SINCE 1947, ASPIRE OF WESTERN NEW YORK
HAS SERVED CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH
DEVELOPMENTAL AND SIMILAR DISABILITIES,
HELPING THEM TO LIVE THEIR LIVES TO THE
FULLEST BY PROVIDING INDIVIDUALIZED
ASSISTANCE BASED ON PERSONAL CHOICES.
FORMERLY THE UNITED CERBRAL PALSY
ASSOCIATION, ASPIRE GIVES OVER 2,800
INDIVIDUALS THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO
REACH THEIR ASPIRATIONS.
Individualized Career & Transition Services
ASPIRE OF WNY
Tri-Main Center
2495 Main Street, Suite 422
Buffalo, NY 14214
PHONE 716.836.7235 TTY 716.836.1689
FAX 716.831.1145
EMAIL [email protected]
www.aspire.org
World of Work
(WOW) Program
Introducing Youth to the Working World
WOW Program
The World of Work (WOW) Program is an alternative vocational
program designed for high school students. The WOW Program will
teach students ages 14-21 transferrable skills, helping to lay a
rudimentary occupational foundation which they can build upon
throughout high school.
Aspire’s WOW Program will introduce students to the World of Work
in real-life situations as opposed to a controlled environment.
Students will have the opportunity to get hands-on experience in
multiple real-world settings with the support of an Employment
Specialist. They will be taught about typical employer expectations,
work etiquette and dressing for success.
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
• The program begins with a Level 1 assessment
• Students then participate in three different on-site work
experiences
• The length of the program is one school year
• This program is available full time (4 half days) or part time
(2 half days)
• A Certifi cate of Completion is presented at the end of the program
“ The Aspire internships have given
my students experiences that I
can’t duplicate in the classroom.
They gain valuable hands-on skills
while developing relationships with
potential employers. It’s a huge
piece of the transition to the
adulthood puzzle. Aspire fi lls a real
need for us here in Sweet Home.”
— Sue Arnesen
Functional Skills Teacher
Sweet Home High School
PARTICIPANT QUALIFICATIONS
The WOW Program is specifically
geared towards high school students
with disabilities who have had
limited exposure to the working
world. These students should have
a desire to learn about the skills
and attributes needed to get hired
and stay employed. The program
is open to students who plan to
graduate with a Local, Regents
or IEP diploma.
Students who would benefit from the program include, but are not
limited to, those who have:
• A learning disability
• Cerebral Palsy
• Autism spectrum disorders
• Mental retardation
• Traumatic Brain Injury
STUDENT BENEFITS
Students who participate in this program will gain:
• Real-life work experience
• Immediate feedback from their Job Coaches generating key
“teachable moments”
• Increased independence, confidence and self-advocacy skills
• A foundation for a smooth transition from high school to adult life
SCHOOL DISTRICT BENEFITS
This reimbursable program will:
• Better equip districts to meet State Performance Plan Indicators,
specifically Transition Performance Indicators 13 and 14
• Increase positive outcomes for Indicator 14
• Provide a comprehensive transition plan for students pursuing
post-graduation employment
• Provide districts with a quality, alternative vocational program
delivered in a cost-effective manner