Assistive Tech will improve students’ job readiness through experiential learning.

With the support of a $30,000 grant from Maryland Works, Penn-Mar is expanding its Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) Bootcamp program focused on providing tailored and impactful vocational training for success in the workforce for youth with disabilities aged 14 to 21 years old. 

Penn-Mar has established these services in the Carroll County Public School district and is actively responding to requests in Frederick County, MD to extend the program’s reach.  

The Pre-ETS program provided by the Maryland State Department of Education’s Division of Rehabilitation Services (DORS) lays the groundwork for future success in education and employment by offering students a broader array of training opportunities while strengthening partnerships with local businesses. 

Pre-ETS Bootcamps are facilitated by members of Penn-Mar’s Customized Employment Team, and some of the new grant funds are being used to help staff develop a curriculum, teach classes, and purchase learning aids, tech, and materials. 

Penn-Mar’s MD Day Supports Administrator Danielle Gattine is overseeing this project and is excited to take it to the next level.  

“This is a dream come true,” she said. “For the last two years, we have been putting a huge focus on enhancing this program because there is a tremendous gap in services available to under 21 youth with disabilities and their families. Once individuals enter the adult service world, a lot of families struggle with the process as their loved ones no longer need parental permission for services. As an agency, we need to do everything we can to prepare these individuals for successful employment, and this grant allows us to design very specific classes to do just that.” 

Penn-Mar has been aggressively moving into the Assistive Tech (AT) world to enhance its services and increase the independence of people supported. According to Danielle, the organization is among just a few providers incorporating AT within Employment Services to support immersive, hands-on learning experiences that align with the students’ interests and learning styles. 

The grant will provide Virtual Reality (VR) Meta Quest headsets and VR applications, allowing students to explore simulated job environments, practice workplace scenarios, and build confidence in a safe, engaging setting. This approach will not only promote familiarity with emerging technologies, but also strengthen pathways to employment by improving job discovery and readiness through experiential learning. 

Danielle said AT can help students practice for interviews, allowing them to ask questions and feel comfortable before “doing the real thing.” For example, if they are interested in a food service career, they can use VR to learn how to prepare food, bus tables, and service customers. They can even be exposed to the fast pace of a noisy, crowded restaurant to determine if they would be comfortable working in that environment. 

“It has been encouraging to observe the enthusiasm among students for our Work Readiness Training program,” Employment Assistant Manager Lila Barchey said. “Their growth over the course from initial engagement to increased confidence is both inspiring and rewarding.” 

The four pre-ETS Bootcamps designed to prepare students for employment include Job Exploration Counseling to learn about skills, interests, and career opportunities; Instruction in Self-Advocacy to empower them to understand and communicate their needs, strengths, and goals; Counseling on Post-Secondary Education Opportunities where they can explore and prepare for life after high school; and Workplace Readiness Training to build the soft skills and professional behaviors needed to succeed in any job.  

“Maryland Works chose to fund the Penn-Mar Human Services proposal because it directly advances our mission of increasing employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities,” Maryland Works Marketing and Training Director Kevin Armstrong said. 

“The Pre-Employment Bootcamp program equips young people with essential skills in self-advocacy, workplace readiness, and career exploration. By expanding into Frederick County and increasing program capacity, Penn-Mar is meeting a growing community need. The program also includes a strong evaluation plan that balances personal progress with measurable outcomes, ensuring accountability and impact. We are proud to invest in this initiative and are confident it will empower more youth with disabilities to pursue meaningful careers and contribute to inclusive communities across Maryland.”