Post-Secondary Considerations For Taking A Step Into The Real World
Authors: Jessica Glasebrook, Dual Customer Coordinator, Criss Cole Rehabilitation Center, Texas Workforce Commission
As students prepare to leave high school and think about next steps, the array of options can be confusing. Your student may be concerned about living on their own for the first time and may realize that they could benefit from additional training in independence and life skills. The Criss Cole Rehabilitation Center (CCRC) in Austin is a residential training center that operates as part of the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC). Students typically live on campus in a dorm-style setting and participate in daily classes from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The classes are geared to prepare and build pre-employment vocational skills for young adults in the areas of orientation and mobility, assistive technology, career guidance, and daily living skills, including braille, organization skills, and kitchen management. At the beginning of their time at CCRC, students also participate in a six to eight-week confidence-building class in Industrial Arts, where they learn hands-on basic blindness skills through home maintenance and even woodworking!
In the evenings and on weekends, students can participate in therapeutic recreation activities with four certified recreation therapists. These activities are student-guided and allow students to learn adaptive methods for familiar hobbies and experiment with new ones. Students frequently go hiking, rock climbing, organize game nights, create music and art, and participate in fitness classes. The residential team works with students on home and personal management skills such as laundry, cleaning, and dressing for success, which prepares students to lead their best independent lives.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
In order to attend CCRC, students must meet four important criteria for admission. Students must be at least 18 years of age. They must have an open case with the Texas Workforce Commission and be working with a vocational rehabilitation counselor. Students also need to have a work-based employment goal and be preparing for the workplace or for postsecondary training that leads to employment. Finally, it is vital for students that they be able to be medically independent (fill their own prescriptions and take medications on their own) as well as be able to perform activities of daily living, such as dressing and bathing, by themselves.
We look forward to hearing from you and your student as you navigate the next chapter together. If you have any questions about Criss Cole or would like to schedule a tour, please contact Joni Martinez ([email protected]) or Jessica Glasebrook ([email protected].)