Starkloff Disability Institute

THE MISSION IS TO CREATE PATHWAYS TO EMPLOYMENT FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS: STARKLOFF PREPARES YOUTH AND ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES SEEKING COMPETITIVE EMPLOYMENT TO DISCOVER, BEGIN, AND ADVANCE IN MEANINGFUL CAREERS.STARKLOFF CAREER ACADEMY: STARKLOFF'S FLAGSHIP PROGRAM PREPARES JOB SEEKERS WITH DISABILITIES FOR COMPETITION IN THE MARKETPLACE. AN INNOVATIVE TEN-WEEK COURSE ARMS CANDIDATES WITH COLLEGE DEGREES OR TECHNICAL CERTIFICATIONS WITH STATE-OF-THE-ART JOB-SEARCH TOOLS AND DEVELOPS THEIR CONFIDENCE TO ADDRESS ISSUES SPECIFIC TO DISABILITY. HR PROFESSIONALS FROM LEADING COMPANIES PARTNER WITH US TO ENGAGE STUDENTS IN BUILDING SKILLS TO BE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES. THE PROGRAM HAS A STRONG RECORD OF SUCCESS WITH 85 PERCENT OF ACADEMY GRADUATES ADVANCING IN THEIR CAREERS.INDIVIDUAL CAREER COUNSELING: INTENSIVE, 1:1 COACHING IS ALSO AVAILABLE TO PREPARE CANDIDATES TO MAKE CAREER DECISIONS AND PUT THEIR BEST FOOT FORWARD IN THE JOB SEARCH PROCESS. DREAM BIG: DESIGNED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SPECIAL SCHOOL DISTRICT, DREAM BIG HELPS COLLEGE-BOUND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS EMBRACE THEIR DISABILITIES AND GAIN CONFIDENCE AS THEY LOOK TO ADD THEIR TALENTS TO THE WORKFORCE. IT IS CENTERED ON CAREER CAMPS THAT PROVIDE VISITS TO COMPANIES WHERE STUDENTS FIND WELCOMING WORKPLACES AND EXPLORE CAREER OPTIONS. A NEWLY FORMED CAREER CLUB CARRIES STUDENTS THROUGH THE ACADEMIC YEAR WITH PANEL DISCUSSIONS FEATURING DIFFERENT INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS AND HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES. A SUPPLEMENTARY GROUP SUPPORTS PARENTS IN NAVIGATING SYSTEMS TO SUPPORT THEIR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES AND PROVIDING STRONG FOUNDATIONS FOR FUTURE INDEPENDENT LIVING.ACCESS U: DESIGNED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF COLLEGE STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES, ACCESS U HELPS THEM GET THE MOST FROM THEIR COLLEGE EXPERIENCES AS THEY PREPARE FOR EMPLOYMENT SUCCESS THROUGH 1:1 COACHING AND GROUP ACTIVITIES. ASSESSMENT REVEALED SIGNIFICANT GAPS IN SERVICES FROM COLLEGES AND MAJOR IMPEDIMENTS TO SUCCESS ON SEVERAL FRONTS, INCLUDING PHYSICAL, ACADEMIC, AND SOCIAL BARRIERS. STARKLOFF ALSO PARTNERS WITH COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES TO CHANGE THEIR SYSTEMS TO BE MORE INCLUSIVE OF STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES.THE DISABILITY STUDIES INITIATIVE: STARKLOFF'S DISABILITY STUDIES PROGRAM HAS BEEN A PART OF THE LOCAL COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY PROGRAMS FOR OVER 15 YEARS. STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN CLASSES, WORKSHOPS, AND GUEST LECTURER OPPORTUNITIES ARE EXPOSED TO OUR VIEW OF DISABILITY AS A FACT TO BE RECOGNIZED AND NOT A PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED. OVER THE YEARS, SEVERAL HUNDRED STUDENTS HAVE TAKEN OUR MESSAGE INTO EMPLOYMENT SETTINGS, RANGING FROM NURSING, TO OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY, TO SOCIALWORK. MANY HAVE DONE INTERNSHIPS WITH US AS WELL.

COMMUNITY EDUCATION: STARKLOFF WORKS TO ADVANCE DISABILITY INCLUSION BY REMOVING BARRIERS BOTH ATTITUDINAL AND PHYSICAL. STARKLOFF CHANGES NEGATIVE ATTITUDES ABOUT DISABILITY AND SHARES THE MESSAGE THAT DISABLED PEOPLE MUST BE INCLUDED AS EQUAL PARTNERS AND CONTRIBUTORS IN OUR COMMUNITY. EXPERT STAFF DELIVER HIGHLY ENGAGING PRESENTATIONS AND TRAININGS ON SEVERAL TOPICS PROMOTING INCLUSIVE PRACTICES AND DISABILITY AWARENESS TO THE PUBLIC AND AT THE REQUEST OF OTHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS. DISABILITY RIGHTS LEADERS ARE HOSTED FOR SPECIAL EVENTS WITH CULTURALLY RELEVANT THEMES. STARKLOFF'S DECADES OF LEADERSHIP ARE USED TO EDUCATE PEOPLE OF ALL AGES IN PERSON, IN MEDIA, AND ONLINE ABOUT DISABILITY AND FOSTER EMPATHY AND INCLUSION THROUGHOUT SOCIETY. TO TACKLE PHYSICAL AND DIGITAL BARRIERS, STARKLOFF HOSTS A BI-ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON UNIVERSAL DESIGN TO EDUCATE DEVELOPERS, ARCHITECTS, BUILDERS, DESIGNERS AND OTHERS TO ENSURE EVERY PERSON HAS FULL ACCESS TO PUBLIC PLACES, HOUSING, TRANSIT, COMMUNICATION, AND INFORMATION BECAUSE COMMUNITIES WORK BEST WHEN EVERYONE IS INCLUDED.

STARKLOFF DISABILITY WORKPLACE ADVISORS: STARKLOFF WORKS WITH CORPORATIONS TO DEVELOP INDIVIDUALIZED PLANS TO ACHIEVE SPECIFIC GOALS FOR DISABILITY INCLUSION AND MEET GOVERNMENT MANDATES. OUR WORKSHOP LECTURES, TOOLKITS, AND CUSTOMIZED CONSULTING SERVICES PROVIDE COMPANIES WITH RESOURCES FOR RECRUITING, INTERVIEWING, ACCOMMODATING, AND ON-BOARDING CANDIDATES WITH DISABILITIES. OUR TRAINERS AS PROFESSIONALS WITH DISABILITIES PROVIDE REAL-WORLD EXAMPLES OF THE POSSIBILITIES. STARKLOFF ALSO OFFERS ANNUAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT EVENTS FOR HR SPECIALISTS ON TOPICS RELATED TO DISABILITY.