Author: pwsbuilder

Javier is a recent graduate of CIL’s Project Search program, having completed the program in May of this year. Project Search is a program that helps young adults get on the job training with one of CIL’s partner organizations. Javier spent his time in the program working with Lakeland Regional Health. While there, Javier worked in the storeroom, catering, and the GI departments. In each of these departments he learned communication skills, organizational skills, and got hands-on experience helping patients.

CIL’s goal is to help our consumers live independent lives. The Project Search program is one of the many ways we attempt to accomplish this. When we asked Javier what living independently means to him, he said, “Living independently is the most important, that you always have to stay confident, stay focused, stay on track, be successful, stay on task.” Javier sees independent living as being successful, and capable of committing to your goals. CIL and the Project Search program helped give Javier goals to strive towards and a chance to learn about new types of work that might interest him.

Now that Javier has graduated from the Project Search program, he has already started looking for new jobs and has recently secured an interview. Even after graduating from the program, he will continue to work with one of CIL’s Transition Employment Specialists to find the best job for him. Working with CIL has given Javier opportunities to explore his interests and develop new skills. As Javier explains, “I learned from Center of Independent Living, how to get an independent job that I want to work.” 

Ismael is a recent graduate of CIL’s Project Search, a program that places consumers with one of our partner companies for three, ten-week work rotations. Participants are given the opportunity to develop new skills and find jobs that interest them. During his time in the program, Ismael worked with Lakeland Regional Health, gaining hands-on experience working in food service and engineering. This program gave Ismael the opportunity to become more independent and develop essential life skills.

Once Ismael completed his time with Project Search, he began looking for a job. Using his food service experience at Lakeland Regional, Ismael secured a position at Waffle House, being offered the position immediately after his interview. When asked about how working with Project Search has helped him, he explained, “Nothing makes me very nervous now.” His time at Project Search has not only given him valuable work experience but also the confidence to go out and find a job.

Helping people like Ismael achieve their independent living aspirations is CIL’s primary goal. Before participating in Project Search, Ismael found it difficult to be confident and self-reliant. He used the example of doing laundry, something he struggled to do by himself previously. He developed the skill little by little over time – now, it’s something he can confidently do by himself. “Independent living means more responsibilities and learning how to do more things on my own,” he explained. Whether it’s doing laundry or getting a job, Ismael’s time with CIL has given him a chance to explore his interests, develop his skills, and pursue his future.

Life after graduation can be very intimidating – a feeling . Especially true for young adults with disabilities, who have the added struggle of finding work that will also accommodate their needs. The Center for Independent Living’s Step Ahead program helps to ease those fears and show young adults all the options that are available to them. By providing training and assistance to young adults with disabilities aged 14-22 years old, Step Ahead instills the knowledge and skills needed to enter the workforce through work-based learning experiences, career camps , and more.

Through our partner organizations, we provide work-based learning experiences that are highly valuable for our consumers to find a career that suits them. For example, through our partnership with AC Marriott in Downtown Orlando, our consumers work as an employee for three weeks, receiving on-the-job experience and training. Sometimes, our students will go on to receive full-time positions at the companies they learn from. These real-world opportunities give our young adults valuable experience they can rely on.

Another important part of Step Ahead is our career. This week- long program offers lessons in a fun and interactive way, teaching soft skills, time management, workplace appropriate behavior, and problem solving. Participants also attend field trips to potential workplaces and hear from guest speakers. These camps prepare our consumers to enter the workforce by giving them insights and practice that helps them succeed. 

Similarly to our career camps, Project SEARCH helps young adults aged 18-21. This program is a longer version of the work-based learning experiences in which participants spend three, 10-week rotations working at Lakeland Regional Health. Our transition program is a similar, with participants getting work experience at Advent Health East Orlando. These in-depth programs give our consumers on-the-job training, experience, and opportunities to form connections with employers. Many participants have stayed on to work full-time with these hospitals once the program is over.

Every part of the Step Ahead program has something to offer our consumers. CIL’s goal is to help our consumers live as independently as possible, and for many, having a career is an integral part of doing so. To learn more about Step Ahead, visit https://cilorlando.org/programs/step-ahead/.