Service Provider Promising Practice: LaunchAbility Academy Training Program (Texas) - On-Site Training to Improve Employment Outcomes

LaunchAbility is a CRP that serves people with IDD in several locations throughout North Texas. LaunchAbility’s employment services program offers placement exclusively in the community. The LaunchAbility Academy Training Program was established in collaboration with the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) as a way to engage employers and prepare job seekers for employment. Program administrators at LaunchAbility developed the Academy model inspired by their work with Walgreens and the Project Search program www.projectsearch.us/. The Academy offers a combination of on-site direct work experience and workplace culture, etiquette, and behavior training (also known as soft skills) to people with IDD. The goal of the Academy is to train people to work in growing companies, doing jobs that require high skill levels and attention to detail