their successes is -- connects in with a different part of our audience. With Robert, he's a veteran. He spent seven years serving in the United States Army, and he had a surgery back in 2000. Unfortunately, through that surgery, he sustained a spinal cord injury. So this removed his full mobility and, you know, went through a bit of a recovery. And then when he was ready, he connected with an Employment Network. And one that we work with is the Paralyzed Veterans of America, or PVA. Maybe you've heard of them. So you know, Robert, as a veteran, really felt like this was the right service provider of choice for him, and they developed his Individual Work Plan. That's that IWP. And with that, he knew he needed to go to school because what he had planned to do with one career path in the army, well, that wasn't really an option again. So he made progress in school. In the end, helped him find a volunteer program at a hospital in Chicago, Hines Veterans Hospital. And here he wanted to give back to fellow veterans because some folks had helped him in this capacity. So as a peer to other veterans, he became a peer counselor. And so he wanted to help those veterans that were not really sure of their path. How to find their path and get the services they needed for a smoother transition to civilian life. And he had done that, so could they. So he took time to learn these service members' stories and develop the trust and piece together a profile of their needs and eligibility. And really giving them, kind of, a role model's perspective of a service member in transition to becoming a veteran. So Robert found that that was a valuable stepping stone for sure. 
And in that regard, the volunteer work became a path for his career counselor helping him with his resume and sending it to that National Paralyzed Veterans of America office. And he applied for a National Service Officer position. And in that capacity, he would advocate for other veterans like he was doing in that peer counselor role, but with a large umbrella. So obviously, many veterans qualify for multiple benefits. But he was now really well-positioned to help them navigate both the veterans' benefits and the disability benefits, those SSDI benefits that we talked about and SSI in some cases. Because his knowledge of both of them came from personal experience. And I never met Robert, but I've heard that this is a really personable guy. And he really dug into this in his interview, and they saw it, and they hired him. And he's had a successful employment experience, and Robert sums it up best. "I never imagined I would get a job like the one I've had as a National Service Officer. It's rewarding to advocate for someone else. So many vets don't get the help they need because they don't know where to begin and how to go about the process. Ticket to Work helped me to go to work where my heart is." And I love that because when we think about passion and connecting volunteer work to your passions, Robert had an unexpected situation in life. But he found new passion that led to community service, that led to an application, working with a service provider. And it took him to a position as a National Service Officer that impacts so many others. So talk about a rewarding outcome. We congratulate Robert on that outcome and all the people that he's been able to impact since. 
So with that, I'm going to pause again. We're at our second break for Q&A, and bring Ray back up. I think we have a good amount of time, right, to explore more questions that are coming in. So I'm going to circle in with Jayme for a moment here. Jayme, if you can hear me, can you let me know if we have Ray or if we've lost Ray?

Ray >> No, we've got him.

Jayme >> Looks like you're back.

Derek >> Okay, thank you. Ray, we're at the second Q&A.

Ray >> Yeah, you lost me for a bit, but I'm back. All right. So the first question we have, Derek, is I'm working with a VR right now. Can I work with an EN too?

Derek >> This is Derek. Yes is the answer, but there's a couple conditions to that, yes. So first off, great that you're working with the VR agency. As I covered, there's some really good training and education offering for intensive supports, and many people do that. What happens is you can work with an Employment Network, but not at the same time as when you're getting services and supports from a VR agency. So what we look for is for you to complete the services that you're getting from the VR agency. But then you can get other services, like following that, through an Employment Network. Sometimes it's called Partnership Plus; where a state might have a formal arrangement, where they'll close your case with the state VR agency. And then your ticket would go to an Employment Network, and you could get those follow-on services. Maybe you're working, but you can get some ongoing job supports to help you retain that position and really succeed at work with those ongoing job supports. So the answer is, yes, you just can't do it at the same time. So think about that, and if you're interested in it, you know, talk to your VR agency about it. And bring it up that says, “hey, as I transition to work, I'm thinking about wanting ongoing support. Could you tell me how to do that with an Employment Network?” And they'll help set you up.

Ray >> Okay. Thank you, Derek. Partnership Plus is a wonderful thing. So you got two votes for Partnership Plus. The second question we have is, what if I start my own volunteering opportunity? Can that still go on my resume?

