May 21, 2014

by: OakLeaf Services Contributor

Transition Services

Beyond Project SEARCH, UCP of Greater Cleveland has now expanded its transition services to Summer Work Experiences. UCP partners with both the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities, and for the first time this year will be hosting three programs in partnership with the Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation. Both the Summer Youth Work Experiences (BVR) and the Summer Internship Program (CCBDD) are geared toward transition-age high school students. Through these programs, students with a variety of disabilities are exposed to different work settings and are able to begin career exploration. These programs help students with disabilities focus their goal of employment after they complete high school. The programs are employment-focused with some classroom instruction based on the Skills to Pay the Bills curriculum. The clients participate in internship-style work experiences at one of the businesses UCP has partnered with to host the program.

This summer, as in the past, UCP will be one of the host businesses for the Summer Internship Program. We have also partnered with Great Lakes Science Center, Aramark at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and University Hospital Parma Medical Center to host Summer Youth Work Experiences. With opportunities ranging from data entry, to food service, to maintenance and customer service, the students will be able to gain experience in a variety of work settings depending on the business they choose to partner with. The student participants will spend five weeks at the host business of their choice exploring career opportunities, practicing employability skills, and gaining general knowledge of what it means to be employed.

Sharon Meixner
Transition Services Manager

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