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Education that works for everyone at the Uniquely Abled Academy at Dallas College.
The academy is an intense training program designed to help students with level one autism spectrum diagnosis gain independence through meaningful work as CNC machinists while helping North Texas businesses find skilled technicians.
Barron Smith, Employer, RW Smith Company
I'm one of the people that wouldn't have thought that young people on the spectrum would have a place in the shop, but it's only because of my ignorance. Now that I'm seeing this, it's going to be a win-win. Employers, we're here to make money, and if they can do it, then they'll get hired.
Stacy Ellard, Parent
Everybody wants to do something meaningful and be fulfilled, and just because they can't communicate and relate to you and I the way most people relate doesn't mean that they still don't have that passion and that need that everybody else does.
Jaime Hernandez, Instructor, Dallas College
We're teaching them manual machining that allows us to go from the beginning onto the CNC. We're drilling, tapping holes, basic counterbores, countersinks, just what you see out there in the real world.
Barron Smith, Employer, RW Smith Company
Dallas College has done a great job. We're starting to get a pipeline of really good quality employees. It's not the high school shop program of old. These are cutting edge machines. They learn both manual and the CNC, and the CNC stuff is extremely complex, but it can be taught.
Craig Van Hamersveld, Instructor, Dallas College
Most of the manufacturing companies here in the Metroplex export throughout the world, and so in the industry we have growth, so we need new employees, but we also have employees that are retiring, and you've got to replace them, so there's a big demand.
Stacy Ellard, Parent
Individuals on the spectrum are typically very focused, usually have a hyperfocus, an interest.
Andres Molina, Student
I am skilled at math. I love numbers, square numbers, cube numbers, and palindromic numbers.
Stacy Ellard, Parent
Knowing that they can sustain themselves and financially take care of themselves, which for a lot of families is a scary prospect and knowing that they're going to do something that makes them proud, look, I'm independent just like my siblings are, to me that's success.
Farooq Abdul-Rauf, Student
I don't think anyone's pretty excited about going to work, but for me I think I will manage to survive. I'll look back on this and thought this was a great experience I've had with the uniquely able academy. I'm so glad I have taken this opportunity to come here.
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For more information, visit our website and begin your journey at Dallas College.