ZABS Place

Opportunities

Position: Dream Link Job Placement Portal Internship

Position Description: ZABS Place is a non-profit thrift boutique in Matthews, NC that trains and employs young adults with special talents to help them realize their potential. Our mission at ZABS Place is to help young adults with special needs harness their abilities and prepare to transition into meaningful careers; realizing their dreams of leading purposeful lives.

Organization and Contact Information:
Physical Address:
ZABS Place
100 N. Trade St.
Matthews, NC 28105

Contact: Bentzion Groner
Cell: 704 724 6270
Email: bentzion@zabsplace.org
Website: ZABSPlace.org
501c3. Organization’s tax-exempt number: 86-2748481

Key Program:

ZABS Place focuses on making career dreams come true for young adults with disabilities. We help identify areas of talent and ability and work with each individual to help them become contributing members of the community in their area of talent.

We strive to be a stepping-stone for those who do not yet have the polished skills to pursue their aspirations. We are focused on building a network of local businesses with a heart for helping our ZABS Talent take their special talents to the next level.

By assessing the interests and abilities of each individual, we are able to customize a training plan to harness their special talents and prepare them to transition into their dream careers.

Over the last 9 years, we’ve trained and employed more than 310 Special Talent at ZABS Place and many have graduated and moved on to employment elsewhere.

We envision a community where young adults with special needs can transition from high school to the adult working world with dignity. We foresee special young adults able to capitalize on their strengths, acquire essential job skills, realize their potential, and gain confidence in interacting with their typically developing peers.

Dream Link Objective:

Create a platform that showcases the work profiles of each of our Special Talent participants, offering a more suitable resume alternative to recruiters and potential employers.

These profiles will be dynamic representations of our Special Talent; engagingly introducing their personality, interests, talents, and skill development progress. The portal will be named DreamLink as it will become the critical link between our young adults and their dreams.

We are excited to announce an internship opportunity for a team of college students to contribute to the development of the ZABS Place Dream Link Job Placement Portal. This internship will provide a unique chance to make a significant impact on the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities by revolutionizing the way they are connected with employment opportunities.

About ZABS Place:

Since 2015, ZABS Place has been dedicated to training, employing, and supporting over 300 adults with intellectual and developmental differences in achieving their dream careers. While we have achieved great success, we have faced challenges in effectively showcasing the true abilities of our trainees and addressing employers' concerns. Traditional methods such as resumes and interviews often fail to provide an accurate representation, leading to missed opportunities and increased anxiety for our participants.

Project Overview:

The objective of this internship is to develop the "Dream Link" portal, a groundbreaking platform that will redefine the recruitment process for individuals with intellectual and developmental differences. The Dream Link portal will serve as a dynamic representation of each participant, highlighting their personalities, interests, talents, and skill development progress. Its purpose is to provide a more suitable alternative to traditional resumes for potential employers, offering an engaging and data-driven profile that accurately reflects the abilities and potential of our trainees and graduates.

By developing the Dream Link portal, we aim to bridge the gap between individuals with disabilities and their dream careers, opening doors and helping them achieve their employment aspirations. We firmly believe that this innovative solution has the potential to reshape the hiring process for individuals with disabilities nationwide.

Your Responsibilities and Focus Areas:

As an intern on this project, you will have the opportunity to contribute to the following key areas:

1. Skill Data Collection: Assist in the design and implementation of data collection mechanisms to capture skill development and proficiencies attained through ZABS Place training and employment.

2. Profile Visualization: Work on translating the collected data into meaningful charts, summaries, and dynamic profiles that potential employers can easily navigate and understand. These profiles will include data-driven representations of accomplishments, strengths, weaknesses, and brief videos showcasing participants' skills in action.

3. Accommodation Recommendations: Help develop a feature that provides employers with accommodation recommendations, enabling them to create a supportive and inclusive environment for individuals with disabilities.

4. User Experience and Accessibility: Collaborate on designing an intuitive and accessible user interface, ensuring that the Dream Link portal is user-friendly for individuals with cognitive and developmental differences.

5. Dream Job Showcase: Contribute to the development of a section where HR professionals can view individual profiles of our ZABS Talent and gain a firsthand experience of what it would be like to have them on their team. This section will include talent bios, photos, videos, and printable resumes.

6. Profile Updates and Motivation: Assist in implementing a system for ZABS Talent and their coaches to actively update their profiles, keeping them fresh for potential employers and fostering motivation and pride in their ongoing development and achievements.