Derek >> This is Derek. Absolutely. Yeah. So I appreciate, kind of, mixing up the volunteering and the ticket questions together here with that one. So if there's a few of you out there that are wondering about, you know, like if I start my own volunteer job, you know, is that an okay thing to do? And I think, you know, when we connect back to entrepreneurship and we connect back to self-employment as really a customized, integrated employment solution, there's no better thing to have on your resume and in your work past than starting your own volunteering opportunity. You could identify how you created a plan to design this. Maybe it was an ongoing volunteer community service mission, or if it was a one-time event. But in doing that, you learned how to plan. You implemented a plan. You had their objectives. You could talk about the outcomes from that event. And in effect, you could discuss your entrepreneurial skills that way. So I absolutely think it's a great thing to do. And if you can measure your results, then you can talk to a potential employer about those results. You know, I did this, and the event or the group that we impacted felt this way about it. And that would just be an awesome thing to have on one's resume for sure. So you know -- and if you're not sure about how to do that, and you had a service provider working with you, they could help. You know, you could tell them what you started as a volunteer, what you did, and your draft of your resume. And they could give you feedback on that to help strengthen it if it's not coming across as strong as you explain your story in person.

Ray >> Okay, Derek. We have somebody who lives out in the country. Do service providers offer virtual services?

Derek >> This is Derek. Yes, some service providers do. So if you're interested in remote or virtual services, could be a couple reasons here, right? One is you live in a remote area, and accessing someone in, kind of, a remote or mountainous area is a challenging thing to do. Then you would want to, you know, call the Ticket to Work Help Line, or go to the Find Help page that I mentioned earlier, and put in, seeking remote or virtual services. Now, you could also say, I want one that's remote to start, but I'd like to be able to go in at some point, and I live, you know, close enough to do both. So then you could explore ones that offer both remote and in-person services if you choose to do both. And then there's some of you I know that are like, I don't want to do remote. I like meeting in person. So use the filters and create an EN list. You can create that with calling through the Ticket to Work Help Line. And that beneficiary support specialist would listen to your preferences. You know, I want virtual services only, and my disability type is -- you know, you tell them, you know, your characteristics and what kind of services are you looking for. Then they would produce that list and send it to you. Or you could do your own by going to the Find Help page. And again, if you're -- you want to go to the Choose Work site and go to Choose Work -- you know, at item number 16 is the Find Help link in the Web Links pod and plug some things in there. And you'll be surprised at the number of service providers that are, you know, going to meet your parameters, including virtual services.

Ray >> Okay. Thank you, Derek. Have you ever used volunteering to get a paid position outside of the organization you volunteered with? And how did you use that experience to your advantage?

Derek >> This is Derek. That's a very good question. And, you know, there's a couple ways I can answer that. I'm going to take it as the person asking me is asking me, “have you, Derek, ever used volunteering to get a paid position outside of the organization you volunteered with?” The answer is, yes, and I've done it a couple different ways. And then, you know, I'll also come back with kind of a more generic answer. So one of the things that I wanted to do was to give back to the community. I've worked now for 29 years in disability inclusion and employment services, and I explored an area of this work that wasn't necessarily getting a lot of attention. And 10, 11 years ago, I met with a group of people that talk about how do we design more inclusive mentoring experiences for young adults with disabilities in the United States? And I volunteered in this capacity, and we created something called the National Disability Mentoring Coalition. And I did that for a number of years until we transitioned that group to a nonprofit called Partners for Youth with Disabilities that runs that now. And now I'm a board advisor, but I'm less active. Well, everything I learned in that around, kind of, at-risk youth programming, disability mentoring, and inclusive mentoring policy positioned me to be somewhat of a national expert on it. And at times, I get hired to do work for other organizations. Not the ones that I volunteered with for those 10 years, and still do as a board member. So it was identifying something I was passionate about.
I loved mentoring as a young adult. Mentors through programs like Junior Achievement really impacted me. And I noticed today that those same programs still don't really welcome young adults with disabilities, all these years after the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act. So I wanted to get more involved to make change. I think I did so through volunteering. And it helped me get some paid work through other organizations that have hired me to assist them with inclusive mentoring. So that's a personal thing that I did. You know, was that to my advantage? Maybe. You know, some paid work is certainly helpful. I didn't start out that way. I started out because I wanted to give back to the community, and I thought I could make an impact. Where it led me was to places that I could never imagine. But, you know, it's also been an 11, 12-year journey of volunteering and learning. So you know, we also know that that happened with Robert, our United States Army veteran. You know, he volunteered with a hospital in Chicago, and that experience led him to a paid work opportunity with Paralyzed Veterans of America. And it wasn't the same organization, but it led him into the role of a peer counselor. And that led him to a whole new skill set with a high demand. And PVA knew that, and they hired him. Was that to Robert's advantage? Sure. Was he delivering great value to the PVA and to all the veterans that he can help? Absolutely. So it's a win-win at the highest level. And you know, with that, I think Robert's story probably is more impressive than mine. But I've provided a couple answers there.

