Empowering Californians with Disabilities Through Apprenticeship
A visionary approach to inclusive employment is here: Introducing Ready, Willing, and Able (RWA)
The California Department of Rehabilitation and IWSIA (Institute for Workplace Skills and Innovation America) are thrilled to unveil the Ready, Willing, and Able (RWA) initiative. This groundbreaking program is designed to revolutionize employment for Californians with disabilities, offering a bridge to meaningful and sustainable career paths through a mentored apprenticeship model.
RWA is not just a program; it's a movement towards creating a more inclusive and diverse workforce across California. By leveraging the robust framework of registered apprenticeships, we aim to provide individuals with disabilities the tools, training, and support necessary to embark on successful careers in a variety of high-demand sectors.
Join us in shaping a more inclusive future, one apprenticeship at a time.
Together, we're not just offering jobs; we're building careers, changing lives, and strengthening communities across the state.
Apprenticeship programs enable individuals to combine paid employment, formal classroom instruction, on-the-job training and a pathway to ongoing employment and a State of California and U.S. Department of Labor recognized qualification.
The Opportunity
At a time of economy-wide skills shortages, it is important that we encourage California employers to explore new skill development models to expand career options and improve employment outcomes for groups which are under represented in the workforce, especially Californians with disabilities.
The more than seven million Californians with disabilities experience employment outcomes and an employment gap which is simply unacceptable. In February 2022, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that America’s disability employment gap was over 44%.
Only 19.1 percent of Americans with a disability werein ongoing employment, compared to 63.7 percent for persons without a disability.
Across all age and educational attainment groups, unemployment rates for persons with a disability are higher than those for persons without a disability.
Additionally, the number of young Californians living with a disability is growing: 17% of Californian youth identify as having a recognized disability.
The Solution
IWSI America have extensive experience developing and delivering healthcare sector apprenticeship programs across America and internationally.
Ready, Willing and ABLE participants will be able to access a full range of support services and benefits, including:
a competitive wage from day one of their job
CDOR vocational rehabilitation services
ongoing personal case-management support
workplace mentoring
a structured training plan with a clear pathway to a nationally recognized apprenticeship qualification or associate degree
ongoing employment opportunities after completing their registered apprenticeship
As well as improving disability employment outcomes for participating individuals and employers, Ready, Willing and ABLE will also deliver a multitude of benefits to the local organizations and communities involved.
As part of its commitment to increase the quality and quantity of employment outcomes for Californians with disabilities, the California Department of Rehabilitation is partnering with internationally renowned apprenticeship program experts from the Institute for Workplace Skills and Innovation America to develop and deliver the Ready, Willing and ABLE program.
“We are hopeful the Ready, Willing and ABLE program will provide a blueprint for Californian employers on how they can use the registered apprenticeship model to bridge the disability employment gap whilst also expanding the diversity and skills profile of their labor force.”
Nicholas Wyman, President
You can be a part of the future as a job seeker or employer partner.
Please contact Alexandra Mendoza at amendoza@iwsiamerica.org or
949 685 9020
or contact us using the form below.
