Opportunity Enterprises rolled out a new program this month that will help adults with disabilities develop life and job skills. Career Connections is a curriculum-based program with units ranging from financial literacy to cooking to career labs and volunteering. With a focus on community engagement and individual choice, Career Connections is designed for people looking to find meaningful work in the community while developing skills at their own pace.
The program is also open to those simply looking to learn and grow.
Career Connections comes on the heels of the disability services organization ending its longtime OutSource program. OE’s Chief Program Officer Valerie Thill said the shift from OutSource – which was facility-based assembly work – to Career Connections reflects the organization’s belief in the importance of community experiences.
“Engaging in community is foundational to living a fully formed life. People with disabilities have been relegated to the sidelines for a long time, and Career Connections is one of the ways we are changing that,” Thill said. “By facilitating community involvement through various volunteer and learning opportunities, Career Connections empowers participants to develop new skills and explore potential careers.”
Participants in Career Connections volunteered earlier this month at NWI No Child Hungry, packing lunches for children throughout the region.
Thill said each participant in Career Connections has goals related to personal and professional growth and is placed into one of three tracks with additional components specific to those goals. The end goal is helping participants figure out what they want their lives to look like and empowering them to reach those goals.
Individuals can participate in Career Connections through the Medicaid waiver system. Visit www.oppent.org/careerconnections to learn more about the program specifics and get involved.
About Opportunity Enterprises, Inc.
For nearly 60 years, Opportunity Enterprises has worked to create inclusive and equitable opportunities for people of all abilities. OE is in the business of amazing people, with approximately 400 staff serving over 1,000 people each year. For more information, visit oppent.org.
Participants in OE’s Career Connections program volunteering at NWI No Child Hungry. The group packed school lunches as part of the program’s community engagement curriculum.