Transitioning from school services to adult services can be a difficult time for young adults and their providers. The Arc is committed to making that time of transition less stressful for student and parents/care providers. The Arc offers a transition age-specific program that facilitates individuals ages 16 to 22 to create a foundation that will better prepare students for the workforce, this program is called Pre-employment transition services or PETS for short. The program runs three to four cohorts a year with the same structure as a college semester. The mission of the PETS program is to help students with career planning that will lead to a fulfilling and independent adult life through meaningful work. The program provides vocational exploration, hard and soft skills training and competitive vocational experiences. Students enrolled in the program are placed into internships that are focused around the student's strength's, interests, and talents.
In its pilot year, the PETS program grew from having six students in the 1st cohort to 19 in cohort 4. The Pre-employment program would not be as successful without the cooperation of the community and local businesses. In less than a year, the PETS team has developed over 32 different internship sites that truly speak to the diversity of the population supported through the program. Students of the PETS program have apprenticed in bio-diesel motor repair, graphic design, agriculture, land conservation, auto body repair, fitness, animal care, and even in the office of State Representative Natalie Higgins. The list of partnerships continues to grow daily to keep up with the needs and wants of the young adults that partake in the program.
One student, in particular, expressed an interest in politics and shared that he had been working on a Bachelor's degree in political science at a local liberal arts college. After completing soft skills workshops, polishing up his resume, and attending multiple job tours, the individual and job coach started to explore the possibility of an internship in local government. With the help of his job coach, the student was presented the opportunity to interview with two state representatives in Leominster as well as Gardner. Both interviews were successful and the individual was offered an internship in both communities. This individual is now working with the state representative of Leominster and is creating a database that will send out information about different services that are available in the area. Throughout his internship, the student has gained confidence and skills that he will need to pursue a career in political science.
Whether a member of the team has helped an individual open their first bank account or helped them land their first job, the Pre-employment team has worked hard to keep things fun and celebrate the success of each individual in the program. The young adults who are enrolled in PETS are setting a new standard in today's workforce, by overcoming and conquering obstacles that may have presented as a challenge to them. The individuals in the PETS program have proven themselves resilient to stigma and are changing the attitude towards people with disabilities.
