Work Readiness Academy

Dear WRA Families & Supporters,

Honest self reflection opens your mind to reprogramming, change, success, and freedom - Vikas Runwal

As our journey together this school year inches closer to an end, this month we have taken the opportunity to look back at not only our successes, but also our challenges to ensure that growth and discovery remain at the forefront of our minds and in the foundation of our hearts. Prioritizing ourselves as well as working on our confidence to express our thoughts and stay true to our personal goals has opened doors to limitless possibilities. Reflecting on who we are and where we are going has provided the clarity and focus needed to stay the course, overcome adversity and most importantly to be proud of our individuality. Whether it is painting personal mantras to create a self-esteem garden or finding the right words to express ourselves during interviews, this month’s instruction has taken the time to look inward to have the strength to continue to look ahead. Our team here at the Work Readiness Academy is beyond proud of our students' willingness to reflect on ways to improve all aspects of their lives and how to ask for help to become the very best version of themselves.

This month we are honoring "Ben" - another student who will be exiting our program this year and entering adult life. Ben is not one to love having his picture taken, so we've respected this by sharing a wide-view shot of him hard at work learning new tasks during his "job trial" training with Peak Sports Academy in Mountainside, New Jersey. Ben is being considered for a paid position supporting the operations manager at the facility which hosts basketball leagues and tournaments. Our team developed this opportunity as a potential "best fit" job since it incorporates Ben's love for basketball, his ability to perform a variety of tasks (including those that involve manual labor), and he gets to wear his favorite outfit...athletics shorts, a t-shirt and his sneakers! We're very proud of you, Ben.

Please enjoy the rest of this month's newsletter including a classroom spotlight on Project SEARCH, our Student of the Month, our Community Business Partner of the Month, a closer look at our Photography elective, and important reminders about Graduation at Project SEARCH on June 16th and our Graduation and End of Year Ceremony at the WRA on Wednesday, June 18th!

As always, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at jbornstein@ucesc.org or rricher@ucesc.org if you have any questions or want to discuss your child's program. We can also be reached at (908) 633-2704.

Josh Bornstein, Director

Rachel Richer, Supervisor of Instruction

UCESC Work Readiness Academy

June 16, 2025 - Project SEARCH Graduation Ceremony at 3:00pm

June 18, 2025 - Last Day of School for Project SEARCH

June 18, 2025 - WRA Graduation Ceremony at 6:00pm

June 19, 2025 - Last Day of School for WRA

June 30, 2025 - Extended School Year Begins*

*For eligible and approved students only.

This year's Graduation and End of Year Awards Ceremony for the Work Readiness Academy will be held on Wednesday, June 18th from 6:00pm to 8:00pm in our Cafegymatorium space at 970 Suburban Road in Union, New Jersey. We will be honoring all students, while also providing special recognition for our graduates!

Family & extended family of all students are welcome and strongly encourage to attend!

Refreshments will be served.

*Graduates should arrive no later than 5:30pm.

We are looking forward to this special day and joining with you to celebrate another successful year!

In the event that your child will be absent, arriving late, or picked up early, please send us an email at AttendanceWRA@ucesc.org. You may also call our main number at (908) 633-2704. If it is before 8am, please leave a message.

This month, our Project SEARCH class has been hard at work developing essential career skills. We've covered topics such as phone interview etiquette, personal vs. workplace injury, following up after interviews, understanding employment forms like the I-9 and W-4, building self-confidence, and raising mental health awareness.

We also took an exciting trip to the Atlantic Health System Corporate Office, where we joined two other Project SEARCH classes for a scavenger hunt. We met with senior leadership, delivered snacks and information using the Rolling Resiliency cart, toured the studio, and even had professional headshots taken.

On May 16th, we proudly hosted our annual Reverse Job Fair. Students met with local employers to showcase their skills and share highlights from their internships at Overlook Medical Center. We also participated in a cultural event celebrating Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

Families joined us this month for our third Employment Planning Meetings to review student progress and set future goals. We can’t believe graduation is just around the corner!

We look forward to celebrating our incredible students on June 16 at 3:00 PM in the Bouras Auditorium at Overlook Medical Center.

For more information about Project SEARCH, please visit our newly update website at:

https://www.atlantichealth.org/professionals/residencies-fellowships/project-search

Jourdan Spencer

Project Search Teacher

Shannon has become more confident in communicating with professionals from Atlantic Health System and the community.

Students got to participate in a scavenger hunt. Visiting the studio was a highlight of the day.

Project SEARCH students visited the AHS Corporate Office.

Andy is proud of all he's accomplished this year and is excited to present himself at the Reverse Job Fair.

Layla & Sadiyah are prepared for the Reverse Job Fair

Christian is ready to highlight his strengths and internship experience at our special event.

Current position at UCESC?

Teaching Assistant/CDL Driver

How long have you worked at UCESC?

I am finishing my 22nd year!

