Students with disabilities and their families face many uncertainties as they approach the end of high school, often because the students feel unprepared for the next step. In collaboration with the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR), CDS offers two transition programs for high school students that are designed to help them, their families and other team members consider options for the future, and take action. Information about each program is described below.
Intro to Employment: developing career interests
Introduction to Employment is a 15-week virtual career exploration course designed for high school students with disabilities, age 16–21.
Based on a college course offered through CDS’s Career & Life Studies Certificate (CLSC) program, Intro to Employment includes twice-weekly small group classes as well as individualized exploration activities.
Throughout the course, students will develop a deeper understanding of the education, training and skill requirements of their fields of interest through research, self-assessment and guided reflection. Students’ personalized career exploration activities culminate in multiple opportunities for job shadowing and meetings with employers!
Participating students will engage in virtual classes via Zoom every Tuesday and Thursday from 3 p.m.–4:30 p.m., January 17–April 27, 2023.
Interested candidates must submit an Intro to Employment application and participate in an interview. High school students with disabilities from all three Delaware counties are welcome to apply for this program, which is free to Delaware residents.
For more information about Intro to Employment, contact Rebecca Jewell at 302-831-7550 or rajewell@udel.edu.
UDiscover: acquiring life skills in a collegiate setting
The UDiscover Program is an intensive, two-week exploratory and discovery learning opportunity for high school students with disabilities, ages 16 to 21.
The program offers a carefully orchestrated, person-centered sequence of individualized and group activities that will result in creating a post-high school plan of action targeting goals for continuing education, training, apprenticeships, internships or career outcomes. Participating students also have opportunities to develop skills essential for independent living and social connecting.
Program activities will take place on campus at the University of Delaware July 10-21, 2023 and include job shadowing, course sit-ins, college visits and workshops on goals setting, self-advocacy and career exploration.
Interested candidates must submit a UDiscover application and participate in an interview. High school students with disabilities from all three counties in Delaware are welcome to apply for this free program.
Read about one student’s experience at a UD communications department.
Interested in applying for Intro to Employment and/or UDiscover?
If you have questions or have trouble with an application, contact Rebecca Jewell at 302-831-7550 or rajewell@udel.edu.