My MBA Career: Empowering Individuals in Need of Employment

Last Updated on July 24, 2023 by Robert C. Hoopes

Title: The Haven’s Vocational Camp Empowers Students with Disabilities to Pursue Meaningful Careers

The current unemployment rate for people with disabilities is staggeringly high, sitting at nearly 8%, which is almost double the national average. However, The Haven, a compassionate facility dedicated to caring for and educating individuals with disabilities, aims to change this grim statistic by providing invaluable job opportunities through their Haven Industries program.

With a workforce surpassing 120 individuals with disabilities, Haven Industries has become a significant source of fulfilling employment for its clients. Nevertheless, maintaining such an inclusive work environment comes with its financial challenges, as client payroll represents a considerable expense for the agency.

In a determined effort to equip high school students with disabilities with essential vocational skills and help them explore potential job prospects, The Haven’s staff members took the initiative to create a transformative four-week camp. This unique program offered participants an incredible mix of practical experience, empowerment, and exposure to various industries.

The camp’s dynamic curriculum included a series of eye-opening tours to local manufacturing companies, allowing students to witness the inner workings of different sectors firsthand. In addition to this invaluable exposure, the students engaged in hands-on training sessions, mastering a range of skills from screen window installations to the creation of personalized tumblers.

The camp’s activities were divided into two distinct phases. During the first two weeks, students honed their communication and teamwork skills, regarded as fundamental for thriving in any work environment. The sessions were thoughtfully designed to boost confidence and foster social competence among attendees, providing them with a solid foundation for success.

Following this initial phase, the students embarked on a two-week internship with the esteemed PPi Technologies Group. In partnership with this prominent organization, The Haven ensured that the students were exposed to real-life workplace scenarios. Throughout the internship, participants actively contributed by sorting, performing quality control, packaging, and boxing various products in preparation for shipment.

The success of the vocational camp has been hailed by The Haven’s Director of Mission Services, who boasts more than 25 years of experience in job coaching. According to the director, this innovative program has been widely celebrated as the best summer camp for students with disabilities.

By empowering these students with the skills and confidence required to pursue meaningful careers, The Haven is actively working to address the concerning unemployment rate among individuals with disabilities. This incredible endeavor showcases the organization’s unwavering commitment to inclusivity and promoting equal opportunities for all.