What do you love most about your job?

The students! They make me smile every day! And, our wonderful staff who make working here a pleasure.

What do you like to do in your free time?

Take walks in different neighborhoods and look at different houses!

What is one thing that would surprise people about you?

I love listening to country music, a far cry from my clubbing days!

Penelope at Walgreens in Cranford

Nick at Salon Villa Roch in Cranford

Izzy at Cake Artist Cafe in Cranford

Nicky at DSW in Union

Larissa at Jewish Family Service in Elizabeth

Benji at Summit Health in Berkeley Heights

This month we are pleased to spotlight Barnes & Noble Booksellers located at Union Plaza. We previously partnered with the company for many years when it was located further down Route 22 West in Springfield. We were so happy to see the store reopen in its new home in Union Plaza a little more than two years ago. Student interns at this Work-Based Learning site get the chance to learn how to conduct "zone maintenance" - a procedure using a handheld scanning device (PDT) and V-Cart to determine if books are “due out” (return to vendor) and/or in the correct location by interpreting audio/visual information from the device. Interns also learn how to alphabetize and merchandise bookshelves to store visual guidelines, as well as apply discount stickers and security tags. We're very grateful to Nicola and her team for their continued support and for providing opportunities for our students to learn valuable skills for work - both hard tasks and soft behaviors! One of the B&N associates, "LJ", who serves as a student mentor, tells us "...Izzy makes my my work day easier...she is such a big help!"

We were proud to celebrate our amazing team at the Work Readiness Academy and Project SEARCH during Staff Appreciation Week - the first week in May. Our staff enjoyed an assortment of "self-care and rejuvenate" themed gifts, including a 15-minute massage! Thank you to all of our parents for your donations and contributions...both monetary and the many yummy treats!

Our staff also enjoyed attending the new and improved "Staff Night Out" Trivia and Fundraiser organized by the Union County Educational Service Foundation (UCESF). So much fun and over $15,000 was raised to support the school and classroom mini-grant program!

Deb spotted former student, Joe at Greta's 5K Run in Westfield

Layla and Sadiyah - Project SEARCH Buddies!

Mark your calendars, and please join us on Wednesday, June 25th, 2025, at the PLAN|NJ Family Night Out at the Somerset Patriots baseball game!

The Patriots will be playing the Erie SeaWolves, beginning at 6:35 pm. Suggested Arrival at 5:30 PM

Every year, more than 500 family, friends, and supporters gather to raise community awareness of PLAN|NJ and its services for individuals with disabilities and their families. The PLAN|NJ family of board members, staff, social services partner agencies, businesses, local officials, and ballpark celebrities enjoy this summer pastime together.

“This is the ultimate family event – a chosen family of disability rights advocates,” said Kerry Lee, Director of Operations for PLAN|NJ. “Everyone is welcome!”

LINK to purchase tickets: https://plannj.org/events/

The Sensory Friendly Summer Camp will run from 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. during the week of August 18th through August 22nd, and will be held at the Trailside Nature and Science Center, located at 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside.

LEARN MORE...
Prospective campers must be Union County residents with a documented disability, demonstrating independence in basic self-care tasks, such as using the toilet and feeding themselves. While the camp warmly welcomes individuals who may require occasional prompting or redirection, it is not suitable for those with a history of fleeing, aggressive, or threatening behavior, who require restraints to manage or stop behaviors, or who require 1:1 staffing.

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN and space is limited. The application does not guarantee enrollment. In order to ensure compatibility and accommodate individual needs, the camp administration will conduct interviews prior to admission. The administration reserves the right to determine whether they can adequately meet the needs of the applicants.

The new #2NDFLOOR app for NJ youth is here! It only takes a second to get free 24/7 mental health support with one-on-one chat, helpline, community conversations, and more. Get started at

2NDFLOOR.org/download #mentalhealth #support.

At 18 years old all individuals, including those with intellectual and developmental disabilities, reach the legal age of majority. This means that parents can no longer make decisions legally on behalf of their children. See the attached fact shet from the Arc of New Jersey for more information about Guardianship and various alternative options.

The Work Readiness Academy serves students ages 18-21 with disabilities and provides a comprehensive employment training experience that incorporates both classroom-based instruction and community-based work-learning experiences. While in the training classroom, students work cooperatively with similar aged peers to learn critical skills related to employment and socialization. Students also work on career exploration and planning, including the development of a person-centered, post-secondary vision and plan with clear goals and action steps. Program staff remain on-site during the internships to provide and fade support and assistance as needed. Students also participate in field trips focused on career discovery, independent living skills, recreation and independent travel training.

For more information or to make a student referral, please email Rachel Richer at rricher@ucesc.org

Email: jbornstein@ucesc.org
Website: https://www.ucesc.org/schools/the_work_readiness_academy
Location: 970 Suburban Road, Union, NJ, USA
Phone: 908-633-2704