IDS' ToTAL Tech Program to Provide Training Webinars and Internships for Young Adults with Disabilities (MS UCEDD)

July 25, 2018

Youth and young adults completing high school, including young people with disabilities, have many decisions to make: continuing their education, finding employment, deciding to live more independently.
The University of Southern Mississippi Institute for Disability Studies (IDS) new project, Transition of Teens to Adult Life (ToTAL) Tech Training, should help to ease the employment decision for some young people with disabilities.

During upcoming months, the ToTAL Tech project will be developing and hosting a series of online webinars and training videos focused on job exploration counseling and workforce readiness training. The training will also feature a focus on self-advocacy and post-secondary transition. Additionally, five Hattiesburg-area young adults will have the opportunity to participate in technology-related internships at IDS on the USM campus.
"It's so important now to increase the number of young adults with disabilities in Mississippi who have community-based employment with competitive wages," said Dr. Jerry R. Alliston, interim associate director at IDS. "Hosting online training allows ToTAL Tech to have a much needed statewide reach. IDS is committed to working with families, schools and others to totally involve young adults with disabilities who want employment training."

ToTAL Tech is funded by a grant from the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services. For more information about ToTAL Tech, contact Dr. Jerry R. Alliston at [email protected].