Everyone has times when a little more practice or individualized guidance can help prepare them for taking the next big step in life.
The Bucks County Intermediate Unit (Bucks IU) holds an annual EmployAbility Expo each spring to provide students with special needs extra practice and support as they begin their search for meaningful employment. This year 85 students registered to participate with Bucks IU Transition Programs (W.O.W. – We’re Outstanding Workers, Everitt, College Connections, Project SEARCH) representing a significant portion of the overall attendees. The event was held on May 2, and included participants from nine Bucks County School Districts and one Career Technical Center.
Classroom teachers helped prepare the students for this day and it showed. The students arrived with smiles in place, “dressed for success,” and with their resumes in hand. The expo was held at the Bucks IU administrative offices in Doylestown.
Between interviews, students attended break-out sessions on topics related to finding and being employed. Bryan Berchok, from the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR), led one session. OVR is a government agency that provides vocational rehabilitation services to help persons with disabilities so they may prepare for, obtain, or maintain employment. The other break-out session was led by Lorie McCrory and Maria Gannon, both from the Bucks IU Post-Secondary and Adult Programs.
The best part of the event? Several interviewers reaching out to the Bucks IU and School District staff regarding offers of potential employment to several student participants
The following organizations and employers participated: Adelphi Research LLC, Aveanna Healthcare, Bucks County AE Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Programs, Bucks County CIL, Bucks County Recorder of Deeds, Care & Share Thrift Shoppes, Central Bucks School District, Core Career Coaching, Core Tax Strategies Inc., County of Bucks, County of Bucks Department of Workforce and Economic Development, County of Bucks Workforce & Economic Development, Custom Glass Solutions LLC, Erickson Living- Ann’s Choice, Evonik, Germantown Friends School, Humana Inc., Kaleidoscope Family Solutions Inc, Lenape Valley Foundation, Merck Sharp & Dohme Federal Credit Union, Operant Coffee, PHMC, The Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management (SEPA SHRM) and Vector Remote Care.
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