DACC program helps individuals with disabilities discover possibilities

If you asked Manny Cadena three years ago what career he wanted, he would have told you he wanted to be a real estate agent. Fast-forward to today, when Cadena realized his aspirations are to help children. The driving force that helped him figure out his passion? A new program at Doña Ana Community College.

Cadena never thought he would continue his education beyond high school, until one of his aunts heard about the Career and Life Skills Academy, a program for individuals with disabilities. The year-long academy helps students develop the skills, confidence and focus they need to achieve personal, academic and career goals.

It’s the same program Victoria Carrasco is in now. Carrasco enrolled to help find not just a job, but a career – one where she can help people in the community. 

“It’s helping me look for a job and in different programs that I didn’t know of before,” Carrasco says.

The program is unique in that it emphasizes personal discovery, career exploration, job skills, computer literacy, independent living and community engagement. Students completing the program will go on to enroll in college or an occupational training program, enter the workforce in an entry-level job, develop a small business or pursue a career.

“Whether you’re a person who has a singular concentration on a specific job, interest in all sorts of careers, or no idea what you want to do with your future, the academy can help students discover their own potential,” says Kay Lilley ’92, DACC Workforce Training program specialist. “We go from there to provide multiple career development activities, such as independent research, microlearning, credentialing, informational interviews, job shadowing, volunteering and ultimately paid internships.”

That is exactly what it’s doing for Carrasco. 

“It’s important, knowing more information about different jobs,” she says.

And for Cadena, it helped him find his job and his future. 

“It can help you find what you want to do in life and give you ideas on what kind of jobs there are in the world,” he says. “My future plans are to hopefully go back to school at NMSU for a degree, do something with kids or something close to that. It is really a great program.”

To apply, applicants must be at least 18 years old with a high school diploma or equivalent. They must also have a diagnosis of an intellectual or developmental disability, autism or other neurodiverse condition. For more information, call 575-527-7776 or email ctp@nmsu.edu.