Career Assistance Readiness Training Program (C.A.R.T.)
in partnership with Riverside Industries, Inc. & Stop & Shop Supermarket Company
What is this collaboration:
CART Program (progressing, continuing, growing) is a collaboration with Valley Educational Associates, Riverside Industries, and Stop & Shop in Western MA with multiple learning phases to provide on-the-job training skills for adults with developmental disabilities. CART creates a natural pipeline to the career world. Western MA lacks a training program for individuals with developmental disabilities to learn retail skills in a real on-the-job setting. CART is a first of its kind training collaboration with multi-phased lessons uniquely. The pilot began in December 2017 and currently has 36 participants. Stop & Shop hopes to see as many as 60 participants at one time in this ongoing, biannual training program.
This program was developed by Anthony Frogameni and a former Riverside staff to create on-the-job training. The program offers two tracks: soft skills and job shadowing. The soft skills portion teaches customer service skills to the participants. The second half focuses on participants job shadowing with Stop & Shop employees in the different departments. This is well-suited for
individuals with disabilities to thoroughly prepare them for career success.
Purpose:
The goals of this program are job readiness and community inclusion for adults with developmental disabilities.
The next sessions will run from September to November 2019 and March to May 2020.
Grant:
The Community Foundation of Western MA has invested in this program through their Mission Grant. Their funding helps afford staff to meet the rising needs of this program.
Read the press release from the Community Foundation: http://communityfoundation.org/forms/wp-content/uploads/7.10.19_2019_Mission_Grant_Awards.pdf