Empowering our Youth LEAPS

School Year:

Empowering Young Adults Locating Employment Avenues through Peer Support.

Information: disABILITY LINK Staff brings a curriculum specifically designed to meet the needs of students while working with the teachers. Our curriculum is based upon our regular 6-week course of 4. 5 hours with 22 lessons. Each lesson can be divided up into segments to be taught in increments as needed. We work with the teachers to customized what the curriculum would be while meeting the needs of the students.

Cost: There is no cost for this program but must have an approved A&I from GVRA

Dates: Dates and times to be established with teachers during the school year.

Eligibility: This unique opportunity is available to Secondary School students between the ages of 14 and 22 and under an IEP or 504 plan. See your school counselor to connect with GVRA to sign up. disABILITY LINK must receive an authorization for each student prior to starting the session.

Location: Virtually or in person at the student’s school.

Sign Up: See your school counselor to connect with GVRA to sign up. Teachers can contact wthomas@disabilitylink.org to arrange for on-site or virtual classrooms.

disABILITY LINK Summer Programs:

Some Important Notes for all summer programs:

Transportation and Lunch Needs:

Upon receiving the referral for the student to attend the EOY LEAPS summer program, disABILITY LINK staff will contact the student to work on transportation plans and needs. disABILITY LINK does

not transport students to and from locations, but will work with the student on the individual goal of transportation including rideshare, public transportation, and privately owned vehicles.

In order to offset the costs of transportation and additional costs for students, students who have been approved for services through Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency will be provided a daily stipend of $20 while participating in the program. This will be paid the following Monday after the class ends if location is outside of the offices of disABILITY LINK. If within the offices of disABILITY LINK this will be paid on the Friday at the end of the class period. At times, transportation needs will be different and may include disABILITY LINK assisting in alternative methods at which time the stipend will not be paid in lieu of payment of alternate transportation.

Empowering Young Adults Locating Employment Avenues through Peer Support Summer Program

Information: disABILITY LINK brings a curriculum specifically designed for youth to gain different learning experiences. This summer we are excited to announce that our classes will be held five days a week. These sessions focus on a variety of activities including:

· Job exploration counseling;

· Work-based learning experiences;

· Counseling on opportunities for enrollment in postsecondary educational programs;

· Workplace readiness training to develop social skills and independent living;

· Instruction in self-advocacy;

Cost: There is no cost for this program but must have an approved A&I from GVRA. Some limited space is available for students without an A&I however, these students will not receive a stipend

Dates: Choice of three options: All classes will be Monday through Thursday

1. June 7th through July 14th (we will not hold class on July 5th). (22 lessons/ 22 days-6 weeks)

2. July 12th through August 5th (shortened version 16 lessons/days-4 weeks)

3. June 7th-August 5th (9 weeks).

Time: 10:00 am to 3:00 pm

Location: disABILITY LINK 1901 Montreal Road Suite, 102 Tucker, GA 30035. We do have opportunities to work with teachers and counselors to bring it to a location closer to you.

Eligibility: This unique opportunity is available to Secondary School students between the ages of 14 and 22 and under an IEP or 504 plan. See your school counselor to connect with GVRA to sign up. disABILITY LINK must receive an authorization for each student prior to starting the session.

Sign Up: See your school counselor to connect with GVRA to sign up. For more information and to sign up contact gscott@disabilitylink.org or wthomas@disabilitylink.org

disABILITY LINK’s Empowering Our Youth (EOY)
Getting Ready for Opportunities in Work (GROW) Program

disABILITY LINK’s Empowering Our Youth (EOY) Getting Ready for Opportunities in Work (GROW) transition program serves young adults with disabilities.

Information: The EOY GROW transition program moves beyond the classroom. The EOY GROW program is a week-long curriculum that provides direct instruction combined with practical and peer led instruction for ages 14-17 and 18-22. This provides students with the social, vocational, and independent living skills needed to maneuver into a more independent life. Please note that students are only authorized to attend one-week of the EOY GROW program. Repeat sessions are not authorized by GVRA. If a student misses a day of their session, we will attempt to let the student make up the day in another session.

Location: The EOY GROW transition program is held at disABILITY LINK’s offices, schools or at locations centralized to student needs throughout Metro Atlanta and surrounding counties including Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, Gwinnet, Henry, Newton, Rockdale Counties.

Time and Dates: This is a weeklong (Monday through Friday, 8-hour day program). Dates and times to be identified with GVRA, schools, transition counselors, and pre-employment specialists

Eligibility: To be eligible only students referred by Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency will be approved to participate. Space is limited to 30 students with 1-2 instructors for each session.

Cost: There is no cost for the student to be part of the program. Meals and transportation are covered through a $20 a day stipend. Materials are provided.

Space is limited to 30 students with 1-2 instructors for each session.

Instructors: All instructors are peer support certified, hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, and are people with disabilities. We believe that peer relationships bring a more fruitful learning experience.

Sign Up: See your school counselor to connect with GVRA to sign up. Teachers can contact wthomas@disabilitylink.org to arrange for sessions to be hosted.