By Andy Furman
Point/Arc
Sixty-two students will enter The Point/Arc’s Zembrodt Education Center for the first day of school, Monday, August 24.
The Elevate Job Training Classes will commence Monday (Aug. 24) – Career and Exploration Classes start a day later, Tuesday, August 25.
“We have certainly grown, and we now have more time for instructors to interact with their students,” said Gina Brockman, the ZEC Administrator. “Five years ago, we had just 12 students in our Transition Program.”
Both the Elevate Job Training and Career Exploration class will start at 1 p.m.
The Tony and Gerry Zembrodt Education Center, which opened March 11, 2020, was created to give people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) opportunities to reach their highest potential educationally, socially, and vocationally.
The ZEC offers unique educational opportunities that are non-existent in typical schools of learning.
“ZEC fosters self-confidence, creativity, job training and placement, social connections and a spirit of belonging,” Brockman said.
“We teach our students communication and life skills to enhance their future,” she continued. “Our programs strive to connect people with and without differences to share common interest, create opportunities for participants to increase social skills in a safe, comfortable environment, and teach techniques to build self-confidence and assist them, in transitioning from high school to the work force.”
The Elevate Job Training Program:
Students in their third-year of high school can participate in the Elevate Job Training Course. Students receive innovative, interactive instruction to build the skills necessary to succeed in work and life. The program focuses on workplace and readiness training, self-advocacy and post-secondary opportunities.
Topics Covered:
• Life Skills
• Taking initiative
• Social Communication
• Entrepreneurship
• Problem Solving
The Career Exploration Program:
The Career Exploration Program is a high school transition class that gives students the opportunity to explore varied work experiences in their community. Students practice job-specific tasks, helping them identify their career likes and dislikes and discover their abilities and strengths. The program focuses on job exploration counseling and work-based learning experiences.
Topics Covered:
• Life after high school
• Community based PEERS for careers
Both classes run for two hours – 1 p.m.-3 p.m.
The Elevate Job Training Program is Monday and Wednesday; while Career Exploration is offered Tuesday, Thursday and Friday – both programs are 11-weeks.