Program Focuses on Abilities

Two years ago Veronica Castro of Chula Vista had no job skills, a five-year-old child to support and not much hope of finding work because of a congenital hearing loss that has limited her to communicating primarily by American Sign Language.

Today she has a full-time job as an electronics assembler at Cohu, Inc. Electronics Assembly. Her life was been turned around by the district’s WorkAbility III program coupled with her own hard work and determination.

WorkAbility III, an interagency project of the San Diego Community College District and the state Department of Rehabilitation, provides students with disabilities with the tools and resources to enhance their employability. The array of services includes vocational counseling and career exploration, support such as note-taking or interpreters during the vocational training in district programs, and training in how to look for and compete for a job.

Finally, WorkAbility works with the potential employer to smooth the transition to employment, including assessment and advice about on-the-job accommodations, and follow-up with the student/graduate and job supervisor.

As the program title suggests, the goal of WorkAbility is to focus on the abilities of its clients, rather than their disabilities. Castro is a good example of how this works.

In 1998, she turned to the Department of Rehabilitation for vocational training and job placement assistance. Through vocational counseling and assessments, Castro decided she wanted to become an electronics assembler.

Castro chose this vocation because it relies on good eye-hand coordination, one of her strengths, and does not require a lot of reading or writing–or hearing.

Once Castro decided on a career direction, she was referred by the Department of Rehabilitation to the district’s WorkAbility III program, which got her started in the training program at the Educational Cultural Complex where her progress was monitored by WorkAbility counselor David Pontious.

“The value of the WorkAbility III program is that it has the flexibility to provide individual counseling, guidance, and job placement for students with disabilities,” said Pontious. “The key to the program is the individualized attention given to each student to assess their needs and help them to achieve their goals.”

A clear plan with support gave Castro the strength to succeed. Although she had to juggle her training schedule while providing child care for her son, she finished Recardo Napoles’ electronics assembly class last year and immediately began looking for work. Even before graduating, Castro was aided in her future job search by Pontious, who showed her how to fill out job applications, develop a resume and search for job openings.

Cohu, a company that has actively recruited students with disabilities from the district’s electronic assembly program, was hiring. Castro filed an application and was selected to be interviewed. “Cohu is a company that looks at an individual’s abilities rather than their disability,” said Mary Lewis, the district’s Disabled Student Programs and Services manager.

After a follow-up interview, when Pontious answered the shop supervisor’s questions about how to communicate with employees who are deaf, Castro was hired.

“She is very excited about working at Cohu, and her employer says she is a valuable asset to the company,” Pontious said.

Castro’s success is a personal triumph. It is also an example to others with disabilities, and to employers, that with the coordination WorkAbility provides, a good employer-employee match is very achievable.

Potential employers and clients may find out more about WorkAbility by contacting Greg Cusick at 619-388-6808 or gcusick@sdccd.edu.

WorkAbility client Veronica Castro is deaf, but that doesn't diminish her ability to work as an electronics assembler or her love of the job.