A new training program aims to give at least 60 disabled Northwest Florida residents a pathway into information technology and cybersecurity careers.
Potential students are now being recruited for abilIT, a free program designed to help people with disabilities build technical skills and prepare for and earn industry-recognized credentials.
Katrina Simpkins, Global Connections to Employment’s senior director of community employment services, said the training program will have three cohorts that will each train over a 14-week period. The first cohort is scheduled to start in November, with students completing the training in February.
“In each of the three cohorts, we want a minimum of 20 participants,” she said adding the program can accommodate more students.
Offered by GCE in partnership with Melwood, a nonprofit organization that developed abilIT, the abilIT program also helps students gain in-demand tech skills and connect with employers who are hiring. Resume development, interview preparation, networking skills and personalized career support are part of the training program.
Funded by a $250,000 legislative appropriation from Rep. Patt Maney, students can also prepare for and test for CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+ and CompTIA Security+ certifications – with no out-of-pocket costs.
“We’re hoping the curriculum we have will give students the foundation that they need and the confidence to go on and get their certifications,” Simpkins said, adding the CompTIA credentials are industry-recognized for federal and private sector employers.
The abilIT program will pay the CompTIA certification exam fees, which range from over $200 to $500 each.
“One of the benefits of participants coming through our program is that we actually pay their certification exam fees. So not only is the training free to them for the 14 weeks, but when they decide they are ready to sit for that exam, we cover the cost,” Simpkins said.
In-person classes will be held at GCE’s Lakeview Center campus from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Transportation will not be provided.
Along with being disabled, students must:
Have a high school diploma, GED or equivalent
Be interested in technology careers
Have foundational technology skills, including proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint, or some prior IT experience
Be seeking competitive integrated employment opportunities.
The training program is new to Florida, Simpkins said, but she noted Melwood has offered abilIT for a number of years in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia.
“The IT industry is booming. There is a lot of cybersecurity opportunities because of the impact to our security in the U.S. And a lot of the defense contractors are looking for individuals who have those capabilities and certifications to provide support,” she said.
“GCE provides employment support for individuals with disabilities, and we often have individuals who have gone to school and pursued a degree, but they have no certifications to back it up. …We recognize that having these certifications are going to open a lot more doors and provide more opportunities for the individuals we serve.”
To learn more about abilIT or apply for the program, visit gce.org/abilIT or email Katrina.Simpkins@gce.org or call 850-495-2351.
GCE, established at the center in 1986, is the largest private employer of people with disabilities in Northwest Florida.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Disabled? Apply for free IT, cybersecurity training in Pensacola
