Ability Connection (AC), a program under Milwaukee-based IndependenceFirst, is seeking volunteers to train people with disabilities for careers in Information Technology (IT).
AC works with about 30 to 40 students each year to support them in their career goals. With assistance from business professionals in IT and Human Resources (HR), AC helps students develop the skills they need to pursue long-term IT careers.
“We want to give the students we work with a well-rounded approach to finding a job, and this covers multiple categories,” said AC employment consultant Amber Anderson. “The HR aspect would play a role with soft skills, interviewing and resume tips, and interpersonal relationships. The IT field is a very diverse field, and we are looking for volunteers in all aspects from software design to networking to management.”
Through AC, IT students with disabilities find opportunities for mentoring, internships, financial aid and job placement.
Volunteers serve on the program’s Business Advisory Committee and help students with disabilities through their networks, business connections, work experience and expertise.
The initiative also looks for volunteers with a genuine desire to help and an eagerness to make a difference in someone’s life, Anderson said.
She describes the AC volunteers as the fuel driving the program’s mission.
“Our volunteers give so much of themselves and their time to ensure the success of our students, and without their hard work, our organization would not be where it is today,” Anderson said.
For more information about volunteer opportunities with AC, visit www.abilityconnection.org/.
IndependenceFirst assists residents with disabilities in southeastern Wisconsin with services related to employment, skill building, accessible housing, accessible transportation, caregiving, recreation and more. For more information about the nonprofit, visit www.independencefirst.org/.
