Socorro Independent School DistrictDepartment of Special Education

Mary CarrilloLeah Osborne

Community Employment and Community Access:How the programs work together

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 placement their junior or

senior year to become as self-sufficient as possible upon graduation after obtaining employment.

• Students will maintain employment after graduation with support from outside agencies.

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 (lift), etc.)

Community Employment Instruction

• Book : Social Skills on the Job

• Videos: Social Skills on the Job

• Portfolio: Sample Letters

1) Resume 2) Letter of Recommendation 3) Thank You Note 4) Cover Page 5 ) Envelope

CAP Instruction• Schedules vary according to work schedules,

student needs, and students are not on campus.• All instruction occurs in the community.• Transportation is what is available in the

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

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.

Agencies

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

• DARS – Blanca Sanchez Located at: Socorro, Americas,

Montwood and El Dorado High Schools

Agencies

• Volar CIL• Sun Metro• LULAC• HSC Service Providers• DFPS• MHMR• Imagine Enterprises

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

Ready One IndustriesTRDIXceed ResourcesWalgreen’sHome DepotRed LobsterChico’s TacosVictoria’s Secret

Businesses

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

Businesses

The Iron MaidD’Romans BakeryMcDonald’sBJ’s RestaurantThe OutbackSelf-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

Contact Information

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

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