With the purpose of creating career and job opportunities to individuals on the autism spectrum, College of the Canyons will launch the Uniquely Abled Academy in spring 2018.
The program will provide advanced training and support for highly functional autistic individuals to work as Computer Numeric Controlled machinists.
“The nature of the job is detail-oriented, which needs a great amount of focus,” said Mike Bastine, director of the Center for Applied Competitive Technologies at College of the Canyons. “Furthermore, machining tasks can be repetitive, which lends this career to be ideally suited for the high-function uniquely abled population.”
The UAA CNC machining course at COC will be a 12-week program that provides 420 hours of training and instruction to participating individuals, which includes soft skills, open laboratory, job readiness, and 21st century skills training. After completing the not-for-credit course, graduates will be qualified for entry-level positions as CNC operators, machinist apprentices, and machine trainees.
“This CNC machining program is only the beginning,” said Bastine. “This is a pilot program, which can evolve and be replicated at other locations and into other manufacturing career fields, such as robotics, CNC programming, manufacturing assembly, and industry maintenance.”
UAA is set to launch in collaboration with multiple local businesses who will provide employment to UAA graduates.
Created by Ivan Rosenberg, UAA was first implemented at Glendale Community College, where 17 participants have undergone training.
A special meeting for interested trainees will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 25 at the Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook University Center (UCEN), Room 107.
Employers who are interested in joining UAA are encouraged to attend an orientation event from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 6 at UCEN, Room 223. The forum will provide potential employers insight regarding the program’s benefits.
For more information about the Uniquely Abled Academy, please visit the program’s website.
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23 Comments
Jennifer Martinez Olien
It doesn’t say what ages they are training for
Jennifer Martinez Olien I assumed it was for college age kids. I was thinking in the not so distant future for Caleb ?
Cool
Priscilla Marie
Is this program only offered to autistic individuals or anyone with disabilities.
Christian Robles Individuals with Autism*
Bravo!
Kimberly Pimentel
This melted my heart! I love it!
Wanda Negrete-Gastelo
We need to look into this program
Yes please!!!! Vincent DeCenzo!!!!
This is wonderful. Will there be other vocational interests
available for students with high functioning autism through this program at COC?
This is fantastic
Too bad it’s not open to other students with learning disabilities. I was hoping that my daughter would be able to participate, but she is not autistic. She has severe learning disabilities.
What is the age limit?
Michelle Cloutier
Semilli Serruya Rosental
That is awesome!! :D
Hire me!! ??
Christina Ziehm
I like the program but wonder how being a machinist would effect many of these kids since they are sensitive to sound.