Uniquely abled and accomplished
College of the Canyons celebrates success with pilot program aimed at helping adults on autism spectrum
COC celebrated another graduation recently, as the college’s first Uniquely Abled Academy class finished a pilot program designed for highly functional autistic individuals.
“We vetted and tested and interviewed and got 10 candidates,” said UAA Director Mike Bastine. “All 10 did extremely well in the training program, which was very intensive.”
After completing a 12-week program that provided 420 hours of training and instruction, participants enrolled in the college’s first Uniquely Abled Academy cohort graduated June 8 and qualified for entry-level positions as CNC (computer numeric control) operators, machinist apprentices and machine trainees
During the program’s first-ever session, the cohort underwent CNC training, Monday through Thursday, and soft skills training on Fridays, according to Karen Navarro, career program coordinator for UAA at COC.
“We call them a cohort because it’s much tighter than a class,” said Bastine. “A lot of them drive in together, go to class together, eat together… they establish lifelong friendships.”
College of the Canyons launched UAA in spring 2018 with the purpose of creating career and job opportunities for highly functional autistic individuals by providing them with soft skills, open laboratory, job readiness and 21st century skills training.
“The last day of the 12 weeks we had set up 16 employer interviews,” recalled Bastine. “Right now they’re continuing followup interviews and we anticipate that all 10 [trainees] will be employed in a couple weeks,” Bastine said proudly. Some have multiple offers.
After reflecting on the first UAA session, COC officials have decided to continue the program. Its next session set to begin in January 2019. Recruitment for the next cohort of 10 students will begin in September.
For more information about the Uniquely Abled Academy program at COC visit the UAA website.