Career Readiness

Career Readiness is a facility and community-based program that combines classroom instruction with a practical work experience followed by job placement assistance and retention services. The program has transitioned from serving primarily adults with disabilities to intensifying work experiences and training for special needs high school students and recent graduates. This portion of the program is called Mission Transition and has been extremely effective in transitioning students to the workplace. Career Readiness Center offerings include:

Direct Job Placement: Job Placement Assistance is provided to individuals who have a vocational or work goal in mind and need assistance in preparatory skills such as resume writing and interview skills, as well as assistance in landing the job.

Job Coaching: Short term job coaching is provided to individuals who are placed in employment and require additional supports in training, transition, and retention of employment. 

Daniel Memorial Life Skills Training: Curriculum based program that teaches individuals the tools they need to succeed in life and live independently. The program focuses on 16 core areas including Housekeeping, Job Readiness, Food Management, Money Management, Legal Skills, Education Planning, and more.

Work Skills Assessment: Facility based training that combines curriculum-based instruction combined with hands on work, designed to gauge an individual’s ability to work in the janitorial, clerical, food service, or laundry field.

Community Based Assessment: Similar to the Work Skills Assessment, but the work experience and training take place in the community setting and the placement or work experience site is open to a larger field of occupations and interests.

Mission Transition: Mission Transition assists Marion County students with special needs in grades 9-12 to transition into college, work, and post-high school adult life. Participants from all three area high schools participate in structured in-school workshops, work-based learning experiences, self-advocacy training, counseling on post-high school education, work readiness and independent living skills. The program also offers workshops and support for the parents and families of special needs students and follow-up upon graduation.

Marion County Transition Fair: Each year the Disability Action Center sponsors a transition fair in the Spring for our three area high schools and alternative learning center. High School students and their families are encouraged to come and meet with representatives from post-secondary education providers, Medicaid waiver, social security, supported and competitive employment agencies, housing providers, and many more.

The Disability Action Center works individually with clients in the Career Readiness Center program, and every individual has a written plan outlining their strengths and weaknesses, work preferences, skills and abilities, and goals. The outcome or the goal is always to assist the individual by increasing work skills, gaining confidence and experience, and becoming gainfully employed.