Advancing Technical Career Pathways for Uniquely Abled Adults

为有独特能力的成年人推进技术职业道路

• 批准号: 2301051
• 负责人: Craig Van Hamersveld
• 金额: $ 64.07万
• 依托单位: Dallas College
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2023
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2023-07-01 至 2026-06-30
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2301051&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Advancing; Technical; Career; Pathways; Uniquely

This project aims to serve the national interest by developing a unique collaboration between educators, autism specialists, social service agencies, and the machine technology industry to create vocational opportunities for uniquely abled, Level I Autistic individuals. The project will leverage this dynamic network of experts to prepare students to enter high-demand technical careers as Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machinists, a career pathway in American manufacturing that matches with the unique abilities of most adults with Level I Autism. Eligible students will be supported to enter college, navigate a customized technical education program and transition into a job as a machinist. As a result, the project will increase the number of trained CNC technicians in the North Texas Region and increase the number of Level I Autistic individuals in the technical workforce. Ultimately, the project intends to fill significant gaps in customized training programs and employment opportunities for the autistic community in the local Dallas-Fort Worth area and serve as a model for the implementation of technical programs at the national level. This project will develop and implement a credit, CNC Mill & Lathe Operator Level I career pathway for uniquely abled, Level I Autistic students. This novel career pathway will focus on the following five critical areas to meet the needs of the target population and build a fast-track path to the workforce: 1) partnership development, 2) student support and resources, 3) curriculum improvements, 4) professional development, and 5) awareness for families, faculty, staff, employers, and community organizations. The project will convene a collaborative of industry partners, vocational rehabilitation providers, local independent school districts, and Dallas College internal stakeholders to establish the foundation for identifying, recruiting, and serving Level I Autistic individuals. In addition, the pathway will integrate a career readiness course to support the development of professional skills and better prepare participants for the workplace. Industry partners will provide experiential learning opportunities, host on-site tours, and provide classroom guest speakers. The Dallas College Student Care Network will provide extensive support and resources to participants such as mental and physical health services, childcare, transportation assistance, and access to food pantries. A learning laboratory will be designated exclusively for participants to ensure skill attainment in an environment that is tailored to their unique needs and growth in the project. Creating a technical career pathway for Level I Autistic individuals will enhance the diversity of the workforce and offer long term careers that provide a living wage. Through dissemination efforts as part of the North Texas Consortium of Community Colleges, this model will be introduced to other colleges and universities especially in the Dallas area and has the potential to be translated to other programs and careers. This project is funded by the Advanced Technological Education program that focuses on the education of technicians for the advanced technology fields that drive the nation's economy.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

该项目旨在通过在教育工作者、自闭症专家、社会服务机构和机械技术行业之间开展独特的合作，为具有独特能力的I级自闭症患者创造职业机会，从而服务于国家利益。该项目将利用这一充满活力的专家网络，为学生进入高要求的技术职业生涯做好准备，如计算机数控(CNC)机械师，这是美国制造业的一条职业道路，与大多数I级自闭症成年人的独特能力相匹配。符合条件的学生将被支持进入大学，通过定制的技术教育计划，并过渡到机械师的工作。因此，该项目将增加德克萨斯州北部地区训练有素的数控技术人员的数量，并增加技术劳动力中I级自闭症患者的数量。最终，该项目旨在填补达拉斯-沃斯堡地区自闭症社区在定制培训计划和就业机会方面的重大空白，并作为在国家一级实施技术计划的典范。该项目将开发和实施一个学分，数控磨床和车床操作员的I级职业道路独特的能力，I级自闭症学生。这条新的职业道路将集中在以下五个关键领域，以满足目标人群的需求，并建立一条通往劳动力的快车道：1)伙伴关系发展，2)学生支持和资源，3)课程改进，4)专业发展，5)家庭、教师、员工、雇主和社区组织的意识。该项目将召集行业合作伙伴、职业康复提供者、当地独立学区和达拉斯学院内部利益相关者的合作，为识别、招聘和服务I级自闭症患者奠定基础。此外，该途径将整合职业准备课程，以支持专业技能的发展，并为参与者为工作场所做好更好的准备。行业合作伙伴将提供体验式学习机会，主办现场参观，并提供课堂嘉宾演讲者。达拉斯大学生关爱网络将为参与者提供广泛的支持和资源，如心理和身体健康服务、儿童保育、交通援助和获得食品储藏室。将专门为参与者指定一个学习实验室，以确保在适合他们在项目中的独特需求和成长的环境中获得技能。为I级自闭症患者创建一条技术职业道路将增强劳动力的多样性，并提供提供生活工资的长期职业。作为北德克萨斯社区学院联盟的一部分，通过传播努力，这一模式将被引入其他学院和大学，特别是达拉斯地区，并有可能被转化为其他项目和职业。该项目由高级技术教育计划资助，该计划专注于为推动国家经济的先进技术领域培养技术人员。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。