Target demographics: Individuals with disabilities and barriers to work
Geographic areas served: Dallas/Fort Worth Texas
Programs: • Work Center Program
• Vocational Adjustment Training (VAT)
• Work Experience
• Mobile Work Crews
• Employment Programs
Work Center Program provides vocational/job readiness training, soft skills instruction, life skills education, and paid work opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to enable them to acquire essential skills and achieve independence and work success.
Vocational Adjustment Training (VAT) is curriculum-based instruction for high school special education transition students that includes 6 modules and targets self-awareness, soft skills, job preparation, work knowledge, disability disclosure, and money management and assists these students develop the necessary skills and competencies to succeed on the job and in the community.
Work Experience Training provides special education students with experience in a “real people doing real work” environment and helps the student explore career options, develop employability skills, improve hard and soft skills, and build self-confidence. Achieve’s UNTWISE certified Job Skills Trainers work side by side with the student teaching work and soft skills, reinforcing skills, and establishing job accommodations.
Mobile Work Crews provide fleet car washing services as well as janitorial and landscaping services for local TXDOT offices.
Employment Program (Veteran, Non-Veteran, and Poverty Alleviation) provides comprehensive services to individuals with disabilities so that they can successfully obtain and maintain employment. Services include job readiness training, job placement, weekly support group, computer lab, employer education, retention services, and counseling/guidance. Through hands-on job preparation and job search assistance, trusted partnerships with area employers, and employer education and advocacy, Achieve’s Employment Program facilitate access to well-suited jobs for this vulnerable population to ensure placement and increase the likelihood of long-term success and job security.
