The Vanguard Academy aims to empower individuals with special needs and to provide them with equitable opportunities to develop their skills, interests, and talents in preparation for tertiary education, employment, and independent living. Through this pilot Workplace Immersion Program, we envision for young adults with special needs to have fair opportunities to develop skills and confidence that would lead to sustainable employment and the ability to live independently, which we believe are common goals for many parents.

The program was designed to expose these young adults to real-life work experiences in inclusive and welcoming work environments, while building the capacity of the workplace personnel to work together with adults with special needs and raising awareness and advocacy among the patrons of the partner establishments. In addition to the 2-week internships held in SBMA’s Tourism and Law Enforcement Departments, Le Charmé Suites, Le Charmé Café, and Meat Plus Café, the program provided trained job coaches, orientations, and on-going training for the partner establishments’ personnel.

Subic was chosen as the pilot location because it is known for its safe community, thriving businesses, and fun leisure activities. It was the ideal location for these young adults with special needs to develop many employment and independent living skills, while enjoying the great outdoors! They certainly lived, worked, and played in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone for two weeks last July 2022!

A life-changing experience for everyone involved, the program had immeasurable benefits for these young adults, as well as allowed the partner establishments and their personnel to showcase their heart and skills in supervising and working alongside adult employees with special needs. We hope that through this experience, the partner establishments will be further inspired to strengthen or create policies for workplace inclusion to pave the way for more adults with special needs to have opportunities to participate in the workforce and earn a living.

Through the Subic Bay Freeport Zone’s community’s kind support, The Vanguard Academy’s advocacy for adults with special needs is being amplified. Together we will create safe and inclusive living and working environments for everyone, including those with special needs, one community at a time.

Article by Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority
https://www.mysubicbay.com.ph/news/2022/07/08/sbma-sbf-locators-help-adults-w-special-needs-face-independence-in-the-real-world