Rhodes State College partners with the Uniquely Abled Project to provide job training for students on the autism spectrum

A new workforce initiative at Rhodes State College, the Uniquely Abled Academy (UAA), will provide a free training program for eligible students to train in the high-demand field of CNC machinery. The sixteen-week program is the result of a partnership with California-based Uniquely Abled Project, whose goal is to change the way we think and talk about disabilities, specifically in regard to the autistic community, and promote a more inclusive approach to education and employment. The program will prepare students for entry-level careers that are in high-demand and offer good starting salaries. The UAA is funded by a grant from the HAAS Foundation.

The UAA at Rhodes State, according to the school's news release, will educate students on both the technical aspects of working with CNC machinery and on the soft skills needed to land and keep a job in the field. The first cohort of students began the sixteen-week program in April and upon graduation, Rhodes State will help students connect with area employers and provide continuing support to both students and the companies that hire them. 

Founder of the Uniquely Abled Project, Dr. Ivan Rosenberg, was quoted in the news release from Rhodes State, explaining the goal of the program. "The Uniquely Abled Project is exactly as it sounds - a program for uniquely abled individuals who have huge potential and need to be given the chance to succeed in a meaningful career. These uniquely abled individuals have high IQs, a strong work ethic, and the patience to succeed when given the chance," Rosenberg said, adding, "The Uniquely Abled Academy provides structure and a career pathway for the program and serves as an implementation guideline for educational institutions to collaborate with partners like Rhodes State."

Program Coordinator of the UAA, John Wheeler, explained more about how changing the language used when discussing autistic people in education and the workplace can improve outcomes. "The term 'Uniquely Abled' has been coined to distinguish what a person can do, as opposed to what they can't do, which is often the stigma attached to the term 'disabled.' It has been observed that jobs requiring individuals with a high degree of focused attention to detailed repetitive processes, able to follow clear objective instructions, and familiarity with computers are well suited for a person with high functioning autism," Wheeler said.

A $10,000 grant from the HAAS Foundation (HFO Midwest) is providing funding for the program. Toni Neary, Director of Education at Haas Tower - Morris Group, Inc., provided insight into why the organization funded the UAA program. "On behalf of our entire team at HFO Midwest, we are so excited to launch the first Uniquely Abled program in the state of Ohio. The program has shown amazing results throughout the country, and we are so proud to have the capability of the Gene Haas Foundation to provide scholarships for individuals pursuing the program," Neary stated. She added, "When we look at the skills gap and increasing inclusion and access to programming, this is a prime example of education for all. Thank you to Uniquely Abled and Rhodes State College for blazing this trail in Ohio."

The news release from Rhodes State College cites a report from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services which predicts that Ohio will see over 1,300 openings per year for CNC operators through 2026, with positions starting at a median wage of $19.28 per hour. Rhodes State College strives to help meet this demand with the UAA program.