Students with disabilities ages 16 through 22 can now enroll in a paid, five-week internship program that offers the opportunity to gain skills and explore careers this summer.
Offered through Workforce Solutions Alamo (WSA), the Summer Earn and Learn program is open to young people in Bexar County and the 12 surrounding counties served by the workforce board. The program includes work readiness training to prepare students for successful employment.
People with disabilities experience an unemployment rate more than double that of people without disabilities nationally, 7.7% compared to 3.5%. But that means they also represent a large group of untapped talent in a tight labor market, said Adrian Lopez, CEO of WSA.
WSA supports students of all abilities, Lopez said in a statement announcing that enrollment is now open, “by providing connections to work experiences and career exploration activities that can truly transform their lives while helping to strengthen our local economy.”
Summer Earn and Learn
Interested students, parents and caregivers can enroll here. Spaces are limited.
Employers interested in taking part should email business_services@wsalamo.org.
WSA partners with the Texas Workforce Commission and Texas Workforce Solutions-Vocational Rehabilitation Services to give students practical work experiences that helps them develop skill sets and build confidence to pursue their own future career goals.
WSA pays students directly, defraying the cost for employers who participate. Last summer, 364 students worked for 53 employers, including SeaWorld San Antonio, Pearsall Independent School District, BFI Treasures Gift Shop, the City of New Braunfels and others.
Students worked as customer service representatives, IT specialists and administrative assistants. In total, they earned $240,918 in wages during their internships, working a combined 22,944 hours.
The program is federally funded through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, administered by the U.S. Department of Labor. Passed in 2014, the program is aimed at helping young people, and those with significant barriers to employment, find high-quality jobs and careers.
The program is also accepting interest by email from employers who would like to host interns. Employers benefit from having engaged and enthusiastic team members who bring problem-solving skills and new perspectives to the workplace, Lopez said. And with wages and workers’ compensation paid for by WSA, the program offers a low barrier to entry.
“Your business can make a positive impact and be an employer that equips and empowers inclusivity,” he said.
WSA serves residents of Atascosa, Bandera, Bexar, Comal, Frio, Gillespie, Guadalupe, Karnes, Kendall, Kerr, Medina, McMullen and Wilson counties.
