EmployAbilities is a three-stage, eight-week, comprehensive employment training program, created by The Whole Person. The program’s goal is to provide young job seekers (minimum age 18) living with a disability an opportunity to refine their working and job-seeking skill sets. While EmployAbilities will focus on training in the TWP Catering Kitchen, students will acquire skills that will serve them in any employment environment where they have an interest in working.
Preparing for the Kitchen
Stage One is a Two-Week Program focused on preparing to enter the kitchen
This stage includes activities such as:
- Managing food and supply inventory.
- Gaining knowledge of food and ingredient shelf-life.
- Correctly labeling and dating products.
- Maintaining appropriate kitchen and food safety.
- Problem-solving in the workplace.
In The Kitchen
Stage Two is a practical, hands-on apprenticeship that will teach each student what it means to have a job. While students will work in a kitchen environment, students will learn best practices in a number of employment disciplines including workplace attitude and motivation, working with others and working for a manager. Students will gain valuable kitchen skills and receive a food handler’s permit at the end of this stage. The job skills learned in stage two will benefit the student in a wide range of work environments.
Five weeks of work experience in a catering kitchen:
- Students will learn to be a “Brand Ambassador” by helping to sell and market TWP Catering at every delivery through interactions with customers.
- Receive a food handler’s permit (for food service safety and sanitation) after successful completion of the program.
- Learn food production and presentation in a commercial-style catering kitchen.
- Gain the ability to process written as well as verbal instructions.
- Get experience working individually and as a team to accomplish daily production tasks.
Putting the Pieces Together
In this final stage, students will merge the classroom instruction and apprenticeship. Students will begin to prepare for the really big step, the job search:
- Completion of the food handler’s permit.
- Completion of the professional portfolio.
- Mock interviews.
- Meeting with actual employers.
- Graduation ceremony.
Upon completion of Stage Three, students will work with an Employment Specialist driving their job search and receive on-going support such as job coaching and retention.
Partnered with The Whole Person Catering
The Whole Person Catering is a social enterprise sponsored by The Whole Person, a Missouri Center for Independent Living headquartered in Kansas City MO. We serve a gourmet menu of sandwiches, salads, sides, delicious desserts and beverages. The Whole Person Catering is staffed by participants in EmployAbilities, a comprehensive employment training program for job seekers living with a developmental disability administered by The Whole Person.
Preparing people with disabilities for competitive employment
– The Whole Person Catering