Our Model

Our program strives to teach skills that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) seek through passion projects! Some examples of passion projects, as inspired by community members include:

Writing letters to Congress to share perspectives while improving communication skills
Engaging in community service to practice leadership in a workplace setting
Developing craftsmanship to refine motor skills in aspiration of being hired by a local business
Selling handmade jewelry to express creativity and work towards financial autonomy

Our professionals are supported by a team of college students who are ready to help you enact your plans. By going through the program, professionals join our PPD+ Network — a community of current and past participants.

A Community-Based Solution

The Pipeline for Professionals with Disabilities fits into the Ann Arbor community as a transitional opportunity from basic education and workforce training to job matching programs. Secondary schooling and day programs are effective for many needs, yet they do not empower individuals to make their own decisions in a supportive and collaborative environment. The PPD Project complements group homes and day programs by allowing for an engaging opportunity to develop skills not provided in a typical setting. We document professionals’ growth along the way so that participants can celebrate their achievements and market their skills.

Our program allows for professionals to work with UM facilitators to envision goals and turn them into a passion plan, accumulating marketable skills, teachable moments, and success along the way.

After the pipeline, we have three goals for our professionals:

To articulate their strengths and story through resumes and interviews
To use skills and experience learned in their future engagements
To empower themselves by knowing that their passions and well-being matter.

We believe all this makes for employment readiness, and our program has connections with several job-matching organizations for people with IDD. It also benefits the Ann Arbor community as employers will mutually benefit by seeing people with disabilities in a new light as they’re carrying out their passions.