Group Supported Employment

ECHO specializes in providing valued, meaningful community-based employment designed to maximize each individual’s opportunities in accordance with their interests. The individuals work in small groups with on-site support at businesses in the local community.

Benefits Include

Opportunities to try a variety of different types of work in the community
Daily training and support at the worksite by qualified staff
Eligible for paid personal leave and holidays
Transportation services from home to work for most participants in Loudoun and Fairfax Counties
Starting pay for all positions is at least minimum wage
Help in achieving individual goals
Advocacy support

For more information please email intake@echoworks.org or call (703) 779-2100

INSIDE LOOK

Every day in ECHO’s Group Supported Employment (GSE) program offers participants the chance to showcase their skills, contribute to meaningful work, and grow professionally. From preparing materials and organizing spaces to maintaining grounds and assisting with various tasks, participants thrive in diverse work environments. Reliable transportation provided by ECHO ensures participants arrive safely and on time to their worksites, ready to take on the day. Each day is structured with support from dedicated staff who provide encouragement and ensure everyone has the tools they need to succeed. Whether working in retail settings, supporting administrative tasks, or engaging in agricultural projects, our participants build skills, gain confidence, and form lasting friendships.Learn more about transportation HERE.

Current Jobs

The US DOT: Eastern Federal Lands Highway Division

As an ECHO participant working at The US DOT, responsibilities include: sort and deliver mail, provide front desk service, perform basic printer maintenance, and other additional tasks contributing to a seamless office environment.

During the completion of these tasks, an ECHO site supervisor will be onsite to assist and keep the focus on success and empowerment for participants.

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

ECHO has been proudly partnered with the Federal Aviation Administration in Leesburg, Va for over 40 years - our longest -running contract. Our ECHO crew maintains the grounds for the site, ensuring the campus stays pristine and welcoming seasonally. Responsibilities include: mowing, weeding, planting, and landscaping.

In this position, we highlight the power of inclusive employment and pride within our meaningful work.

Community Foundation

ECHO has been proudly partnered with the Community Foundation since 2021. Our crew's responsibilities include: mowing, weeding, and other essential landscaping tasks to maintain a welcoming environment for this organization. Together, we create a community where everyone can thrive.

Stryker Spine

Working with Stryker, a global leader in medical technologies, we help to improve patient and healthcare outcomes. Responsibilities of our participants include: binding and wrapping information packets, assembling hardware kits, and preparing boxes for distribution. By collaborating in this partnership, our team actively supports the essential advancements in MedSurg, Neurotechnology, Orthopaedics, and Spine Care, while also developing valuable professional skills.

Good Shepherd of Northern Virginia

Good Shepherd of Northern Virginia is an organization dedicated to empowering homeless women and their families. ECHO crews support two of their thrift store locations, where our participants tag, sort, and hang clothing to prepare items for the shop floor. Each task completed by our team contributes to their mission, helping to fund programs and support services for those in need.

View of Heaven Farm

View of Heaven Farm is an organization that provides year-round employment for individuals in the neurodiverse and physically disabled community. View of Heaven provides two worksites for our ECHO participants: an agricultural and a bakery site. On the farm, our participants contribute to the growth of fresh produce, helping bring food from seed to harvest. Meanwhile, our bakery team transforms these farm-fresh ingredients into delicious baked goods, supporting local food production and empowering participants with valuable skills. Together, we're cultivating both crops and opportunities for a brighter future.

ECHO’s partnership with Inova Loudoun Hospital showcases the adaptability and commitment of our participants. Initially centered around mailroom tasks, this collaboration has grown to address critical hospital needs in the wake of COVID-19.

Responsibilities include: Stocking essential supplies such as hand sanitizers, paper towels, and toilet paper throughout the hospital, and ensuring that critical areas remain fully supplied to support staff and patients.

By maintaining these vital operations, our team plays an important role in fostering a healthier and more efficient community while supporting the workflow of Inova Loudoun Hospital.

INOVA

Janelia Research Campus

ECHO is honored to partner with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute at Janelia Research Campus, where our participants actively support groundbreaking scientific research across three unique worksites. Responsibilities include: Cleaning and maintaining critical research equipment, preparing laboratories to ensure smooth experimental processes, and preserving the beauty and functionality of the campus environment.

By contributing to these essential tasks, our participants play an integral role in advancing scientific discovery, empowering the talented researchers at Janelia to uncover biology’s most profound mysteries, one experiment at a time.

SimplyBe Coffee

ECHO is proud to collaborate with SimplyBe Coffee, an enterprise of Tree of Life Ministries that creates meaningful employment and internship opportunities for individuals with special needs. Responsibilities include: Preparing coffee and smoothies with care and precision, selling baked goods and providing excellent customer service at the register, and maintaining a clean, welcoming café environment for all patrons.

Our participants are a vital part of the SimplyBe Coffee team, helping brew not just exceptional coffee but also a brighter and more inclusive future for everyone.

ECHO Barkery

ECHO Barkery was started in the heart of the Covid-19 pandemic to offer employment opportunities for the people that we support. Today, we are making the best all-natural dog biscuits on the market. We’ve created a nurturing, supportive environment where compassion meets craftsmanship. The results of this are exceptional products for our favorite pets and a team of happily employed ECHO participants. To make a purchase or to learn more about ECHO Barkery, please visit https://echobarkery.org/

Blue Elegance

Blue Elegance is Empowering Individuals for Life with the creative opportunities and artisanal products that this program has to offer. ECHO participants spend their day delicately crafting and personalizing a wide range of products, to include soaps, candles, custom tumblers, jewelry, dog collars, and more! To see this program in action, come visit the retail store, which is located within ECHO’s headquarters in Leesburg. You can also browse current product lines and make purchases from the Blue Elegance website: https://blueelegance.org/

Inclusive Solutions

Inclusive Solutions by ECHO partners with local businesses to provide meaningful employment opportunities for adults with disabilities while helping businesses complete essential tasks. This team can be hired to complete administrative tasks such as box folding, sorting, light assembly, kitting, packaging, and many other necessary jobs. Leveraging Inclusive Solutions enables businesses to better focus on their core competencies while promoting an inclusive work environment.