Prevocational Services

The primary focus of AIS prevocational programs is to provide a work environment that promotes growth in a variety of work skills areas specific to each individual’s choice and abilities.

Work skill areas include prevocational, communications, social, and professional image.  The strategy is to develop skills which are conducive to employment within the general community for those who so choose.  This program has a higher staff:employee ratio which allows us to better support individuals with greater needs.

Within our prevocational setting, our employees may access a wide range of work experiences.  These would include work in a mailing environment; assembly line work; and, participation in the creation of a unique product line.  Also, because our prevocational programs are fully integrated into our small businesses, we are able to expose our employees to the experiences of meeting firm, and sometimes short, deadlines; quality control concerns and strategies; teamwork; and, working independently.  

Our prevocational program is complemented with various training opportunities to reinforce the ‘softer’ work skills.  These skills include social interaction, activities of daily living, and communication.

At AIS, we work hard to ensure people have the opportunity to express their choices and that they receive support to realize their goals.  Our staff work very closely with our employees on a day to day basis coming to know their strengths and preferences.  This knowledge is incorporated into decisions and directions taken.  Formally, the information gleaned is shared in an annual planning process that involves people who are important in the employee’s life.