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AdvoCats

Advancing Disability Inclusion Through Experiential Learning​

The AdvoCats program gives students the opportunity to inspire change by empowering Arizona’s communities to embrace diversity and inclusivity in our workplaces.​ Through experiential learning, students build skills to provide meaningful support and feedback to youth with disabilities as they gain workplace skills needed to gain competitive integrated employment. ​

Students will receive:

  • Direct training on…
    • Neurodiversity basics
    • Inclusive practices in employment
    • Supports for young adults with disabilities
  • Experiential learning
    • Shadowing job coaches and students with disabilities during work-based learning in Spring 2025 semester
  • Paid summer work as a job coach through the Sonoran Center’s Summer Work Program
    • 6 - 8 weeks
    • Minimum 20 hours per week, maximum 35 hours per week
    • Locations throughout Arizona

Program Timeline

Spring Semester

  • Two training sessions
    • Can attend live Zoom or review a recorded session
  • Online Training: “Engaging People with Disabilities & Their Families: Strategies for Communication and Support”
  • Employment First training
  • 4-6 hours of experiential learning in the community with job coaches and students with disabilities
    • At least 4 sites in the community, could include: Walgreens, Sprouts, Ace Hardware, Pima Air and Space Museum, Botanical Gardens, Elevate, ReStore.

Summer Work Program

  • 6-8 weeks, minimum 20 hours per week, maximum 35 hours per week
  • Paid summer work
  • Multiple sites supporting 2-3 student workers per site
  • Regions all over Arizona- Pima, Pinal, Santa Cruz, Maricopa, Navajo Nation-Apache County, Cochise, Yuma etc. 

AdvoCats Information Session

Learn more about this new training program and how you can join our efforts!

 

Contact

To learn more, please contact Kelsey Montano at kmontano1@arizona.edu.

Arizona Department of Economic Security & Arizona at Work logo

 

 

Funding was made possible in part by the Arizona Department of Economic Security - Vocational Rehabilitation Services and partnering schools and employers. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the official policies of these organizations and entities.