What’s New with RAMP?

Originally Published in July 2023 Newsletter

By Kevina Brown, RAMP Program Coordinator

For those of you that don’t know, RAMP stands for the Ready to Achieve Mentoring Program. It is a career-focused mentoring program for students with disabilities, aged 14-22, funded through the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS). We are excited to announce that the 1st RAMP year has ended successfully, and we look forward to offering the program in the 2023 – 2024 school year to eligible students residing in Fairfax County and referred by both the Fairfax and Alexandria DARS offices.

The eight mentees who participated in this program’s pilot year were extremely busy learning about what careers they were interested in as well as what resources are out there to support them in their communities. Mentees began the RAMP year completing interest surveys and career assessments to help them discover or solidify what careers they may want to pursue. They engaged in a community mapping activity to learn more about the businesses in their communities as well as which businesses they could identify as a support in their lives and their career journeys.

Mentees enhanced their resume-building and interviewing skills in various ways whether it be virtually with an employer in a different state, in-person collaborations with their peers as a group, working one-on-one with their mentor, listening to a guest speaker, or at home interviewing their parents. Throughout the year, mentees had opportunities, virtually and in-person, to talk to various employers, visit worksites, learn about scholarships and trades, develop their soft skills, listen to guest speakers talk about different careers and expectations, etc. to explore all their vocational and educational options.

During Phase Three and Phase Four of the program, mentees worked on career projects and transition plans. They also participated in virtual presentations led by Hire Autism and George Mason University. Mentees learned that the Hire Autism program assists students with accessing resources intended to support employment needs and transitions. This program provides assistance from a Navigator to further help them with their resume, cover letters, and interview preparation. RAMP mentees also attended a virtual session hosted by George Mason University, where they learned about high school to college transitions, Mason Life, and Disability Services. Mentees also had the opportunity to visit and tour the AWS Skills Center in Arlington where they learned through interactive exhibits in the Cloud Discovery Space show about cloud computing and how the cloud enables real-world experiences like robotics, space, machine learning, gaming, and smart homes.

They also participated in STEM projects and a combined Phase Two and Phase Three Celebration. They wrapped up their year together reflecting on and sharing their different accomplishments with the group.

The RAMP mentees will be continuing their involvement in activities or other programs that will support their long-term and short-term goals. Three out of the eight mentees graduated from high school this year. Some mentees will be going to college, some will be taking an additional year, and some may be participating in a day program to continue their career journeys. Others will be continuing high school while others will be waiting to secure a summer internship or job.

What’s Coming Up?

The RAMP pilot year officially ended July 1st. Unfortunately, due to conflicting mentee schedules at the beginning of the summer, we have not yet had our RAMP End-of-Program Celebration! The mentees have shared and expressed excitement in celebrating the end of their RAMP year in their community where they can have a Field Day, Ice Cream Social, or even a pool party. Once a date is set, you can be sure that the RAMP mentees, families, mentors, partners, and staff will be celebrating the mentees’ accomplishments in style!

In July, ECNV will be hosting 2 information sessions about the Ready to Achieve Mentoring Program (RAMP). ECNV, in partnership with DARS, is offering this program to Fairfax County students during the 2023 – 2024 school year. To learn more about the program, please register in advance for one of the following sessions:

Monday, July 10th at 5pm
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86278183327?pwd=Z3ViTVlmNDJWRlF4dHA2dlZ1N3JSdz09

Tuesday, July 11th at 10am
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87652948411?pwd=aDV3UjVRM0xFci9YdjF0ampHdE53QT09