HAZLETON, Pa. — Reaching Beyond Limits, a program that helps adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities, recently opened its new location on East Broad Street in Hazleton.
The program offers career and community support services to adults with autism and other intellectual disabilities. This location is an extension of its other two locations in Kingston and Wilkes-Barre.
"Our secondary use for this space is our learn program, which is an eight-week work readiness skills program for individuals with little to no work experience. They could have a lot of work experience. They're trying to enter the workforce, and this is their first stop," said Mike Supey, Employment Division Director.
As soon as the place opened last month, clients started signing up.
"We realized there was a real population to serve in the Hazleton Area because we were getting so many referrals from Hazleton, so we opened a branch down here, and we're hoping using this as a jumping-off point we can serve as many people as possible," added Supey.
One class in Hazleton is currently in the fourth week of the learn program at Reaching Beyond Limits.
"I've been able to learn a lot in this program with just, you know, conflict, our strengths, our weakness, how we can work around them. Not only that but to get a job and maintain that job," said Luis Pagan, a client.
"It's great. I want to help kids who are like me, autistic, who have trouble socializing, and who might have trouble speaking up," added Gailey Shonk, a client.
The learning experience doesn't end there. Clients move on to the Work Experience for Adults program or WEXA Support program, where they will have the opportunity to work a real, paid job alongside a job coach until they are ready to enter the workforce independently.
"So it's an opportunity for employers really to get a trial-run at a really good employee that's got pretty sharp skills because we've just given them eight weeks of this training, so it's a good fit," described Supey.
To find more information about reaching beyond limits, click here.