Socorro Independent School DistrictDepartment of Special Education

Mary CarrilloLeah Osborne

Making Employment Work for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities, Autism, and Behavioral Concerns

Community Employment

• It’s designed to teach work skills to students with disabilities

• Facilitate competitive employment in the community.• VAC prepares students to enter the world of work with

support before graduation.• Students will enter VAC / CAP placement their senior

year after their graduation requirements have been met so students are able to become as self-sufficient as possible upon graduation with supported employment.

• Students will maintain employment after graduation with support from outside agencies. (DARS / Emergence Health Care)

What is Community Access?

• A program designed to provide for maximum independence for our students 18-22 years of age.

• Helps the students to access all community resources available to them.

Job Readiness Skills Needed:• Dressing

Appropriately• Personal Hygiene• Be On Time• Greetings• Communication • Portfolio:

Resume, Letters of Recommendation, Personal Info., Other Documents and Extra Assistance. Success!!

Community Access Students

• Graduation requirements• Age 18 and older• Employed in an integrated setting or are training

for employment • Independence in determining post secondary

opportunities, employment opportunities, community participation, accessing public transportation, and self-advocacy.

Community Employment Instruction

• VAC is a continuum of all skills learned transferred to the community with support before graduation

• Provide opportunities to transfer skills to the community in an actual job site with support from a job coach or natural support groups on an individual basis

• Teach parents to be their child’s best support system

• We work with teachers to facilitate necessary documents to obtain and maintain employment.

(food handlers, TX ID, Sun Metro, The Lift, etc.)

Community Employment Instruction

• Book : Social Skills on the Job

• Videos: Social Skills on the Job

• Portfolio: Sample Letters

1) Resume2) Letter of Recommendation3) Thank You Note4) Cover Page5) Envelope

CAP Instruction• Schedules vary according to work schedules,

student needs, and students are not on campus.• All instruction occurs in the community:

Interviews, Job Fairs, etc.• Transportation is what is available in the

community: Sun Metro, The Lift, LULAC New Freedom Initiative, and parents.

• Access to various agencies: DARS, Volar, Texas Workforce Solutions

CAP Instruction

• Maintain disabled cards for Sun Metro and monthly bus fare passes.

• The Lift.• LULAC New Freedom Initiative.• Goal is to have all students are completely

independent when accessing Sun Metro/Transportation.

Community Partner• Ana Luisa Arias has been teaching art classes for our

students and has put together several art shows and exhibits.

• Her creativity knows no bounds. • Planning to teach furniture making and playground

design.

Agencies

• Outside agencies are essential to our program to facilitate a smooth transition after graduation.

• DARS – Veronica Estala-Gutierrez Located at: Socorro, Americas,

Montwood, and El Dorado High Schools

Agencies

• DARS• Volar CIL• Sun Metro• LULAC• HSC Service Providers• DFPS• Emergence Health Care

Businesses• Internships: The City Of Socorro

The City Of El PasoSun MetroUniversity Medical CenterPicasso Smiles DentistryXpress LubeDesert Heaven Adult Day CareGlamour Pooch

Businesses• Employment: Pride Industries – 32

Ready One Industries - 81TRDI - 4Xceed Resources -8Walgreen’s - 2Home Depot -1Red Lobster -1Chico’s Tacos -1Victoria’s Secret -1

Businesses

Speaking Rock CasinoLittle Caesar’sJohnny’s Dog GroomingSerna RanchBarrigasTigua CenterSISDPet’s Barn

Businesses

The Iron MaidD’Romans BakeryMcDonald’sBJ’s RestaurantThe OutbackT & T StaffingSelf-Employment

Community Employment and Community Access

• Although strategies have changed, the end goal has not

• We are results oriented programs• Parents are requesting the programs for their

children• Students are recommending VAC/CAP to their

friends.• Campuses are recommending more students

and a different population with more significant disabilities are entering the programs.

Contact Information

• Mary Carrillo(915) 937-1868mmorac@sisd.net

Leah Osborne(915) 937-1869losbor@sisd.net