SDSU Workability IV Program Dubbed 'Agency of the Year'
The San Diego District of the California Department of Rehabilitation recently honored SDSU's program.
SDSU's Workability IV program received an "Agency of the Year" award at the annual awards luncheon sponsored by the San Diego District of the California Department of Rehabilitation on April 20.
Workability IV, co-administered by James Tarbox, director of Career Services, and Mary Shojai, director of Student Disability Services, is a cooperative contract between the two Student Affairs programs and the Department of Rehabilitation (DOR).
About the program
The program offers enhanced career services to DOR clients who are or were students with disabilities at SDSU to increase their chances of full-time employment after graduation.
SDSU surpasses eight other CSU campuses and UC Berkeley in the number of clients served, number of new referrals to DOR and number of new cases opened. SDSU has been second in the state in the number of successful employment outcomes for several years, and is expected to lead the ten campuses in that category in the future.
Workability IV staff include:
- Cheryl Rietz, counselor/coordinator
- Jeanette Greany, internship specialist
- Traci Pavlas, administrative support assistant
Filling a critical need
The need for the program is critical. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 54.4 percent of working-age Americans with disabilities are unemployed, and 19.1 percent are underemployed.
Workers with disabilities are almost three times more likely to live in poverty than workers without disabilities, but education improves the likelihood that workers with disabilities will be hired.
More information
WorkAbility IV partners with SDSU Career Services, SDSU Student Disability Services, and State Department of Rehabilitation to assist SDSU students and alumni with disabilities achieve their career goals. For more information, visit the program website.
