CORPORATE TRAINING & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Everyone
HAS WORTH
Before the program
I didn ’ t want to learn or talk about my disability . Now I embrace myself and learned to love who I am . I feel I can do any job I want to do .
Ty M .
Current LFI student
One of NWTC ’ s values is “ Everyone Has Worth ,” and one program that highlights this is the Learning for Independence ( LFI ) program .
LFI is a collaboration between the college and Wisconsin ’ s Cooperative Educational Service Agency 7 ( CESA 7 ). This transition program provides educational opportunities to students ages 18-21 with disabilities .
The program helps students train for and find jobs after graduation and around 80 % have done so , up from 15 % to 20 % about a decade ago . Some former LFI participants are working in the fields of security , retail , childcare and nursing assistant care , and at least six students have completed degrees or certificates at NWTC .
The hope the program helps provide is vital for students .
“ Before the program , I didn ’ t want to learn or talk about my disability ,” said Ty M ., a 2019-2020 LFI graduate . “ Now I embrace myself and love who I am . I feel I can do any job I want to do .”
Traditionally , students with disabilities stay in the high school setting until age 21 and then might get jobs in a workshop setting . However , as attitudes and opportunities are changing , parents and families are seeking other options .
12 FRIENDS OF NWTC | FALL 2020