Ray >> Thank you, Derek, for that. We have someone who's asking whether it's okay to talk to -- the place that you're volunteering, talk to the supervisor at the place where you're volunteering, about job openings that may occur while you're volunteering?

Derek >> This is Derek again. These are good questions, Ray. Yes, it is okay. And I think, you know, sometimes we have to use our own, kind of, internal judgment. Like, is this person the type of person that's okay with me approaching them? Or, you know, should I -- maybe I need to talk to my supervisor first in that position before I talk to that individual. If you're not sure how to navigate and approach the person, this is where that service provider -- working with your EN or your VR agency could really help. You could say, “look, I've been volunteering, but now I want to approach them about an opening they have. I've been there for a good amount of time. I've been showing up on time. I know my skill is needed. And I think that although it's going to be, kind of, a position advancement for me, I think they know I can do this.” And then the service provider will give you some tips about how to approach them. And you can maybe even role play that discussion. So you know, keep that in mind. Use your employment service providers when it can be helpful. And, you know, if they really want you, they might not be able to always hire you, but sometimes it can work, right? So we provide the success stories. 
And so, you met today, Hazel, Jesus, and Robert, who all used volunteering to successfully step towards full-time employment. But sometimes that person might say, “you know, no, that position is really designed for somebody who has more experience.” Or it's not the right match. So there you could hear that as no. But I would recommend take the no and turn it into, okay, it wasn't this opportunity, but N-O stands for next opportunity. And ask them, well, if that's not the right match for me, what do you recommend? I'm really motivated. I love the mission here. Is there some other position that might be opening? Or do you have a partner organization that you could introduce me to, so I could explore full-time employment there? So a couple different tactics there. But maybe not going in with just one question, but a couple questions can help.

Ray >> Really good suggestions, Derek. Thank you. Last question that we're going to have time for is, I've already started working. Can that Ticket Program still help me?

Derek >> This is Derek again. Yes, the Ticket Program can definitely help you if you're eligible, right? Going back to the criteria. You're receiving disability benefit, SSDI and or SSI. You're in the right age range, 18 through 64. And well, in this case, you want to work, you are working. I think the first thing I'd encourage you to do is, you know, consider if you're on a benefit that you might -- in your earning money, are you reporting that? Meaning what you're earning. That's very important. So to have a service provider help you navigate that process, we really recommend. 
So being involved with the Ticket Program, either through an EN or a VR, can help you. And yes, it's not about only just finding the job, but it's retaining the job. And the services and supports available through Employment Networks can help you retain that position. So that question, it sounds like, you know, maybe I'm beyond volunteer work. I'm already started. If you are in that position and you have the service provider, Ticket Program comes in afterwards. You could talk about, how do you get your next job? And that your Individual Work Plan might say, well, this was my job. I'm starting work, but in one year I don't want to be in this position. What can I do to get to the next position? Talk to that EN about it. And perhaps that volunteer position will help you gain some other skill sets to position you for success in that next job too. So yes, you started working. Tap in the Ticket Program, find an EN. You know, think about reporting those earnings, and ask that service provider for how they can help you with retention too.

Ray >> Okay, Derek, thanks for all of that information and for answers to a bunch of questions. And I'll look forward to working with you next month. Right now we're going to move along. How to get started. Social Security's Ticket to Work Program has resources ready to help you get started. You can call the Ticket to Work Help Line at 1-866-968-7842, or if you're using a TTY, 1-866-833-2967. If you have access to a computer and the internet, visit the website at choose -- I'm sorry, choosework.ssa.gov. And you can use the Find Help tool to help find some of these Employment Networks, benefits planners, VR agencies who will be part of your employment team at choosework.ssa.gov/findhelp. 
How to connect. You visit the Choose Work contact page. That's in your Web Links pod. You have to find us on social media and subscribe to the blog and the email updates that are provided at no charge. Opt in to receive text messages by texting TICKET -- capital T, capital I, capital C, capital K, capital E, capital T -- to 1-571-489-5292. Standard messaging rates may apply, and you can opt out at any time. Or email us at support@choosework.ssa.gov. Our next webinar is going to be held on May 22nd, 2024, from 3:00 p.m. to 4.30 p.m. Eastern Time. We're going to be looking at Expanding Your Job Search with the Ticket to Work.” You can register online, or call at 1-866-968-7842, or 1-866-833-2967 for TTY users. And tell us what you think. We always want to hear whether or not you think the information is -- that we're providing with you is helpful, or what you'd like to hear about. Please remember to take our survey. A link is going to pop up after the webinar, or visit WISE Webinar Survey. Okay. And that's going to do it for today, folks. Please join us again in May, should you choose. I want to thank Derek again, thank Jayme, and all of the folks behind the scenes for today's webinar. And please, have a great afternoon. Thank you.