Youth Services

Work Skills Corporation provides award winning services on a wide variety of employment and training programs for youth beginning at age 14 with disabilities and/or have a basic skills deficiency, both in and out of school. WSC services assist youth facing barriers to employment to learn and develop the broad range of skills and work experience they need to participate and transition into the workforce. These include career exploration, vocational, situational and clerical assessments, specialized assessments (e.g. Custodial, PC Skills Assessment), job tryouts, work experiences, transitional employment, job development, job shadows, on-site employer tours, on-the-job supports, follow up, and resume building.

Summary of Service:

Services are developed based on the individual’s employment background, employment choices, strengths, abilities and interests.

Job-related services may include:

• Job search and placement assistance
• Job retention services
• Follow-up services
• Follow-along services

Services are based on a continuum of career exploration and employment that may include all or part of the following:

1. Work-based learning experiences, that is provided in an integrated environment in the community which will explore the interaction of the individual with environmental factors;
2. Exploration regarding enrollment in comprehensive transition or postsecondary educational programs at institutions of higher education;
3. Workplace readiness training to develop social skills and independent living;
4. Instruction in self-advocacy (including instruction in person-centered planning), which may include peer mentoring (including peer mentoring from individuals with disabilities working in competitive integrated employment).
5. Teaching effective strategies to increase the likelihood inclusion in communities and competitive integrated workplaces;
6. Applying evidence-based findings to develop and improve strategies to obtain, advance in and retain competitive integrated employment;
7. Providing education and resources to family members to enable the individual to achieve a successful employment outcome.

Other services that WSC provides are information, referral, and/or direct services on:

• Securing and retaining employment
• Postsecondary education
• Accessibility and accommodations
• Assistive technology that can assist youth with disabilities function more effectively at home, on the job, and in the community

If the individual is still in school seeking employment, ASD services can be provided by cooperatively with transition services of local educational agencies.