tech-enABLEd

Project Overview

“tech-enABLEd” is a training program designed for people with disabilities that provides hands-on, resource-supported, output-based, and real-work experience. The program is designed with specific job opportunities in mind. Best of all, the program will be offered for free to qualified students.

Hands on – Learning activities are focused on hands-on projects that would provide experience-based learning. Students will be taught to complete the activities in a safe learning environment.

Real work – Projects are based on requests or activities that potential employers would ask in real-world scenarios or actual activities in self-employment scenarios. All activities would result in multiple accomplishments that will accurately and significantly build up their resume with relevant experience.

Resource supported – Students will have tools, software applications, and other resources available to them to successfully complete various projects.

Output based – All projects create output that can be shown or demonstrated to future employers. Portfolio tools will be used to help students collect their demonstrable output for their portfolios.

The training programs will be offered as extra-curricular activities in K-12 programs in our partner schools. It will also be offered to out-of-school individuals or graduates who are looking for targeted technology-related job opportunities. Various courses can be taken individually or as a set as needed. Courses will be designed so that participants will come out of these programs as experienced workers, not as inexperienced graduates. Partnerships with companies hiring for such job opportunities will increase the likelihood of successful job placement.

Goals and Challenges

The program presents various challenges in various areas of technology and education. The goal is to create courses that will allow the program to serve as many students as needed. The goal for individual participants is to be gainfully employed or self-employed. With the hypothesis that many among the beneficiaries could learn the skills and be successful with the right opportunities, the program aims to provide these opportunities to make the intended success a reality. 

The program has the following goals:

• Provide an online and hybrid learning program that will serve a large number of participants across the Philippines for free 

• Setup a premier and nationally recognized learning management system that would host courses and content from other education providers that serve people with disabilities. 

• Increase technology skills of individuals and place candidates in jobs in technical fields with a higher pay rate than before 

• Convince other employers of the skills and qualifications of people with disabilities and break down the associated stigma and negative bias. 

• Build a thriving community of program alumni and potential candidates where members help each other achieve their life goals