Building paths to bright futures
Game Time
Featuring Bobby Veros
September 2016
Written by: Ted Kissell, UCLA Extension
Meet Bobby Veros – a UCLA
beginning, and so I started out
great addition," she says. "He
“superfan” who enjoys all things
slow,” he says.
brought energy, passion, and
sports and eventually would like to
The Pathway at UCLA Extension
dedication to his duties as a
become a sports broadcaster.
student soon got comfortable, and
manager, and we got more out of
Bobby was introduced to the Head
established a routine working
having him around our program
Coach of the UCLA Women’s
directly with Head Coach Cori
than I can possibly describe. I love
Basketball team in fall 2015 during
Close.
partnering with Pathway.”
the Health & Athletics themed
“The coach always knows what she
Three-Pillars, One University
needs, because it’s her team.”
(3P1U) event sponsored by the
Veros recalls. “Every morning, I’d
UCLA Volunteer Center.
go to her when she was writing at
A few months later when Bobby
the whiteboard, and I’d ask her,
joined the staff of the UCLA
‘What am I doing today?’ And she’d
Women’s Basketball team as an
tell me, ‘This, this, and this.’”
equipment-manager intern, he was
Close, for her part, appreciated his
a bit intimidated. “I was shy at the
energy and enthusiasm. "Having
Bobby with us this season was a
Pictured: UCLA Women’s Head Coach Cori Close and
Bobby Veros
Building paths to bright futures
Pathway at UCLA Extension is a
emulating that of a typical college
providing technical assistance at
two-year college program for
experience.
select games.
students with intellectual and other
Work experiences like Veros'
Grazer, who has been working
developmental disabilities, offering
internship with the basketball team
closely with Bobby on his journey
a blend of educational, social, and
to independence shares that, "He's
vocational experiences. On
had a phenomenal experience, and
campus, Pathway students attend
I have enjoyed working with him
classes and participate in the many
and being an observer of all his
social, recreational, and cultural
successes."
activities of a major university.
As these jobs might indicate, Veros
has a passion for sports, and hopes
Decades ago, higher education and
to build a career in sports
meaningful employment
broadcasting. Grazer and the rest
opportunities for special education
students were relatively nonexistent. Many have helped pave
the way to demand equality and
advocate for policy change. With
the support of a dedicated
Advisory Board, founding Director,
Eric Latham, launched Pathway’s
first set of classes in 2006, making
UCLA a pioneer in the field of postsecondary education for individuals
with disabilities, and the first of its
kind at a major UC research
institution.
A lot has changed since the
inaugural days as the program
continues to evolve and move
toward the goal of full-inclusion,
of the Pathway team have sought
Bobby hard at work at the John Wooden Center
are an integral part of the Pathway
experience, says Rachel Grazer,
Vocational Services Coordinator
with Pathway.
to create work situations that line
up with Veros' goals – as they do
for all Pathway students.
Veros, a spring 2016 graduate, says
he's enjoyed the Pathway
Veros is the first student to intern
experience. "I've been learning a
with the UCLA Women’s
lot, and just being on campus is
Basketball team, and has held a
cool," he says.
diverse array of other internship
In addition to everything else he
positions, including stints at the
learned, his time with the women's
John Wooden Center, the UCLA
basketball team taught him a lot
Lab School, and the Special
about basketball. "But my
Olympics World Summer Games.
shooting's still not very good," he
He has also done a job shadow with
admits with a smile.
the Pac-12 Network, which led to
some contracted opportunities
For more information about Pathway at UCLA Extension, visit the website at:
education.uclaextension.edu/pathway