WorkAbility I

Providing the services you need in recruiting, training, 
and maintaining reliable employees

The mission of WorkAbility I is to promote the involvement of key stakeholders including special education students, families, educators, employers and other agencies in planning and implementing an array of services that will culminate in successful student transition to employment, lifelong learning and quality of life. WorkAbility provides pre-employment training, employment placement and follow-up for high school students in special education who are making the transition from school to work, independent living and post secondary education or training. It is funded by the California Department of Education, Special Education Division.

The program at Healdsburg High School currently works with students in helping them find jobs, keep jobs and explore career/job training and education once out of high school. Job shadowing is a wonderful part of this program and last year students went to places such as Santa Rosa Indian Motorcycle Shop, Zone Music, Santa Rosa Junior College Dance Department, Healdsburg Police Department and Edward Jones Investments. These people in the different job clusters did a wonderful job of giving the students a real idea of what was needed for that particular job.

The relevance of working hard in school to be able to get a job in your field of interest is part of the purpose of these job shadows.  Healdsburg is an active and giving community - we are lucky to have a number of businesses over the past years who have taken part in the WorkAbility program. Some of these businesses are: Healdsburg City Hall, Healdsburg Collision, Fitch Mountain Day Camp, Sheer Pizazz, Bishop Ranch, Long's Drugs, Healdsburg Tribune, Aaction Rents, Garretts Hardware, McDonald's, Warm Springs Fish Hatchery, The Food Pantry, Healdsburg Boy's and Girl's Club, S.A.Y., Healdsburg Animal Shelter, Bird Rescue Center, Sweet Memories Chocolate, and Mr. Moon's.     

It has been estimated that one out of  every five students has a learning difference of some kind. There are a number of famous people who had or have learning differences - people such as Whoopie Goldberg, Tom Cruise, Charles Schwab, Sir Winston Churchill, Agatha Christie and Albert Einstein, to name a few. 

The WorkAbility program has helped many students throughout the last twenty years in California. We will continue to do so with the financial backing of the Employment Development Department, the State Department of Rehabilitation and the California Department of Education. Perhaps most importantly, the union of local high schools with community support of cities like Healdsburg make this program the success it is today. Thank you people and businesses of Healdsburg.

WorkAbility Activities
 We provide:
  • An employment program working to benefit students, employers, and the community at large
  • Assistance to students who may have special needs in their transition from school to the work place
  • Career assessment
  • Pre-employment skills training
  • Vocational skills training classes

For Employers:

  • Screening for qualified applicants
  • Funding for on-the-job training wages
  • Job coaching and training
  • Follow-up job placement and support

Business and Community Benefits
How you gain:

  • You do not have to pay for training
  • You save on employment advertising
  • You get pre-screened applicants
  • You get support from us should you have questions or concerns regarding your WorkAbility employee
Contact person:   Mike Holley
Location:  Room 47S
Hours:   M-F 8:15-2:15
Phone:   431-3581
E-mail:   mholley@husd.com 

You help build your community

Students gain self-esteem and are more productive

 

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