Fredericksburg Leader

Applications Open for Virginia’s Community Colleges to Host Summer Career Academies for Students with Disabilities

After a successful debut last summer, the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) is working with Virginia’s Community Colleges to sponsor summer academies again next year for students with disabilities to explore career pathways through hands-on activities.  (Sign-up details below.)

This program began last summer when Blue Ridge Community College, Virginia Peninsula Community College, Southwest

Community College, and Eastern Shore Community College hosted a total of six Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) Academies in the areas of Heavy Equipment Operation, Advanced Manufacturing (including Machining & Welding), Information Technology (including Robotics, Web Design/Computer Coding, Cybersecurity, and Digital Photography), Aviation (Drones), and Digital Multimedia. The academies ran for a week and were funded by DARS through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).

The goal of the academies is to help students with disabilities, ages 14-21, get an early start with career exploration. The hope is that educating students on various opportunities will translate into earning credentials and entering high-quality careers. BRCC reports that several students who participated in last summer’s camps are now enrolled at the college.

“I enjoyed the IT summer endeavor as a matter of fact. It was a great opportunity to see a wide variety of IT potentials offered by the college, and it made me excited to be here,” said Eric Potter, describing his experience at the BRCC IT camp.

The academies include hands-on experience, field trips and use of simulators and equipment. They also include job exploration and post-secondary education counseling. All topic areas are eligible for FastForward and G3 funding if students choose to continue with their studies. Each student receives a certificate of completion.

Participants in the VCCS Summer Pre-ETS Academies must meet the following criteria:

• Between the ages of 14 to 21 (22 if still enrolled in high school); AND
• Actively enrolled in a secondary (including home school or other alternative secondary education programs), postsecondary, or other recognized education program; AND
• Receiving special education or related services under Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) OR identified as individuals with a disability for the purposes of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.

Original source can be found here