| |
|
Background Information
- The California Department of Education completed a two-year
study in 1981 that provided substantive information concerning
the status of vocational programs for students with disabilities.
Results of the study indicated that these students were not
being adequately prepared for the labor market.
- WorkAbility I was initiated in November 1981 as a pilot project
to test the concept of work experience for youth with disabilities.
- WorkAbility I continues to successfully conduct interagency
coordination of services, which began with a September 1982
Employment Development Department, State Department of Rehabilitation
and California Department of Education (CDE) non-financial interagency
agreement.
- Through a designation as one of the ten best transition programs
of its type in the United States, WorkAbility I has received
national recognition of its success in matching young adults
who have disabilities with employers who need workers.
California Education Code
- Section 56470 -
The legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a) That an essential component of transition services developed and supported by the CDE is project WorkAbility.
(b) that the WorkAbility program provides instruction and experiences that reinforce core curriculum concepts and skills leading to gainful employment. (c)That since project WorkAbility was established by the CDE in 1981, substantial numbers of individuals with exceptional needs have obtained full or part-time employment.
- Section 56471 -
(d) WorkAbility project applications shall include, but are not limited to, the following elements: (1) recruitment, (2) assessment, (3) counseling, (4) pre-employment skills training (5) vocational training, (6) students wages for try-out employment, (7) placement in unsubsidized employment, (8) other assistance with transition to a quality adult life and (9) utilization of an interdisciplinary advisory committee to enhance project goals.
Mission of WorkAbility I (WAI)
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.
Array of Services
The Array of Services is a full continuum consistent with the Education Code. These components comprise an effective transition system for middle school and high school students. A WAI student (served) 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. Of these, at least one must be directly provided by WAI or documentation must exist of WAI’s role in the indirect provision of the service
- 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.
In addition to these mandated services
- Served high school/middle school students may receive
- Unpaid opportunities
- Job Shadowing
- Industry Tours
- Workshops
- Guest speakers
- Career awareness and guidance activities
- Community/volunteer projects
- Placed high school students receive
- Paid opportunities - student receiving a paycheck through subsidized or unsubsidized wages.
- Subsidized— WorkAbility I Grant Funding, Workforce Investment Act, Department of Rehabilitation, etc.
- Unsubsidized—paid by employee
WAI Program Information
- The WAI program provides comprehensive pre-employment
skills training, employment placement 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.
- 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.
Why WAI 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 post secondary education/training,
employers to adult service provider agencies increases the likelihood
for continued social service agency support and student success
as contributing adults in a community.
Current WAI Site Information
- 300 local education agency WAI program sites are funded statewide.
- All 58 California counties are served by a WAI program.
Coordination with Businesses and Corporations Statewide
- Annually over 10,000 employers statewide have found WAI students to be well prepared for entry-level employment, reliable
employees and assets to their businesses. Consequently, employers
and labor unions have built strong, long-term partnerships with
local WAI staff.
Summary Information
- For persons with disabilities, assumptions of low work potential
have been discounted as soon as an equal opportunity, proper
training and information about appropriate accommodations becomes
available to them.
- For employers, WAI provides workers who are job-ready
and anxious to learn.
- For society, employment for persons with disabilities through
the WAI program allows them the opportunity to contribute
to society by producing a product or providing a service, as
well as by paying taxes instead of receiving long-term financial
public assistance.
- California Minimum Wage effective January 1, 2007 (Outside Source; PDF)
Laws and Regulations
Resources, Information, and Training Opportunities
Funding
|
