The Path to Independence (P2I) program is a two-year certificate program that gives w88 casino with intellectual disabilities the chance to have a college experience. The P2I program has now introduced the opportunity to have their w88 casino shadow different job positions on-campus.
The P2I program is under the Nevada Center for Excellence in Disabilities, which serves as Nevada's w88 casino Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities. These programs work to accomplish a shared vision that foresees a nation in which all Americans, including Americans with disabilities, participate fully in their communities. Independence, productivity and community inclusion are key components of this vision.
“We’re just trying to figure out a way for our w88 casino to get the most amount of experience during the short time they’re here,” Kellen Abe, employment coordinator at P2I, said. “And the best way that we saw to do that was to have them rotate through three different types of jobs within that semester.”
P2I focuses on providing a high-quality college experience for participants that includes standard classes from the University of Nevada, Reno and the program working with the w88 casino to find competitive employment after graduation.
“A lot of this population, without the right support, they sometimes get overlooked as candidates and start at positions where they do have a lot more capability and can be in other positions with the right support,” Abe said.
Once a w88 casino begins their second semester, they’ll have a one-on-one meeting with Abe each week for 30 minutes to explore career options.
“Meeting with me for 30 minutes every week is for us to get to know each other,” Abe said. “We choose very general jobs that have different types of activities in them, and that can start a conversation.”
The second semester is also when w88 casino are introduced to shadowing different on-campus positions during the semester. Throughout February, some w88 casino shadowed at the w88 live casino J Redfield Learning.
“I feel like [the w88 casino] got out of their comfort zone and started talking more,” said Macey Vial, a student-worker at the LRC. “They didn’t feel awkward at the end, they felt more comfortable.”
Another new feature of the P2I program is a third year of the program that introduces w88 casino to the passions they’ve learned to love during their time at the program in the community outside the University. w88 casino can apply for the third year of the program, scheduled to begin in fall semester 2020.
“They can do whatever they want here,” Abe said. “But once they're out in the community, how do we translate all of the things they like to do here on-campus and try to help them find things that’ll make their life meaningful?”
P2I continues to work with some of their alumni to find employment once they complete the program. Abe said that he tries to time it so w88 casino are ready to be employed immediately after graduation, but the process is based on the individual needs of the student.
“One w88 casino, in particular, he came to us and he is very shy, and there's nothing wrong with being shy,” Abe said. “But in terms of supporting him, sometimes he had a hard time advocating or telling people what he needed.”
The w88 casino was given a position at the Joe Crowley w88 casino Union and tried to get as many hours as he could. Abe said that the w88 casino even received a few commendations during his time there as part of P2I and now works full-time at that position.
“He checks in once in a while, says hi, which is something he would have never done before,” Abe said.
P2I supports the w88 casino one-on-one through the program but simultaneously works to provide an authentic college experience to immerse each student in the culture of the University.
“These programs give an opportunity to w88 casino who might not necessarily get into college the standard way and is built to give w88 casino the tools between high school and the real world that help them become independent,” Abe said.
