Project Focus helps students with autism work toward the future
Project Focus helps students with autism work toward the future
Hollman explained that student mentors play a key role in helping the students integrate into the college community, and on their job site.
They are often side by side with their fellow students helping them to become valuable members of a team at their work.
ANDREW DON IS A STUDENT AT THEUNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA -- DOINGAN INTERNSHIP AT THE STEWARDOBSERVATORY BUSINESS OFFICE.ANDREW IS ALSO A STUDENT WITHAUTISM.
HE'S PART OF ANINNOVATIVE TWO- YEARTRANSITION PROGRAM FOR YOUNGADULTS -- WITH INTELLECTUALAND DEVELOPMENTALDISABILITIES.
UNDERSTANDINGAUTISM OPEN KEYBOARD TYPINGSOUND ANDREW DON IS A STUDENTAT THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA-- DOING AN INTERNSHIP AT THESTEWARD OBSERVATORY BUSINESSOFFICE.
ANDREW IS ALSO ASTUDENT WITH AUTISM.
HE'S PARTOF AN INNOVATIVE TWO- YEARTRANSITION PROGRAM FOR YOUNGADULTS -- WITH INTELLECTUALAND DEVELOPMENTALDISABILITIES.
"OUR PROGRAMREALLY IS FOUNDED ON WHAT DOOTHER COLLEGE STUDENTS DO.
THESAME IS UPHELD FOR OURSTUDENTS WITH AUTISM AND OTHERDISABILITIES.
THEY HAVE THOSESAME TYPE OF DREAMS ANDGOALS." THEY INCLUDE LEARNINGON COLLEGE CAMPUS -- WITH THEEND GOAL OF FINDING A JOBTHEY'RE EXCITED ABOUT.STUDENTS WITH AUTISM --CONTINUING THEIR EDUCATION ATTHE U OF A -- WAS UNHEARD OF10 YEARS AGO WHEN STEPHANIEMACFARLAND STARTED THE PROGRAM-- THANKS TO A FEDERAL GRANT-- AND A PARTNERSHIP WITHTUCSON UNIFIED.
"THE HARDESTPART WAS GETTING THEINFORMATION OUT THERE SO THATFAMILIES AND TEACHERS KNEWABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY.BECAUSE THEY NEVER ENVISIONEDIT FOR THEIR STUDENTS." THEPROGRAM IS THRIVING NOW --WITH 18 STUDENTS ON CAMPUS --6 WITH AUTISM.
BESIDESCLASSROOM WORK -- THE STUDENTSMAIN EMPHASIS IS WORKING --BOTH ON CAPUS AND INBUSINESSES ACROSS TUCSON.THAT'S WHERE CARRIE HOLLMANCOMES IN -- AS THE CAREEROUTREACH SPECIALIST.
"WE LOOKAT THEIR INTERESTS, WHAT THEIRCAREER GOALS ARE, WHAT THEIREXPERIENCE HAS BEEN IN THEPAST.
WE USE THAT TO KIND OFGUIDE THE FRAMEWORK THAT WECREATE TO SUPPORT THEM."TONIGHT AT 6 -- LEARN MOREABOUT THE U OF A'S PROJECTFOCUS --- AND FIND OUT ABOUTTHE SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION TOANDREW'S TWO YEARS IN THEPROGRAM.
PAT PARRIS -- KGUNNINE ON YOUR SIDE.A WARNING ABOUT SECOND HANDSALES DURING THE CURRENT
