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iGROW Project

I Generate Rural Opportunities for Work
The “I Generate Rural Opportunities for Work” (iGROW) Project is a four-year pre-employment and leadership-training program in partnership (funded by) with TWC’s Vocational Rehabilitation Program, for up to 20 students with disabilities who are currently enrolled in middle school and high school (ages 14-22) per year per cohort. The purpose of the program is to provide a training environment to support students with disabilities to gain the necessary skills and experiences in work readiness in order to successfully transition into postsecondary education and/or competitive integrated employment.

The intended outcomes of iGROW is to provide students with disabilities pre-employment training and workplace readiness activities that will support students with disabilities within the rural area with pre-employment skills. In addition, the iGROW project will serve as a demonstration and model of pre-employment training for rural areas that can lead to change while advancing pre-employment training for rural youth at the state level. The first iGROW site is located in Lee County, Texas. The Center on Disability and Development (CDD) at Texas A&M University has collaborated with local schools, families, businesses, and partnered with the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) Vocational Rehabilitation (VR).

iGROW Students participate in the following:
  • 16 Pre-Employment Skills lessons via the NextUP Transition curriculum,
  • Person-centered planning with a goal of employment provided by trained facilitators. The PCT Facilitators will design and provide activities for students to identify career goals, social and independent living skills necessary for that career, as well as the steps necessary to reach their goals. Students will practice self-advocacy skills with the support of project staff and trainers throughout the development and dissemination of their plan. Developing a person-centered plan with a goal of employment will lead to the pursuit of a career, rather than just a job. The Person-Centered Plan for employment is much more than a road map that supports and guides students toward their career goals. This training helps students gain autonomy for their own lives and planning and teaches them to create and communicate their own employment goals.
  • Career/College Exploration Enrichment Opportunities such as presentations from local business owners and employers and college campus visits
  • (1) Summer work and/or (2) Summer Camp with a focus on leadership, career/college exploration, independent living as approved by the VR Counselor. Student will apply for participation in one of the youth leadership and pre-employment summer programs or work-based learning opportunities in their county.
  • Parent and community training will be offered as well as opportunities for transition-related agencies and organizations to share information with the community.

The program focuses primarily on four of the five core Pre-ETS areas, which include:

  • Counseling in post-secondary educational programs or college level courses
  • Job Exploration Counseling
  • Workplace Readiness training to develop social skills and independent living
  • Instruction in self-advocacy

iGrow Media

Check out our on-air advocate broadcasts for iGROW: Meeting the needs of Texas Youth with Disabilities in Rural Communities and watch our program video.

Project Successes


 

Success Stories

Outcomes from Year 1 (Spring – Summer 2022)

  • 19 students who have received Pre-Employment Transition Skills (Pre-ETS) instruction with teachers,
  • 19 students who finished up their first person-centered plans with goals for employment this spring,
  • 17 student applications were submitted for Summer Earn and Learn (SEAL) program with the Texas Workforce Commission and all of those 17 students will be working this summer via SEAL,
  • 6 students will be participating in the Leadership Employability and Advocacy Project on the Texas A&M campus this summer, and
  • 3 students will participate in the Youth Adventure Program on the Texas A&M campus this summer.
  • Plus, we hosted a community/parent training in the community this spring.
  • We hired a Program Coordinator, Angela Griffin

There is so much to be proud of here in Lee County!

Thank you to Local Employers

Thank you to our local businesses for working with us to host a student this summer. And thank you to the 5 educators who are working as transition educators this summer to support our students on the job. Thank you to our Lee County SEAL sites/employers!

Please share a “thank you” to these businesses for being willing to host a student for 5 weeks this summer and help them learn more about employability skills.
Local Summer Earn and Learn (SEAL) Business Sites:

Resources


School/ISD Contacts and Resources

Let's connect you with Vocational Rehabilitation (VR)

Contact TWC Vocal Rehabilitation Inquiries for more information.

Project Team

Leadership


Meagan Orsag

Meagan Orsag

Co-Director, Center on Disability and Development

Texas A&M University
Email: meaganorsag@tamu.edu

Kelly Majewski

Kelly Majewski

Program Director

Texas A&M University
Email: kellymajeski@tamu.edu

Echo Johnson

Echo Johnson

East Texas Coordinator

Texas A&M University
Email: echojohnson@tamu.edu

School Leads and School Educators


Giddings ISD

Darlene Schatte

Darlene Schatte

School Educator

David McDowell

David McDowell

School Educator

Giddings ISD

Lexington ISD

Candace Weiser

Candace Weiser

Lexington iGROW Campus Contact

School Lead, Lexington Middle School
Email: weiserc@lexingtonisd.net

Tina Woodward

Tina Woodward

Lexington iGROW Campus Contact

School Lead, Lexington High School
Email: woodwardt@lexingtonisd.net

Phyllis Hawkins

Phyllis Hawkins

School Educator

Lexington Middle School

Jennifer Cross

Jennifer Cross

School Educator

Lexington High School

Emily Smith

Emily Smith

Lexington iGROW Campus Contact

School Lead, Lexington High School
Email: smithem@lexingtonisd.net

Dime Box ISD

April Caffey

April Caffey

iGROW Campus Lead and Educator

Dime Box ISD
Email: acaffey@dimeboxisd.net

TWC: Vocational Rehabilitation

Michelle Dodson

Michelle Dodson

VR Counselor, Giddings ISD

Brandalyn Williams

Brandalyn Williams

VR Counselor, Lexington ISD

Laura Villarreal

Laura Villarreal

VR Statewide lead

Leslie Abbott

Leslie Abbott

VR Regional Manager

TeShawn Ferguson

TeShawn Ferguson

VR Supervisor

Ashley Harris

Ashley Harris

VR Counselor, Dime Box ISD

This project is supported in part by Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) of the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) with a contract totaling $6,272,000 to the Center on Disability and Development at Texas A&M University. The contents are those of the project and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by TWC, VR, or the Texas Government.