The goal of our program is to provide students with any disability with a work-based learning experience. The participants will travel to the YMCA (their worksite) and begin their unpaid internships by job shadowing the YMCA staff. Participants will learn different tasks, at their own pace and ability level. They will then take on their own responsibilities and become dependable workers. Our tasks and activities will give them the skills they will need to have jobs on their own in the future. Our goal is to have up to 5 participants.

Participants of  M.A.S.H. will learn soft skills that can be used in everyday life to enrich the quality of time spent by these individuals. Objectives we will focus on:

• asking for assistance
• accepting criticism in the workplace environment
• navigating a workplace
• following multi-step directions
• working independently or with minimal supervision
• managing time
• staying safe around equipment and others in the work environment

Daily Agenda:

• 9 – 9:30 am – Discuss the goals of the day/week. (What skills will be focused on this week, and what areas does the individual want to ‘work’ in during the week?) Areas will be rotated so all participants get multiple job experiences/exposures.
• 9:30 – 11:30 am – Work in the area with staff/volunteer
• 11:30 – 12 pm – Work on soft skills – making friends, entering a conversation, appropriate use of humor, time management, ability to ask questions, and following directions.

Questions? Contact Angie Jurgens at [email protected] or call the Y at 402-223-5266.