Every young person is looking for a great summer internship and this year TAPA was blessed to have two very talented young ladies join us as interns. The girls worked for two days a week helping us with fall mailings, cleaning and re-organizing the art closets, and helping us prepare for the last two weeks of TAPA summer camp. They even did some cleaning and gardening outside as they worked to replant and restore our butterfly garden, which was destroyed by Hurricane Sandy. Working alongside the girls was their “job skills coach”, Sean, who attends the University at Albany and works as a job skills coach during the academic year in the office of disabilities at the University.
This was the first time that TAPA hosted young adults with special needs as interns. The benefits of this program were clear for all involved. We loved having these young adults work with us. They proved to be positive role models for our TAPA students. This summer internship program not only helps to fulfill the mission of TAPA and The Theresa Foundation by bringing adults with differing abilities into a position where they can have meaningful jobs, but also by showed the community how we can all make a difference when we all use our talents and gifts to help others.
Thanks, girls!