MacDonald Training Center (MTC)

Vocational and life enrichment day services:mtc's day services program offers customized learning opportunities for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to acquire, enhance, and maintain the functional, transferable skills they need to achieve their greatest potential at work and in the community. Classes focus on independent living, work readiness, and community inclusion skills, such as personal care and hygiene, time and task management, appropriate social behavior, community safety and navigation, and social and communication skills. (continued on schedule o)day services programming is offered weekdays on both mtc campuses (tampa and brandon) as well as virtually for greater accessibility. Classes emphasize building skills in personal health and safety, socialization, decision making, and communication and include enrichment activities and outings. Community inclusion activities, including volunteering at local nonprofits, is a hallmark of mtc's person-centered programming. Vocational Training and job placement services are also available to clients in mtc's day services program. Life enrichment services include the mtc fine arts studio, fitness Center, and computer lab. The mtc fine arts program helps individuals with intellectual disabilities express themselves creatively based upon personal interest and ability. Instruction is offered in fine arts, art appreciation, and art marketing and promotion. Classes are adjusted to meet the needs of recreational artists, as well as those seeking more individualized instruction in specific techniques. Art appreciation classes visit local museums and galleries for inspiration.mtc fine arts gallery, a legacy project of the 2011 leadership class of the westshore alliance, is a beautiful showcase for the amazing works created by individuals with developmental disabilities in the mtc fine arts studios. Many are developing recognizable styles and establishing a strong following in the community. Additionally, the mtc fine arts gallery and ancillary meeting rooms serve as a community meeting place for local organizations and fellow non-profits.mtc's equality logistics provides packaging, kitting, fulfillment, and shipping to multiple local, national and international businesses.among its many vocational skills Training contracts, mtc's largest is packaging and shipping sunpass transponders for Florida's turnpike enterprise. Since 2007, mtc has successfully shipped more than 18 million units with an error rate below one percent.mtc is dedicated to helping the people we serve find and retain community-based employment by acquiring and refining both technical and social skills. The curriculum and Training materials educate individuals with disabilities on the skills they need to interact effectively with co-workers and customers. Transferable job and social skills are fostered within an environment of production quotas and quality.residents and businesses in the tampa bay area can also donate their electronics for responsible refurbishment and recycling by mtc's equality recycling solutions, a microsoft registered refurbisher. Refurbished computers are sold to consumers and businesses alike through equality recycling's own ebay store. All recycled components are then sold to certified recyclers such as stream recycling.

Education:mtc's emerge career collaborative (emerge) program offers certificate-based job Training aligned with employment opportunities in four high-growth sectors of the economy: technology, manufacturing, and healthcare and hospitality. Each track leads to a globally recognized, industry-standard certification, such as microsoft office specialist, which demonstrates to a future employer that the emerge student has the content knowledge, technical Training, and personal skills required for employment. (continued on schedule o)the goal of the emerge program is to surmount barriers to employment for people with disabilities, preparing these job seekers for career success. A certification can significantly boost an applicant's resume with Training that can substitute for "job experience" requirements. Other significant advantages are the low cost and shorter hours to achieve a certification as compared to a college degree. In a true win-win, employers save money on employees with certifications in reduced Training costs and lower turnover, and certificate holders earn higher wages and job promotions.the environmental services curriculum in mtc's emerge career collaborative was designed and developed in partnership with moffitt cancer Center for people with varying abilities and learning styles seeking careers in environmental services in the healthcare sector. Students learn and master cleaning and disinfection protocols and skills in the classroom setting as well as a simulated hospital patient room on the emerge campus, funded, designed, and outfitted by tampa's premier cancer treatment Center. In this lab space, under the supervision of an emerge instructor, students can practice the industry's best sanitation techniques, learn the standards for a discharge hospital room cleaning, and understand customer service needs in a healthcare or hospitality setting. Moffitt cancer Center (mcc) will waive the six-month work experience requirement for its environmental services (es) technician 1 position for mtc graduates with es program certification. In a unique option for emerge students on the autism spectrum, students in the tech2work track first complete emerge digital literacy courses, then move into the automation technology course at the learning academy at the university of south Florida to prepare for high-paying tech careers in the growing field of automation. This "bundled approach" combines two college-level courses in one program at two locations and affords students all the experiences of a large public university campus community.

Supported living services (community-based residential):clients in mtc's community living residential program receive tailored in-home and remote supportive services that promote self-sufficiency as clients lease their home or apartment, pay their own expenses, and make their own decisions. Mtc has over 20 years of experience in providing supported living services that assist persons with disabilities in maintaining their independence in their own home, whether a few hours of coaching a month or 24-hour-a-day support. (continued on schedule o)clients in the community living program receive customized supports to continue living independently in their own homes, such as assistance from trained mtc staff to: find and rent or purchase housing;find and select a roommate or roommates; learn grocery shopping, cooking and meal planning; handle banking, bill paying, and budgeting;interact with neighbors and getting involved in the local community;navigate third-party benefits;learn civic responsibilities; manage their health; use public transportation and ride-sharing services; learn safety skills to prevent falls and injuries.

Employment services:with a job comes dignity, respect, and a better income, leading to more choices, greater freedom, and a more fulfilling life. We at Macdonald Training Center have committed ourselves to being one of the premier providers of employment services for adults with disabilities in the nation. The mtc employment services team supports job seekers with varying abilities through the employment preparation and placement process and offers follow-on services to ensure quality job performance and job retention. As a leader in ability-neutral employment placement, mtc works with area businesses to match the needs of the employer with the talents of the job seeker, with the mutual goal of creating an inclusive, neurodiverse workforce and improving job retention. Employment services can assist individuals in obtaining and retaining jobs in the community at competitive wages. Our employment coaches and job developers work side-by-side with individuals to help with: resume' preparation and interview etiquettejob development and utilizing an individual's community support networkweb-enhanced job search mock interviewstransportation and travel trainingcommunity-based job observationsjob fair attendancecompetitive job placement serviceson-the-job Training and skills acquisitionself-advocacyjob maintenance services and utilization of natural supportsinterpreting services in american sign languageada assistance and employer/co-worker sensitivity trainingcareer advancement support and financial benefits planningjob seekers may complete short assessments in real work environments, on-the-job Training and/or internships, or explore employment opportunities with mtc e-recycling and logistics social enterprises. Job placements and duration of job retention are tracked and recorded. For over 40 years, mtc has built relationships with more than 60 employers. Membership in the tampa bay chamber of commerce, tampa downtown partnership and the westshore alliance generate job placements with member businesses.mtc works with students to find the job, get the job, and keep the job. Mtc employment experts conduct trainings with businesses and community groups to discuss the benefits of hiring an inclusive, neurodiverse workforce.employers gain confidence in and awareness of the supports available to achieve the shared goal of meaningful, full-time employment. Training for employers on interviewing strategies, the onboarding process, planning for success, and management and communication strategies, has increased retention rates and improved performance outcomes for employees with varying abilities, their managers, and co-workers. Transportation is among the top three barriers to employment and inclusion for people with disabilities. Mtc offers vouchers for local paratransit, cab companies and lyft transportation to and from job sites.