Putting Skills to Work: Simulated Work Experiences for Youth with Disabilities
The Sonoran Center for Excellence in Disabilities works with transition-aged youth with disabilities (ages 14-22) in underserved and rural populations. In our session at the IDEA Conference in Phoenix, Arizona on September 6, youth participants moved through rotations, engaged with community employers, and put their skills to work through simulated work experiences.
The experiences—packaging products, folding pizza boxes, measuring out medical supplies, creating flyers, and more—not only showcased the skills that the youth participants hold, but allowed them to be introduced to job aids that could assist them while on the job in future employment opportunities.
During the workshop, the Sonoran Center also shared success stories from previous students who underwent similar pre-employment job experiences through our work-based learning programs. Work experiences are shown to improve outcomes for students with disabilities, especially when they are community-based work experiences. However, it can be difficult to come up with successful strategies to support students with more significant needs in a community-based work experience. We discussed the ways that our program has been successful in developing community partnerships and how youths are able to help to shift expectations toward competitive, integrated employment.
Youth practicing following directions on how to fold pizza boxes for a local business.
Participants had the opportunity to practice counting and handling money.
Folding and packing bandanas was another way youth practiced work skills.
The Sonoran Center employment team was all-hands-on-deck to make the event a success.
Funding is made possible in part by the Arizona Department of Economic Security - Vocational Rehabilitation Services and partnering schools and businesses. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the official policies of these organizations and entities.