Workability

Vista Unified School District (District) is the recipient of two grants, Workability 1 (WA1) through the  California Department of Education (CDE) and We Can Work (WCW) through the Department of Rehabilitation (DOR).   These grants are utilized to provide vocational education and experiences to eligible students in the District in grades 9 - adult transition who have an individualized education program (IEP).

Workability Grant

The WA1 grant provides pre-employment skills training, employment placement and follow-up for high school and adult transition students in special education who are making the transition from school to work, independent living, and postsecondary education or training.  The program offers students with an IEP the opportunity to complete their secondary education while also obtaining marketable job skills.  WA1 provides secondary students with an understanding of job-seeking and job-keeping skills.   The employability of students improves through occupational class training, and on the job subsidized, unsubsidized and/or volunteer work experiences provided in short-term temporary placements.  

We Can Work Grant

The WCW grant provides DOR Student Services work based learning experience, as directed by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) for students with an IEP, ages 16 - 21, who are in high school or adult transition, and are either potentially eligible for or are recipients of DOR services.  The DOR Student Services work experience may consist of short-term placements either on or off campus. Work experience may include paid/unpaid internships, paid/unpaid employment, work exploration, and job shadowing.  Work experiences are intended to be temporary placements to gain experience in the workplace.

A student may be eligible to participate in the Workability program if they have an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), and attend a Vista Unified High School (grades 9 - 12) or are in the District adult transition program.

For more information, please contact your child's special education case manager, or the Workability contact for your child's school listed on the Contacts tab.

District Supervisor

Katherine Abraham - katherineabraham@vistausd.org

(760) 758-3400

Workability Contact By School

Rancho Buena Vista High School & Vista Adult Transition Center

Carolyn Springer - carolynspringer@vistausd.org

(760)  727-7284 Ext. 72346

Mission Vista High School & Vista High School

Jennifer Boland - jenniferboland@vistausd.org

(760) 726-5611 Ext. 71078

Alta Vista, Major General Murray, Vista Visions

Katherine Abraham - katherineabraham@vistausd.org

(760) 758-3400

 

 

The District Workability program seeks employers in the local business community who will give students with disabilities a chance to prove themselves in a competitive integrated employment setting.  If you have a business and would like more information about becoming a part of the WA1 program, please contact Katherine Abraham, katherineabraham@vistausd.org.

Thank you to all of our current employers who partner with the District Workability program:

7 Eleven - 1501 N Santa Fe Ave.,  Vista

7 Eleven - 900 N. Santa Fe Ave., Vista

Alta Vista Botanical Gardens - 1270 Vale Terrace Dr., Vista

Arcadia Place Senior Living - 1080 Arcadia Ave, Vista

Canine Companions - 124 Rancho Del Oro Dr, Oceanside

Cinepolis - 25 Main Street, Vista

CVS -  1441 N. Santa Fe Ave, Vista

CVS -  1631 S. Melrose Dr. Vista

Elks Lodge -  1947 E Vista Way, Vista

Lamppost Pizza -15 Main St. B100, Vista

Panera Bread - 455 Hacienda Dr., Vista

Reins Therapeutic Horsemanship Program - 4461 S Mission Rd., Fallbrook

Ross - 463 College Blvd, Oceanside

Smart and Final Extra - 1845 W Vista Way, Vista

The Sparks Company, Inc. -  2581 Pioneer Ave, Suite D, Vista

TLP Pet Care - Vista

Upper Crust Pizza - 1330 E Vista Way #2,  Vista

Vista Barber Company - 1688 S Melrose Dr. #210, Vista

Walgreens - 1510 N Santa Fe Ave, Vista