Work Experience Programs

The Mission of WorkAbility1

          The mission of WAI is to promote the involvement of key stakeholders including students, families, educators, employers and other agencies in planning and implementing an array of services that will culminate in successful student transition to employment, lifelong learning and quality of life.

The WorkAbility1 Program

• The WAI program provides comprehensive pre-employment skills training, job development and follow-up for high school students in special education who are making the transition from school to work, independent living and post secondary education or training.
• The WAI program offers special education students the opportunity to complete their secondary education while also obtaining marketable job skills.
• Benefits students, employers, and the community at large.
• The WAI program seeks employers in the business community who will give students with special needs a chance to prove themselves.
• The WAI program is funded and administered by the CDE.

The Services of WorkAbility1

          A WorkAbility1 student must be provided curriculum integration of work readiness skills, career/vocational assessment, and a minimum of one Connecting Activity and one Work-Based Learning Service.  These components comprise an effective transition system for high school students.

• School-Based Component: Elements that are commonly part of the school curriculum and/or educational delivery system.
• Connecting Activities: Programs and services that help link school and work based learning opportunities.
• Work-Based Learning: Work site learning experiences or strategies to connect the classroom to work.

Why WorkAbility1 works

• Program services are appropriate to individual student needs, abilities and interests.
• Local program sites successfully coordinate state and local service providers to offer comprehensive services tailored to local economic, social and geographic needs and abilities.
• WAI provides secondary students with an understanding of job seeking and job keeping skills. The employability of students improves through occupational class training and on-the-job subsidized or unsubsidized work experience.
• Two year follow-along support services provided by local program staff greatly increase the potential for student employment success.
• Referral by WAI staff to post secondary education/training, employment and/or adult service provider agencies increases the likelihood for continued social service agency support and student success as contributing adults in a community.