In July more than 100 educators from across Texas gathered at Texas A&M University in College Station for the Work-Based Learning (WBL) Summer Summit, a three-day professional development event dedicated to strengthening employment outcomes for students with disabilities.The summit brought together educators who oversee Work-Based Learning projects in their schools. These projects support the development and implementation of school-based businesses, providing students with disabilities meaningful opportunities to build workplace readiness, develop employability skills, and prepare for successful transitions into competitive employment.
A major highlight of the summit was a full day of training led by Sean Roy of TransCen, Inc., a nationally recognized leader in advancing employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. Roy shared evidence-based strategies and practical tools designed to help educators strengthen their WBL programs and expand opportunities for students.
Training sessions focused on three key areas:
- Person-Centered Planning – Helping educators better understand students' strengths, interests, and career goals to create individualized pathways to employment.
- Family Engagement – Equipping participants with strategies to build stronger partnerships with families and support successful transition planning.
- Building Employer Networks – Providing guidance on developing relationships with local businesses and community partners to increase employment opportunities for students with disabilities.
Throughout the summit, participants engaged in collaborative discussions, shared best practices, and explored innovative approaches to expanding work-based learning experiences across Texas. The event reinforced the critical role that educators, families, employers, and community partners play in helping students with disabilities achieve meaningful employment outcomes.
As districts prepare for the upcoming school year, attendees left the summit with new knowledge, practical resources, and strengthened professional networks to support the continued growth of school-based businesses and high-quality work-based learning programs. The collective commitment demonstrated during the summit reflects a statewide effort to ensure that students with disabilities have access to experiences that build confidence, independence, and the skills needed for future success in the workforce.
The Work-Based Learning Summer Summit highlighted the power of collaboration and innovation in creating pathways to employment and economic self-sufficiency for students with disabilities across Texas.
The CDD would like to thank the Texas Workforce Commission for making this project possible.
