The University of Florida was recently honored for its role in helping students with disabilities learn about job opportunities.
The Florida Governor's Alliance for the Employment of Citizens with Disabilities gave UF the Business Mentor of the Year Award. The Able Trust, a public and private grant-issuing foundation, only gives this award out once a year if that, said Susanne Homant, Able Trust CEO.
The non-profit program was created in 1990 to help people with disabilities find jobs, Homant said.
The program has been running for almost 20 years and has given a total of $24 million in grants. Awards have been given all over the state, and each county has received a grant at least once, Homant said.
Carl Crane, who is a professor in the university's mechanical and aerospace engineering department, has worked with the program for about five years at the university.
The award was presented to Crane and UF, Homant said.
"I was glad the university was recognized and awarded, but we don't do the work for recognition," he said.
"Our staff that works with the students are very energetic and very excited to help place them in the department they would be interested in," Crane said.
Having this program can also help the student pick a major or career choice, he said.
The student comes to the university with an idea or interest of what career he or she would like to know more about, Homant said.
The university offers 15 different departments that students can choose from. Students are able to intern, job shadow or find a job that fits their goals and strengths. The departments range from aerospace engineering to agriculture.
"They cover the whole spectrum," Homant said.
According to Homant, job shadowing only lasts a day while an internship can last a summer or 60 to 90 days.
Summer jobs are available, as well. The student can be paid up to $100 for the whole summer to work with a graduate student.
UF has participated in job shadowing since 2002, which has shown support for our programs, she said.
The university's partnership with these students helps bridge the gap between students without disabilities and students with them, Homant said.
In 2008, UF provided seven students with job shadowing opportunities, and two of those students received summer internships, said Sally Ash, assistant program manager.
This program is important to disabled students because it allows them to have the opportunity to look at different careers that they might not otherwise get to, Ash said.
According to Ash, the students in the program come from local high schools and colleges, as well as the Center for Independent Living of North Central Florida.
"At this age students need to research their career choices, and UF has made it possible," Ash said.
Through this program, mentors learn to see the abilities that disabled students have, Homant said.
"People have misperceptions of disabled people and their abilities," she said.
