Citizens Development Center

EMPOWERING INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES TO ACHIEVE THEIR HIGHEST LEVEL OF INDEPENDENCE.

U&I'S WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM PROVIDES WORK READINESS TRAINING AND JOB PLACEMENT ASSISTANCE FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES WITH A FOCUS ON VETERANS, YOUTH IN TRANSITION, AND THOSE LIVING IN POVERTY. SERVICES ADDRESS THE NUMEROUS EMPLOYMENT OBSTACLES THEY FACE AND INCLUDE VOCATIONAL ADJUSTMENT TRAINING, WORK EXPERIENCE, MOBILE WORK CREWS, AND EMPLOYMENT/PLACEMENT. VOCATIONAL ADJUSTMENT TRAINING (VAT) IS CURRICULUM-BASED INSTRUCTION FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS WHO ARE PREPARING TO TRANSITION OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL. THIS INSTRUCTION TARGETS SELF-AWARENESS, SOFT SKILLS, JOB PREPARATION, DISABILITY DISCLOSURE AND MONEY MANAGEMENT. THERE ARE 6 VAT MODULES RANGING FROM 10 TO 30 HOURS EACH. VAT GREATLY BENEFITS STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS BY HELPING THEM DEVELOP COMPETENCIES AND SKILLS NECESSARY FOR SUCCESS ON THE JOB AND IN THE COMMUNITY, DEVELOP JOB PREPARATION SKILLS TO INCREASE THEIR PROBABILITY OF GETTING A JOB, AND IMPROVE THEIR COMMUNICATION AND INTERPERSONAL SKILLS. WORK EXPERIENCE TRAINING PROVIDES SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS WITH EXPERIENCE IN A "REAL PEOPLE DOING REAL WORK" ENVIRONMENT, AND HELPS THE STUDENT EXPLORE CAREER OPTIONS, GAIN WORK EXPERIENCE, DEVELOP EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS, IMPROVE SOFT SKILLS, AND BUILD SELF CONFIDENCE. STUDENTS ARE ASSIGNED TO A WORK SITE FOR 4 TO 6 HOURS PER DAY FOR UP TO 12 WEEKS. AT THE WORKSITE, OUR UNTWISE CERTIFIED JOB SKILLS TRAINERS WORK SIDE BY SIDE WITH THE STUDENT TEACHING WORK AND SOFT SKILLS, REINFORCING SKILLS, AND ESTABLISHING JOB ACCOMMODATIONS. OUR MOBILE WORK CREWS PROVIDE FLEET VEHICLE WASHING, JANITORIAL AND LANDSCAPING SERVICES FOR AREA TXDOT FACILITIES. OUR EMPLOYMENT/PLACEMENT SERVICES INCLUDE AN ARRAY OF SUPPORT AND SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES, INCLUDING VETERANS AND THOSE LIVING IN POVERTY, SO THAT THEY CAN SUCCESSFULLY OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN EMPLOYMENT. SERVICES INCLUDE EXTENSIVE ASSESSMENT, JOB READINESS TRAINING, JOB PLACEMENT ASSISTANCE, COUNSELING/GUIDANCE, WEEKLY SUPPORT GROUP, COMPUTER LAB, TRANSPORTATION TO JOB FAIRS/INTERVIEWS, MONTHLY BUS PASSES, REFERRALS/ASSISTANCE (FOOD PANTRIES, HOUSING SERVICES, CLOTHES CLOSETS, ETC.), WORK-RELATED EQUIPMENT, EMPLOYER EDUCATION, AND LIFETIME JOB RETENTION SERVICES. IN THE 2022-2023 FISCAL YEAR, U&I'S WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES SERVED 977 INDIVIDUALS. U&I'S PARTNERSHIP WITH WORKQUEST AND WAGE SERVICES PROGRAM PROVIDES PAYROLL SERVICES TO WORKQUEST/TX WORKFORCE COMMISSION WHO PROVIDE THE WORK EXPERIENCE TRAINING FOR INDIVIDUALS ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS. U&I SERVED 1,191 INDIVIDUALS IN THE WAGE SERVICES PROGRAM IN THE 2022-2023 FISCAL YEAR.

U&I'S WORK CENTER PROGRAM PROVIDES VOCATIONAL TRAINING, LIFE SKILLS INSTRUCTION, AND PAID WORK OPPORTUNITIES TO INDIVIDUALS WITH SEVERE DISABILITIES SO THEY CAN DEVELOP ESSENTIAL WORK AND SOFT SKILLS AND BE SUCCESSFUL IN THEIR MOST INDEPENDENT WORK ENVIRONMENT. CLIENTS LEARN WORK SKILLS WHILE PERFORMING PACKAGING AND ASSEMBLY JOBS. TECHNIQUES SUCH AS BREAKING THE JOB INTO SMALLER STEPS AND ADAPTIVE AIDS LIKE COUNTING BOARDS ARE USED TO ENABLE OUR CLIENTS TO COMPLETE A VARIETY OF TASKS. SOFT SKILLS TRAINING IS PROVIDED THROUGHOUT THE DAY USING POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT, INSTRUCTION, GUIDANCE, AND ROLE-PLAY. CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION IS ALSO PROVIDED TO REINFORCE SKILLS LEARNED DURING WORK TRAINING AND TEACH NEW LIFE AND SOFT SKILLS. TOPICS INCLUDE SAFETY, COMMUNICATION, SOCIALIZATION, AND WORK-READINESS. SOCIAL ACTIVITIES, SUCH AS PARTIES, ARE SCHEDULED TO FURTHER DEVELOP INTERPERSONAL SKILLS. AS EACH CLIENT HAS UNIQUE OBSTACLES TO EMPLOYMENT, INDIVIDUALIZED GOALS ARE IDENTIFIED USING A PERSON-CENTERED PLANNING MODEL. A SUBCOMPONENT OF THIS PROGRAM, ENHANCED DAY HABILITATION, PROVIDES ADDITIONAL LIFE SKILLS INSTRUCTIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE DIFFICULTY PARTICIPATING IN A FULL-DAY VOCATIONAL PROGRAM DUE TO MEDICAL, BEHAVIORAL, OR ATTENTION CHALLENGES AND/OR REQUIRE ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE IN ADAPTIVE SKILLS. IN THE 2022-2023 FISCAL YEAR, ACHIEVE SERVED 115 INDIVIDUALS IN THIS PROGRAM.