AdvoCats
Advancing Disability Inclusion Through Experiential Learning​
The AdvoCats program gives students the opportunity to inspire change by empowering Arizona’s communities to embrace diversity and inclusivity in our workplaces.​ Through experiential learning, students build skills to provide meaningful support and feedback to youth with disabilities as they gain workplace skills needed to gain competitive integrated employment. ​
Starting Spring - Summer 2025
Students will receive:
- Direct training on…
- Neurodiversity basics
- Inclusive practices in employment
- Supports for young adults with disabilities
- Experiential learning
- Shadowing job coaches and students with disabilities during work-based learning in Spring 2025 semester
- Paid summer work as a job coach through the Sonoran Center’s Summer Work Program
- 6 - 8 weeks
- Minimum 20 hours per week, maximum 35 hours per week
- Locations throughout Arizona
Program Timeline
Spring 2025
- Two training sessions
- Can attend live Zoom or review recorded session
- Online Training: “Engaging People with Disabilities & Their Families: Strategies for Communication and Support”
- Employment First training
- 4-6 hours of experiential learning in the community with job coaches and students with disabilities
- At least 4 sites in the community, could include: Zoo, Walgreens, Ace Hardware, Sonoran Center, Hotel, Little Bird, Once Upon a Child
Summer Work Program
- 6-8 weeks, minimum 20 hours per week, maximum 35 hours per week
- Paid summer work, $19.96 per hour
- Multiple sites supporting 2-3 student workers per site
- Regions all over Arizona-Pima, Pinal, Santa Cruz, Maricopa, Navajo Nation-Apache County, Cochise, etc.
AdvoCats Information Session
Learn more about this new training program and how you can join our efforts!
Application deadline February 14, 2025*
Contact
To learn more, please contact Kelsey Montano at kmontano1@arizona.edu.
Funding was 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.