For 41 Mississippi youth with disabilities, this summer offered more than a break from the classroom, it offered an opportunity to step into real workplaces, take on new responsibilities, and gain confidence never felt before.
The Institute for Disability Studies’ 2026 Summer Enrichment Academy (SEA), offered in partnership with the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services (MDRS), provided students with disabilities opportunities to build employment skills through a week of intensive career preparation, followed by hands-on paid internship experiences in businesses and organizations across Mississippi.
For some students, those summer internships led to something even bigger: a job offer.
Before SEA students reported for their internships, they spent an immersive week on the campuses of The University of Southern Mississippi preparing for what they would encounter on the job.
IDS staff assisted students with honing skills that employers expect in most workplaces, including teamwork, communication, professionalism, interviewing, and resume development. Students also learned the importance of self-advocacy and stress management to navigate workplace expectations with greater confidence and independence.
That preparation was then put into practice as students transitioned into real workplaces.
Throughout the summer, SEA students gained experience in an array of industries and work environments. Internship sites included Laurel Mercantile, DoubleTree by Hilton in Hattiesburg, Ramey’s Marketplace in Columbia and Florence, PX Tires in Purvis, Graves in Tylertown, East Marion Elementary, IDS front offices, The University of Southern Mississippi Research Library in Hattiesburg, Boys & Girls Club in Gulfport, Hancock County Animal Shelter, Addie McBryde Rehabilitation Center for the Blind in Jackson, and The Salad Station in Gulfport and D’Iberville, among others.
“This summer, I worked at a grocery store and learned a lot about customer service and teamwork,” said SEA student Kevin. “It was a great experience that helped me become more responsible and confident.”
For several SEA participants, employers were impressed with the progress they saw during the summer, and wanted the working relationship to continue.
After completing her internship at The Salad Station in D’Iberville, Emme was hired as a part-time employee. Through her continued employment at the restaurant, a transition from intern to employee, this experience demonstrates exactly what can happen when young people have an opportunity to show an employer what and how they can contribute.
Following her internship, Mariah also turned her summer experience into employment, accepting a part-time position with Ramey’s Marketplace in Columbia.
For Kevin, an internship with Ramey’s Marketplace in Florence, also resulted in a job offer. Although the store wanted Kevin to continue working with the team, the position required morning availability for stocking that conflicted with his class schedule. Ultimately, he could not accept the position, but receiving the offer was a meaningful accomplishment and evidence that his work made a positive impression on his employer.
Parents also saw positive changes taking place.
“My son has gained valuable work experience at the grocery store through this program, which has helped him build confidence and responsibility,” said Kanesha, an SEA parent. “These experiences have strengthened his independence and better prepared him for future employment. Thank you so much!”
For another family, SEA helped provide the bridge between academic instruction and actual employment.
“We are very thankful for the Summer Enrichment Academy,” said parent Ashley[RH1] . “My daughter has gained so much confidence in her abilities. The support and encouragement the program provided were exactly what she needed to take the next step in life and begin her first job. We truly appreciate the positive impact this program has had on her growth and independence.”
At the Boys & Girls Club in Gulfport, SEA student Cambree discovered that her work experience was also about relationships and understanding the impact she could have on others.
“At the Boys & Girls Club, I had the opportunity to build relationships with children from different backgrounds,” Cambree said. “I enjoyed spending time with them, helping with activities, and creating a fun and positive environment where they felt safe and supported. I learned how important it is to listen, encourage, and be a positive role model.”
The experience also helped her think about her own future.
“Overall, I am thankful for both internship experiences because they helped me grow personally and professionally,” she said. “They taught me valuable skills that I will use in my future career, and they made me even more excited to continue working with children and making a positive difference in their lives.”
That combination of skill development, exploration, and real-world experience is at the heart of SEA.
For many young adults with developmental and other disabilities, sometimes success looks a little different. Learning how to communicate with a supervisor, completing a new task independently, discovering an unexpected career interest, or becoming more comfortable interacting with customers and coworkers are valuable skills that can take a lot of trial and error to hone.
For these young adults, simply being able to say, as Jackson did, “I have grown in my confidence” is a testament to the program.
For the 41 students who participated in SEA 2026, the summer provided an opportunity to move beyond talking about employment and experience it firsthand. They entered workplaces across Mississippi as interns, contributed to the daily work of businesses and organizations, built relationships with coworkers and supervisors, and returned home with experiences they can carry into their next classroom, internship, or job.
And for students across SEA, the skills, confidence, and independence developed this summer will continue long after the internships themselves have ended.
The 2026 Summer Enrichment Academy was made possible through the Institute for Disability Studies’ continued partnership with the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services.
