As we continue our Back To School & Transition Series, I am excited to welcome Kristen Corrie, Owner of Sweet Abilities, Life Skills Job Coach, Special Education Teacher and employees Carla & Bret. 

Kristen Corrie taught transition age young adults at Lakeland School for 13 years and helped prep them for life after school. As a special education teacher she became discouraged seeing how many of her former students were not out working in the community after they graduated from my classroom. So she started Sweet Abilities in June 2020 with the mission to provide fulfilling and accommodating work opportunities so that all abilities can shine. Sweet Abilities is a mobile ice cream/sweet treat business that serves only locally made products with no artificial dyes or flavors. More importantly they employ 8 young adults who all have varying needs and abilities. 

Listen in Kristen shares more about Inclusion in the workplace, providing accommodating opportunities and following your dreams.

I would highly recommend checking out the YouTube video to see Sweet Abilities in action :) - https://youtu.be/L_1qbwGo0q8

Resources:

Sweet Abilities - on Facebook & Instagram 

Purple Door Ice Cream 

Tas-T Treats & Sweets

Carrie's Crispies

Pete's Pops

After interview message from Kristen: I hope we helped spread the word about the need for accommodating community work environments for those with all abilities as well as showing those watching how making a dream happen IS possible! 

Best Ways to Connect with The On-Air Advocate:

Send me a message: https://www.onairadvocate.com/contact

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theonairadvocate

Youtube: https://www.YouTube.com/c/TheOnAirAdvocate

Join the OAA Facebook community: https://bit.ly/oaacommunity

Get Your Guide Now: The Self-Care Toolkit for Special Needs Parents: https://www.onairadvocate.com/selfcaretoolkit-parents.html

Check out my book Transitioning from a Pediatrician to an Adult Physician: https://amzn.to/3OFtJM0

#meaningfulwork #inclusion #accommodatingworkenvironments 

As we continue our Back To School & Transition Series 📚 I am excited to welcome Dr. Meagan Orsag, Director of Rural Programs at the Center on Disability and Development at Texas A&M University and Angela Griffin, Program Coordinator for iGROW. 

🌱 About iGROW : 

The "I Generate Rural Opportunities for Work" (iGROW) Project is a transition-focused model that includes pre-employment and leadership-training for up to 20 students with disabilities per cohort per year who are currently enrolled in middle school and high school (ages 14-22).

The purpose of the program is to provide a training environment to support students with disabilities to gain the necessary skills and experiences in work readiness in order to successfully transition into postsecondary education and/or competitive integrated employment. 

The program focuses primarily on five core Pre-ETS (Pre-Employment Transition Services) areas, which include:

1. Counseling in post-secondary educational programs or college level courses

2. Job Exploration Counseling

3. Workplace Readiness training to develop social skills and independent living

4. Work based learning experiences

5. Instruction in self-advocacy

Meagan & Angela share all about the iGROW; Rural Transition Project for Youth with Disabilities. 

Connect with iGROW:

https://www.facebook.com/igrowtamu/

https://www.instagram.com/igrow_tamu/

Best Ways to Connect with The On-Air Advocate:

Send me a message: https://www.onairadvocate.com/contact

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theonairadvocate

Youtube: https://www.YouTube.com/c/TheOnAirAdvocate

Join the OAA Facebook community: https://bit.ly/oaacommunity

Get Your Guide Now: The Self-Care Toolkit for Special Needs Parents: https://www.onairadvocate.com/selfcaretoolkit-parents.html

Check out my book Transitioning from a Pediatrician to an Adult Physician: https://amzn.to/3OFtJM0

As we continue our Back To School & Transition Series 📚 I am excited to welcome Evelyna Castro, Adaptive Trainer/Instructor & Makeup Artist/Designer. 

Evelyna has has had a passion for fitness and the arts practically her whole life, though she does not come from a very performing arts oriented family.

Evelyna grew up in San Jose, CA. with her four other siblings. Evelyna is number two in the lineup.

Listen in as Evelyna shares how she turned her passion into employment. 

Connect with Evelyna:

IG: @trainer.nutrition.coach

FB: Evelyna Castro 

FB Pages: Evelyna Personal Trainer & Instructor 

Makeup by Evelyna 

Best Ways to Connect with The On-Air Advocate:

Send me a message: https://www.onairadvocate.com/contact

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theonairadvocate

Youtube: https://www.YouTube.com/c/TheOnAirAdvocate

Join the OAA Facebook community: https://bit.ly/oaacommunity

Get Your Guide Now: The Self-Care Toolkit for Special Needs Parents: https://www.onairadvocate.com/selfcaretoolkit-parents.html

Check out my book Transitioning from a Pediatrician to an Adult Physician: https://amzn.to/3OFtJM0