CORE program helps people with disabilities prepare for employment

Katie Sue Cavanaugh has dreams of being on screen, and in under 60 seconds she can prove she's a natural.

Energetic and enthusiastic, Cavanaugh's personality, along with her unwavering love of Justin Bieber and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, shine though in her video resume, screened Friday afternoon during the CORE program graduation ceremony.

"That's me!" Cavanaugh, 19, said enthusiastically as she watched her movie trailer-style montage of skills, strengths and passions. Created with the help of vocational development and training specialists Katie Sobkowiak, Kelsey Berz and Ethan VanLarrhoven, the video resume is designed to make Cavanaugh stand out when it comes time to apply for her first job.

"That tells so much more about Katie Sue than any piece of paper could," VanLarrhoven said.

Cavanaugh was one of four people ranging in age from 19 to 47 to participate in and graduate from the current session of CORE, or Career Opportunity Readiness Enhancement. Offered through Aptiv, formerly Riverfront, the 12-week program for individuals with cognitive or physical disabilities was developed by former vocation development and training specialist Kathleen Wopat as an introduction to enrolling in the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation, a career guidance and employment assessment program.

Since its 2015 debut, 44 individuals have enrolled in CORE, with 26 of them continuing on to DVR to begin a job search. Ten have found employment.

"There was definitely a need for it," said Wopat, who now works at DVR and attended Friday's graduation. "(CORE) has definitely exceeded our expectations. We look at the success as moving forward in the employment process. Employment gives people with and without disabilities a purpose."

The CORE curriculum covers the basics for first-time job seekers, with lessons on internet safety and using employment search engines, workplace etiquette, hygiene and proper work attire and working as a team. Hands-on activities included setting a table, taking mock food orders and bagging groceries. In addition to classroom work, participants visited local businesses, from grocery stores to restaurants, to get a feel for their interests and understand what a positions fit their aptitudes.

"We don't focus on people's disabilities — we focus on their abilities and strengthen them," Wopat said.

"We're really just developing those soft skills," VanLarrhoven said. "Getting them out and about and understanding what life is like outside the home."

Cavanaugh has experienced a surge in independence since beginning CORE. Three days a week, she navigated the city bus system to commute to class from Holmen, an accomplishment that fills mom Sue Kile with pride, and has shown improved speech, communication and reading skills.

Cavanaugh, along with her fellow graduates, is moving on to DVR, and Kile sees her daughter working with the elderly in the future.

"She's a helper — she wants to serve," Kile said. "And be paid for it — she wants to earn extra money."

While Cavanaugh, a bit of a fashionista, concedes a paycheck would be nice, she aspires to take her talents to TV news. Though she rattles off Ninja Turtles and Justin Bieber as her preferred topics of coverage, she's willing to accept a more traditional beat if necessary.

"(I would do) weather," Cavanaugh said. "Yes."

Since its 2015 debut, 44 individuals have enrolled in CORE, with 26 of them continuing on to DVR to begin a job search. Ten have found employment.

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