Summer Career Camps
by Keith Bourkney, Executive Director, EmployU, Inc.
Summer is here and with it comes Vocational
Rehabilitation Summer Career Camp.
Who can participate?
All students, ages 14-21, with disabilities
documented by an Individual Educational Plan
(IEP), a 504 Plan, or some other means qualify
for services are eligible
What does it include?
Vocational Rehabilitation has empowered its
partners to provide a combination of services
which are designed to give its participants education,
Orlando — Summer/Fall 2019 5
tools and work experience which will
help each student prepare for independence
and employment. Each provider will construct
their unique program and may consist a combination
of the following services:
Work Readiness Training - This is a curriculum
based, instructor taught class which focuses on
resumes, finding jobs, applying to jobs, work
etiquette and interviewing. Students will come
out of the class with confidence and skills that
they will need when they are ready for employment.
Self-Advocacy - In this class students learn
more about independence. They will learn
a deeper dive into what it takes to become
employed but will also learn about public
transportation, community resources and life
skills such as budgeting and time management.
Work Based Learning - Participants get a
chance to work on site with real businesses.
The provider will find organizations that will
allow for the students to come to their location
and learn the tasks of the position and work.
They’ll learn how to problem solve, manage
their time and what a day of work is like.
Postsecondary Educational Counseling - Students
will learn about the different types of
Universities, what the application process is
like, what types of majors schools are offering.
Some programs may even tour a local college
campus.
Job Exploration Counseling - Participants may
take a tour of a business or work site and
shadow workers in multiple types of positions.
Most youth are unsure what they want
to do and they have not been exposed to many
different types of industries. Job exploration is
all about learning what opportunities are out
there.
Summer Career Camp Sessions will vary on
length and dates depending on which provider
is chosen.
How can you participate?
Your local Vocational Rehabilitation office
can be located under the directory section on
their website at www.rehabworks.org. Contact
your local office and let them know you are
interested in the Summer Career Camp. The
Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor will identify
the different options in your area and you
can choose the one that best fits your schedule
and interests.
Career Camp is intended to provide its participants
with knowledge and experience that will
assist them in making better career decisions
when they are ready. Decisions that may determine
their life path. Don’t miss out on this
opportunity.
Keith Bourkney is the Executive Director at
employU, Inc. You may contact employU, one of
the service providers for Summer Career Camp
for more information at: 407-598-0202 or visit
us on the web at www.employu.org.
Any enrolled student between the ages
of 14-21 who has an IEP or 504 plan may
qualify for a paid On the Job “internship”
along with employ-ability skills training.
We cover 35 counties in Florida.
We also provide: Employment Service
for Adults with disabilities and
Vocational Assessments
407-598-0202 • employu.org
/www.rehabworks.org
/www.employu.org
/employu.org