Collaboration Works: STAR Center and Open Doors for Multicultural Families

This program is a multicultural integrative approach to youth job readiness training for low-income families with youth with disabilities who are English language learners enrolled in special education in Seattle Schools. 20 youth are enrolled in this valuable program, which covers workplace expectations, hygiene, conflict resolution, and appropriate communication in the work place and the use of computers and assistive technology. The program includes 12 hours of Parent Training to school engagement to support student attendance and academic engagement, and monitor their child’s progress in school and job readiness skills. It also includes training to parents in accessing the SOURCE to view their youth’s attendance and academic progress. For many parents this is an introduction to technology, such as basic computer skills, access to internet, create their first email account to correspond to school and other agencies they might be working with, in addition parents will become familiar with electronic resources with the use of computers and access to the broadband. Students and their families learn specific assistive technology skills they might need at school and work place to facilitate their leaning and their job.

Youth learning job readiness skills on adaptive equipment at the STAR Center, an assistive technology universal access computer center.

Made possible through a grant from the City of Seattle Human Services Department (HSD) and CCNP Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) funding, the program takes place at the STAR Center, a universal design computer lab where students have access to state-of-the-art computers and integrate technology in their learning. Ginger Kwan, Director of Open Doors for Multicultural Families and Oscar Escalante STAR Center Director joined forces to provide these valuable skills to 20 youths in four languages. Open Doors staff includes four cultural brokers in Chinese, Spanish, Somali, and Vietnamese and STAR Center includes a Technology teacher, an Independent Living Skills specialist, and an administration support staff. For more information on this program, contact Oscar Escalante.

Article submitted by Oscar Escalante, Director of the STAR Center