Getting Your Future in Focus https://grants.dudleytdoughertyfoundation.org/proposals-2020/getting-your-future-in-focus https://grants.dudleytdoughertyfoundation.org/@@site-logo/sitelogo-75x75.png

Getting Your Future in Focus

Additional Information
Used for	Funding will be used for the following purposes: to provide access to technology and transportation for students; for professional development for our staff; to purchase supplies; create curriculum; and to provide support for our on-going program development and workshops. Some workshops include financial literacy, how to grocery shop, cooking courses, and maintaining good hygiene habits. Funding would also allow us to provide more socialization events, both virtual and in-person, for our students, which is critical for their overall development (field trips, bowling nights, fitness courses, etc.).
Benefits	We are working extremely hard to provide this safe space for individuals with intellectual disabilities to continue to learn and socialize as well as provide structure and stability for those who have been most affected by COVID-19. Our hope is that the continued experiences will contribute to their knowledge base so that they can once again obtain meaningful employment, engage with their peers, and continue to learn. Our primary goal is that our individuals will continue to stay competitive in today's applicant pools for jobs as well emerge with the social and professional skills and etiquette they need to succeed in all areas of their lives.
Proposal Description	Since our inception, we developed our curriculum and have provided services to nearly 500 clients with intellectual disabilities in Montgomery, Bucks and Philadelphia Counties. We are quickly becoming a vital resource and are striving to create long-lasting relationships with the students, their families and the schools. Our Get Your Future in Focus program has been well received and as we enter our third year, many of the schools have been with us since the beginning and can see value in the services we provide. As a result, we are trying to secure funding to continue reaching out to the students who have expressed interest in continuing with the students from the virtual classes, some are current classmates, some are new friends. That speaks to the connections and friendships that have been formed. Our goal is to expand our reach with social events and build on our successes, one client at a time. The lack of employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities often creates an economic burden on caregivers, which may take away from being able to cover costs for everyday living for themselves or other children in the household. Many individuals often lack the support, training, and access to acquire skills that can lead to being able to live on one’s own, achieve financial independence, or obtain meaningful employment. Our program is designed to be adapted from one individual to the next and cater to each individual's needs and abilities. Our individuals will develop a clearer vision of their future career path. This will lead to securing meaningful employment, which could potentially alter the course of their lives and the lives of their families/caretakers. Our hope is that the success of our individuals will influence their peers and encourage them to get their future into focus as well. Our programs have implemented not only Workplace Readiness and Independent Living Skill curriculum, but we have also pioneered our innovative technology program, which integrates business and mobile technology training to improve the understanding and skills of current digital citizens. We created our lessons from scratch. This allows our participants to have experience with new programs and daily supports to make them competitive with others in the workplace. Our program is aimed at helping students and individuals understand their strengths and weaknesses and target employment that is the best fit for them based on their skills. As we grow our programs, our vision is to extend our reach to more students, identify job opportunities and internships from within the local business community, and find housing and financial planning support as a pathway to true independence. Our local legislators, local businesses, YMCA, and individuals all recognize the need for ways to include and provide options for those with autism. In the next three years we plan to: 1) continue our pre-employment training services through the state of PA, 2) continue our one-on-one support through our Work-Based Learning Experience services, and 3) continue to grow our wrap around services that support vocational exploration such as financial literacy, computer training, independent living skills such as cooking, and self- advocacy. We also hope to expand our micro business opportunities and grow our gardening programs - individuals can learn about landscaping, horticulture, and agricultural science. We encourage students, and staff members, to think outside the box. Upon introduction, The Center performs an intake assessment to gather data on a student's current education level, IEP information, best methods for learning, proficiency in digital technology, concepts of travel, community, employment, time management, finances, etiquette, professional and social skills. We document each student's vocational interests and speak with guardians to discover their skills and areas of need. Assessments are related throughout the program to provide information and guidance on student progress, comprehension and development. Our custom programming and assessment are designed to provide development plans and individualized goals for the purpose of identifying potential employment opportunities and skill training, and when and where employment training can begin. We use this data to pair students with our community employment partners. The Center's system of workplace from assessment, phases of development, training and community development can be easily adapted and replicated. Our impact is measured by the success of placements for our individuals and by feedback given by them, their families, and their employers (currently a 100% success placement rate). We help fill the void by providing a plethora of opportunities to help employers, and students, understand that there many different pathways to a securing a well-paying, skilled position. We work with each individual to ensure that they understand all aspects of vocational exploration and training. This means that we increase and sharpen their communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. We provide individuals with training on proper workplace etiquette, conflict resolution, time management, developing professional relationships, and how to navigate the workplace. Success in this area will be a direct result of the effort put in by both our staff and the individuals. We will be able to measure these soft skills by obtaining feedback from all parties involved. In addition to those skills and traits, we work with our individuals to learn how to manage their income, understanding employer expectations, and computer training so that with a properly trained workforce, individuals will become confident contributors to the community. Other skills and pre-employment tasks will be measured by the quality of their cover letters, resumes, development of a job strategy, and interview prep. We also record and guide individuals' progress and completion of activities and tasks such as financial literacy, organization, technology, and navigating transportation. What sets us apart is our continued commitment to developing and utilizing technology - computers, mobile devices, and apps allow for better communication and management for our individuals. We are aiming to bridge the gap for individuals that have been historically underserved and without access to quality workplace readiness programs that truly caters to the needs of the individual. The true measure of our programs is two-fold: employability and the test of individuals' ability to adapt to different situations in their employment of choice. Workplace readiness skills are transferable to not only different work situations, but to various aspects of one's life. Success in our job readiness programs will enable individuals to find success in their personal lives in way of living independently, gaining new social skills, and overall problem-solving skills. We are helping to lay the foundation of a solid work ethic and building upon each individual's ability and desire to explore new vocational or educational opportunities. By providing this population with the tools and skills they need to succeed in the workplace, employers will be able to hire skilled employees, which will minimize employee turnover because individuals are invested and recognized for what each one brings to the job. Individuals are integrated into their community and have more access to advancement opportunities. Funding will be used for the following purposes: to provide access to technology and transportation for students; for professional development for our staff; to purchase supplies; create curriculum; and to provide support for our on-going program development and workshops. (We have included our program budget for the 2020-2021 school year as an attachment.) Some workshops include financial literacy, how to grocery shop, cooking courses, and maintaining good hygiene habits. Funding would also allow us to provide more socialization events, both virtual and in-person, for our students, which is critical for their overall development (field trips, bowling nights, fitness courses, etc.). These additional workshops, trips and experiences provide our clients with opportunities for socialization; how to manage their finances; building teamwork and communication skills; and much more that many of them do not get to experience in the classrooms or at home.