The KenCrest Alternative Careers Education Supports (ACES) program provides school districts with third-party supports services designed specifically for people in the 18 to 21 “bridge” years to assist them in developing and refining the soft skills they need for successful employment outcomes.
KenCrest specializes in providing services for students who have exhausted their academic requirements and are ready to graduate but have very little community experience.
The ACES program has been developed to work with the school district in these cases and specifically works with students on the autism spectrum who need support to access opportunities in the community while at the same time developing and refining their skills for those opportunities.
Students spend a portion of their day in a class-like setting and the remainder of their time in various service learning positions in the community.
ACES Outcomes
Students complete the ACES program in about one year; however, more or less time can be taken if required. After completion of the ACES program, students then move to a one-to-one service opportunity within the community.
Service Learning Opportunities
The KenCrest team will identify specific service learning opportunities in your community for students. When students are ready, they will move to a service learning opportunity, accompanied by a support person provided by an employment consultant or job coach.
Varied Opportunities
KenCrest has successful, ongoing arrangements with many different organizations, and new alliances continue to form. Service opportunities are matched with students based on a student’s interest in a particular position within the organization they choose.
A sample of a few of the organizations include, but are not limited to:
- Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) – various locations
- Meals on Wheels
- Manna
- Freedom Foundation
- Cradles to Crayons
For more information about the ACES program, please contact Jessica Birkmire at Jessica.Birkmire@kencrest.org.
