Just got word from a program called Have Dreams that I thought you Easterseals blog readers might want to know about. Have Dreams Academy is part of Project SEARCH Collaborates for Autism at Northwestern University. It’s a one-year business-based program for high school students in their last year of transition services. The goal of the program? Competitive employment.
The message I received said Spring/Summer graduates are currently pursuing competitive employment with support from Have Dreams. Graduates from previous years are employed at a successful Chicago retail store called The Spice House, at Amazon, and at Walgreen’s. The program credits its success to its emphasis on:
- using an autism-specific curriculum
- participation in three ten-week internship rotations on Northwestern University’s campus
- job development
- job placement
- follow-on services
The 2018-19 Have Dreams Academy begins on August 23, 2018. Space is still available, and they’ll continue accepting applications and conducting intakes through October 2018 or until the program is full. For more information on applying, contact Christine McQuinn at cmcquinn@havedreams.org. For general information about the Have Dreams Academy employment training program, contact Andrea Franckowiak at ajohnsen@havedreams.org or call 847.905.0702.