What is WorkAbility I?

WorkAbility I is a nationally recognized school-to-work program that provides comprehensive pre-employment training, employment placement and follow-up for high school students in special education who are making the transition from school to work. 

The vision of the California Department of Education (CDE), Special Education Division is that all individuals with disabilities will successfully participate in preparation for the workplace and independent living.

The mission of WorkAbility I is to promote the involvement of key stakeholders, including students, families, educators, employers, and other agencies in planning and implementing an array of services that will culminate in successful student transition to employment, lifelong learning, and quality adult life.

WorkAbility I provides:

• Paid work experience and job training to benefit students, employers, and the community at large 
• The opportunity for special education students (ages 14-22) to complete their secondary education while also obtaining marketable skills
• Career awareness and career exploration to secondary students with IEPs
• Staff, parents, and students with transition resource information.
• Curriculum and ideas for transition instruction in the classroom.
• WorkAbility liaisons assigned to campuses to conduct co-teaching workshops to assist special education teachers in meeting the requirements of transition mandates in the areas of career awareness/exploration and preparation for the worksite. 
• Outside agency information and contact names/numbers and classroom speakers in the area of transition.
• WorkAbility sponsors field trips to community colleges and occupational centers with presentations from the offices for students with disabilities to support students making the transition from high school to postsecondary education.
• WorkAbility strives to connect staff, parents, and students to different services offered through the community and school district such as job shadowing, ROP and other youth provider programs.

For more information on the WorkAbility program, please contact: 

Burbank USD:  Linda Lindley, (818) 729-4449 or LindaLindley@BurbankUSD.org

Glendale USD:  Stephanie Kovach, (818) 246-5378 or SKovach@gusd.net

La Canada USD:  Stephanie Kovach, (818) 246-5378 or SKovach@gusd.net