What Is WorkAbility
(WAI)?

WorkAbility is a program funded by a grant obtained from the California Department of Education (CDE). WorkAbility provides:

• career awareness and guidance activities

• pre-employment training

• paid exploratory work experiences through employer partners 

• monitor and support services

• information/registration with outside agencies

• follow up services for high school special education students. 

WorkAbility serves students ages 14-21 and services are open to students with an active IEP only. Workability services are not mandated by the IEP and should not be confused with transition services, which are mandated by state and federal law and are delivered by staff outlined in the student’s IEP.

What is We Can Work (WCW)?

The Federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) requires that the State Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) provide pre-employment transition services to high school students with disabilities (age 16-21) via case service contracts entitled “We Can Work” Programs. These services are open to students with active IEPs or 504 Plans. The core components of the “We Can Work” Program are as follows:

• Job exploration counseling

• Paid work-based learning experiences

• Counseling for post-secondary opportunities

• Workplace readiness training

• Instruction for self-advocacy

• Funding for vocational training and coaching

FOR POTENTIAL
BUSINESS PARTNERS

Interested in hosting a BUSD student worker? We would love to hear from you! Please reach out to Lori Schleinkofer, Coordinator of the WorkAbility/We Can Work Program at Burbank Unified School district at lorischleinkofer@burbankusd.org and fill out the google form (CLICK HERE FOR GOOGLE FORM). We will contact you asap. Your support of our program and our students is incredibly appreciated.

LINK TO EMPLOYER TESTIMONIALS

LINK TO BUSINESS PARTNER ROLES INFORMATION