What are the Project Goals?

• Job training for graduates with developmental disabilities
• Match academic preparation and skills with employment opportunities

How are these Goals Achieved?

• Pre-internship activities
• Client-centered, targeted placement
• On-the-job training
• Stipend earned upon completion of 30-day internship
• Evaluation of internship

Who is Eligible?

• have a developmental disability
• have a degree from an accredited post-secondary institution completed within the past four years:
1. occupational certificate
2. associate (AA/AS) degree
3. bachelor (BA/BS) degree
 
• provide an official transcript
• make a commitment to intern for 30 days, and
• have Los Angeles county residency

Frequently Asked Questions

• Is there a fee for this program?

There is no cost to program participants.
• Does this program provide transportation?

This program does not provide transportation. Please look to other transportation resources.


Who should I contact?

Santa Monica College
Center for Students with Disabilities
1900 Pico Boulevard
Santa Monica, CA 90405
Phone:(310) 434-4016
Fax: (310) 434-4272
TTY: (310) 434-4273
Email: Gaines_Jeanne@smc.edu

* * * * * * * * * * *

What is a Developmental Disability?*

• A disability occurring before age 22 and is attributable to a mental and/or physical impairment
• A chronic disability expected to continue indefinitely and present a substantial disability
• Cerebral Palsy, Epilepsy, and Autism are examples of diagnostic labels often included in this definition.
• The disability must include a substantial limitation in three or more of these major life areas:
1. Self-care,
2. Expressive language,
3. Receptive language,
4. Learning,
5. Mobility,
6. Capacity for independent living,
7. Economic self- sufficiency, or
8. Self-direction
 
• The disability shall not include physical conditions that solely effect motoric or sensory abilities

*Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act Public Law 106-402(U.S. Congress)
*California State Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act

Collaborating Partners

• Westside Regional Center
• California State Department of Rehabilitation
• The Tarjan Center for Developmental Disabilities at UCLA

http://tarjancenter.ucla.edu/
• SMC Workforce and Economic Development & Mini-Career Center (WED)
• Jewish Vocational Services and Assessment Program

Santa Monica Community College District 
- Board of Trustees

• Annette Shamey, Chair
• Patrick Nichelson, Vice Chair
• Nancy Cattell-Luckenbach
• Carole Currey
• Dorothy Ehrhart-Morrison
• Dr. Margaret Quiñones
• Herbert Roney
• Annie Bird, Student Trustee
• Dr. Piedad F. Robertson, Superintendent/President

GRADPower Intern Highlights

• Intern I. Bachelor of Arts, History, June 1999

University of California, Los Angeles

Internship Status: Completed internship with Westside Regional Center, Culver City, assigned to Fair Hearings Department.

Work objective: Legal research. "I'm seeking an entry-level position in legal research."

Geographic preference: West Los Angeles to Downtown LA

Personal Statement: "I am a self-starter and just a dazzling guy (laughs). I'm very proud of the fact that I'm 43 …I went back to high school and graduated in 93. Then I went to a junior college and six years after that, graduated from UCLA."
 

• Intern II. Bachelor of Arts, Creative Writing, June 2001 University of Judaism

California Institute of the Arts

Internship Status: Completed internship with Top Cow Comics, Los Angeles, assigned to copy editing. Is currently enrolled in a Master’s degree program at a California State University.

Work objective: "Seeking career as a creative writer in a comic book industry."

Geographic preference: Greater Los Angeles area

Personal Statement: "I want to be published and have fans read my work."
 

• Intern III. Associate of Arts, Child Development, December 2000

Santa Monica College

Work Objective: To teach reading and spell via computers to children.

Geographic preference: West Los Angeles areas accessible by public transportation.

Personal Statement: "I'm a go-getter and I don't give up easily."

Internship Status: Completed internship with United Cerebral Palsy, Los Angeles, CA, assigned to children's activity center, and has accepted a job offer from there.
 

• Intern IV. Bachelor of Science and Job Certificates

Business Administration, June 1996 and Accounting course, Winter, 2000
California State University, Los Angeles and Santa Monica College

Work Objective: To work in accounting.

Geographic preference: Greater Los Angeles area using public transportation.

Personal Statement: "I am persistent, reliable, and hardworking."

Internship Status: Completed internship with Premier Tax Service, Culver City, accounting assistant.
 

• Intern V. Bachelor of Fine Arts, Fine Arts, May 1999

University of California, Los Angeles

Work Objective: Seeking career in illustration or graphic design.

Geographic preference: Greater Los Angeles area using public transportation

Personal Statement: Interested in contemporary Native American design.

Internship Status: Completed a dual internship with the Mark Taper Forum, Other Voices Project, Los Angeles County Music Center and the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), Los Angeles. Offered continuing employment at internships and currently enrolled in computer graphic design courses.
 

• Intern VI. Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, May 2000

California State University, Long Beach

Work objective: Assistant to a manager in a governmental organization.

Geographic preference: East/Central Los Angeles

Personal Statement: "I love informing people about government and legislation. I especially enjoy personal interaction with people; the ability to help people, correct problems and solve issues."

Internship Status: Completed internship with the Western Center for Disability Rights at Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, CA, assistant to staff attorney
 

• Intern VII. Associate of Arts and Job Certificates

Recreation, Tourism, Hotel, Hospitality, June 2000
Santa Monica College

Work objective: To work with customers who have challenging needs at hotels, resorts, airlines and travel agencies.

Geographic preference: Los Angeles area accessible by public transportation.

Personal Statement: Interested in hospitality, hotel accommodations and travel reservations for persons with disabilities.

Internship Status: Completed internship with the Center Theater Group, Mark Taper Forum, Music Center, Los Angeles, audience development for the “The Body of Bourne” production. Currently seeking employment and enrolled in photography courses.
 

• Intern VIII. Job Certificate, Child Day Care, December 2000

Venice Skills Center

Work Objective: To work with kids.
Geographic preference: Greater Los Angeles area using public transportation

Personal Statement: "I am eager, hard-working and reliable."

Internship Status: Completed internship at Therapy West, Culver City, a private pediatric therapy practice, assigned to summer day camp programs and TWISP early intervention program. Currently enrolled at the Venice Skills Center.
 

• Intern IX. Bachelor of Arts, Child Development, December 2000

California State University, Northridge

Internship Status: Completed internship with a private pediatric therapy clinic, Therapy West, Culver City. Currently employed at the Westside Center for Independent Living, Inc., Los Angeles.

Work objective: Seeking employment as an advocate for persons with disabilities.

Geographic preference: Greater Los Angeles area

Personal Statement: "I am a very ambitious and open-minded person!"
 

• Intern X. Bachelor of Arts, Speech Communication, June 1999, and

Job Certificates, Microsoft Excel, October 2000
California State University, Long Beach

Work Objectives: Computer related, computer analyst or programming

Geographic preference: West Los Angeles

Personal Statement: "I am computer literate. I enjoy hands-on work with software and taking apart computers. I specialize in Microsoft 2000. I'm a team player. I'm hardworking, trustworthy, organized and motivated."

Internship Status: Completed internship with Westside Regional Center, Culver City, assigned to Information Technology Department. Employed part-time with a real estate firm.