PHILADELPHIA - Students with autism and other disabilities in the School District of Philadelphia may be eligible to apply for off-site school-to-work transition programs including Project Career Launch."The goal is to set students up for a career pathway where they have the opportunity to learn skills and grow as they transition out of special education services in the school district," said Jackie Abrams, Associate Director of Transition Pathways of the AJ Drexel Autism Institute.Currently, there are two student cohorts, one meeting at Drexel University and the second at the Community College of Philadelphia.Daniel Clark, 19, is currently enrolled in the program and interning in the Tech Lab at the School District of Philadelphia."I am still a student in high school, but I am well-developed to see what is new for me out there," said Clark. "It’s about helping young adults with disabilities to find jobs and what they want in their future."MORE LOCAL HEADLINESStudents who enroll for this additional year will be placed in internships and learn valuable life skills including finances and job placement.Josiah Diaz, 19, is handling various responsibilities since joining Project Career Launch this school year.
He holds an internship with Cambridge Innovation Center and works at Urban Eatery doing food prep, a job he was able to get through a career fair at Drexel University."The fact that I got hired on the spot was really shocking to me," said Diaz. "This gave me an opportunity to be more independent and it gives me more chances to further realize what I can do.