Qualifications:

●        Strong UI/UX design skills.

●        Proficiency in web development using the Bubble.io platform or a willingness to learn.

●        Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to work collaboratively in a team environment.

●        Passion for creating inclusive and accessible technology solutions.

●        Knowledge of best practices in user experience design and data visualization is a plus.

Benefits:

●        The opportunity to work on a meaningful project that will make a real difference in the lives of people with disabilities.

●        The opportunity to gain experience in web development, data visualization, and UI/UX design.

●        The opportunity to work with a team of talented and passionate individuals.

Join us on this internship journey, where you will have the chance to contribute to a best-in-class solution for hiring young adults with special talents. Together, we can challenge the institutional blocks that currently hinder their employment prospects and redefine this area for the better.

Interested? Contact Bentzion Groner at bentzion@zabsplace.org. 

Position: ZABSpreneur E-Commerce Platform Development Internship

Position Description: Have an interest in developing your ECommerce Skills?

We have an internship opportunity for you or a team of dedicated college students to contribute to the development of an e-commerce platform for our ZABSpreneur Micro-Businesses Incubator Program. This internship offers a unique chance to make a significant impact on the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities by empowering them to launch and sustain their own micro-businesses.

About our ZABSpreneur Program:
The ZABSpreneur program is a micro-business incubator run by ZABS Place, specifically designed for young adults with intellectual and developmental differences. We provide guidance and support to help these individuals develop their craft, learn essential business skills, and bring their products to market. Our goal is to foster financial independence based on their unique talents and abilities, empowering them to start, maintain, and expand their micro-businesses.

Project Overview:
This internship will focus on the development of an e-commerce platform that will serve as a beta testing ground and online sales platform for our ZABSpreneur program participants. The platform will provide coaching, handholding, fulfillment services, and a seamless online selling experience, allowing ZABSpreneurs to focus on their creativity and product development while we handle the technical aspects. The ultimate aim is to attract a diverse customer base and create long-term training and employment opportunities for these talented individuals.

Responsibilities and Focus Areas:
As an intern on this project, you will have the opportunity to contribute to the following key areas:

1. E-commerce Platform Development: Assist in designing and building an intuitive and user-friendly e-commerce platform that caters specifically to the needs of ZABSpreneurs. This platform should include features such as product listing, inventory management, order processing, payment integration, and customer support.

2. Coaching and Handholding Services: Work on developing a comprehensive system that provides coaching and handholding support to ZABSpreneurs throughout their entrepreneurial journey. This may involve creating resources, tutorials, and communication channels to guide and mentor program participants.

3. Fulfillment Services Integration: Collaborate on integrating fulfillment services into the e-commerce platform to handle order processing, packaging, and shipping logistics. This will ensure a seamless experience for ZABSpreneurs and their customers.

4. Marketing and Branding: Contribute to the development of marketing strategies and branding initiatives to promote the ZABSpreneur program and attract a diverse customer base. This may involve social media campaigns, content creation, and partnerships with relevant organizations.

5. Performance Tracking and Reporting: Assist in implementing systems to track and measure the performance of the e-commerce platform, sales generated by ZABSpreneurs, and the overall impact of the program. This data will be essential for evaluating success and making informed decisions.

Qualifications:

●        College students pursuing degrees in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Business Administration, or related fields.

●        Proficiency in web development, e-commerce platforms, and relevant programming languages.

●        Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to work collaboratively in a team environment.

●        Passion for creating inclusive business opportunities and supporting individuals with developmental disabilities.

●        Knowledge of marketing strategies, branding, and data analytics is a plus.

Benefits
The internship will offer the following benefits:

●        The opportunity to work on a meaningful project that will make a real difference in the lives of people with disabilities.

●        The opportunity to gain experience in web development, e-commerce, marketing, and promotion.

●        The opportunity to work with a team of talented and passionate individuals.

Join us on this internship journey, where you will play a vital role in expanding our ZABSpreneur Program and providing individuals with developmental disabilities the opportunity to thrive as entrepreneurs. Together, we can create an inclusive community that recognizes and celebrates the unique talents and potential of everyone.

We look forward to receiving your applications and working together to make a meaningful impact in the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities through the ZABSpreneur E-Commerce Platform.

Interested? Contact Bentzion Groner at bentzion@zabsplace.org.