Community Based Training - Vocational Exploration

Many of our students participate in vocational training on a weekly (if not daily) basis. Typically, as students move into higher grades and especially in the 18 to 21 year age range, they tend to focus more and more on vocational activities. The kinds of jobs they might receive instruction in varies greatly depending on the needs of the individual. There are over ten existing job sites that students might have the opportunity to go to during their years here. These job sites include the Northwest Hospital, Seattle Central Community College, North Seattle Community College, and (for more complete info see the description of job sites). The specific tasks students might do at these job sites include watering plants, washing dishes, laundry, data entry, cleaning, sorting, ordering, and much more. Additionally, we have many students receiving vocational instruction on campus through a variety or tasks including managing the recycling program or in job placements in the cafeteria or the library. And some students leave campus and participate in other vocational program such as School-to-Work or the Exploratory Internship Program (XIP). It is our hope that these vocational experiences will not only be something for these students to put on their resumes but will also cause them to see the rewards and benefits to a lifetime of working.

In today’s complex economy, we believe that there is a job out there for every person regardless of disability. It is our ultimate goal that every student leave high school with the capability and desire to immediately enter the work force (or in some cases go on to college or a trade school). To ensure that this happens we work closely with the Department of Vocation Rehabilitation (DVR) and other organizations that help people with disabilities find employment.