Arbor School of Central Florida
by Susan Shalhoub
What happens when you link a job-training program for individuals with special needs and a renowned local school that’s been serving special-needs students for years? Lives are changed, that’s what, and it’s exactly what’s happening at Arbor School of Central Florida thanks to a new partnership with Oviedo’s nonprofit WorkAbility program.
Wendy Blair, Arbor School’s Executive Director, is thrilled to announce the new collaboration that will enhance wraparound learning and help Arbor School students reach their life and career goals.
“Work-skills development is an important part of our strategic plan, so when WorkAbility’s Rebecca Dray approached us about a partnership, it was a best-case scenario,” says Wendy.
It’s a win/win for both organizations, but Arbor School students will benefit the most, and that will create more opportunities for the special-needs community throughout Central Florida. Arbor School provides the education and job-skills training, and WorkAbility offers a platform to put those skills to work.
Good for the Students, Good for the Earth
WorkAbility’s flagship program is its Eco-Ability online store. Eco-Ability sells a wide range of recycled and refillable products for bath, body, and home and provides meaningful employment for those with special needs.
Eco-Ability’s mission perfectly complements Arbor School’s educational expertise for students with learning differences such as high-functioning autism, dyslexia, and Down syndrome.
“Though we have provided job training since 2015 for our students 17 and up, we have been missing that supported employer piece where they can transition into a job and earn a competitive wage,” says Wendy. That’s precisely where WorkAbility comes in.
The goal in the first year is to place 10 to 15 Arbor School students and graduates with WorkAbility, says Wendy. The Eco-Ability store already partners with Longwood’s Wild Hare Natural Market, and there may be additional opportunities for job placement there. Meanwhile, Eco-Ability is always on the lookout for new sustainable products to add to its store, and the more new customers the business attracts, the more opportunity there will be for hardworking residents with special needs.