We’re so excited to share this story from our School-to-Work Transition program in Sussex County Delaware, where five S.T.E.P students at Howard T. Ennis School just began their internship program at a local hotel.  

A concierge, a chef, a housekeeper, a customer service specialist: over the next six weeks, Ennis students get to try on each of these hats (and more!) as part of their paid internship program at Bethany Beach Ocean Suites Residence Inn by Marriott. Over the course of the internship, they’re considered part of the hotel staff. Through the work-based learning that the program provides, students get invaluable, hands-on experience working in jobs that could become their future careers.  

As we celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month, we recognize that workplace equity for people with disabilities begins with employers recognizing their tremendous contributions. Through our many school-to-work transition programs like the one at Howard T. Ennis, we’re helping employers throughout Delaware and Pennsylvania see young people with disabilities for the valuable skills they bring to the workplace, not their diagnosis.  

We’re thrilled for this great group of students, and grateful for the amazing team at Bethany Beach Ocean Suites Residence Inn by Marriott and for support from Delaware Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, who are helping launch these students into bright careers. For more stories of how CIS works for people with disabilities, head to cisworks.org/blog.