Vocational Training as an Alternative to Traditional College

If you hear the phrase “vocational training” and think, “That’s not for me,” then you might not be considering the full picture.

Vocational training, sometimes called trade school or technical education, provides job-specific instruction that equips trainees with skills needed in the workforce. Unlike traditional academic education, it focuses on practical knowledge and on-the-job training related to a particular trade rather than broad exposure to the liberal arts and sciences.

Vocational training can be a desirable option for people with disabilities who are interested in entering the workforce for the first time or wish to develop new skills. In addition to saving time and cost over four-year college, vocational training can capitalize on common skills in the disability community.

Benefits of vocational training

The Viscardi Center in New York offers a range of services for people with disabilities, including vocational training and job
placement.

People may assume vocational training is for manual labor (think plumbers or mechanics), but that isn’t always the case. Increasingly, many vocational jobs rely on technical skills rather than physical abilities — think of a civil engineer technician who helps an engineer draft building plans and analyze materials and costs using special software.

The shorter timeframe and lower cost of vocational training can mean lower student loan debt and a fast track to employment. With employers much more supportive of remote work after the pandemic, vocational programs can open a wide range of careers that can evolve and grow.

According to Alice Muterspaw, Vice President of Vocational Services at The Viscardi Center, traditional vocational training fields, such as mechanical, culinary, and cosmetology, still exist, but there is a growing number of well-paying jobs that are not focused on physical labor.

“You can get IT training and be hired to work at a remote help desk,” she says. “Call centers are a large market right now, and people can be set up to do that remotely.”

The Viscardi Center in New York offers a range of services for people with disabilities, including vocational training and job placement. Alice believes that in a rapidly changing workforce, vocational training can make a worker just as attractive to employers as a person with a four-year academic degree.

She also notes that state vocational rehabilitation agencies, which provide services to help people with disabilities pursue employment, often fund vocational training programs and provide tools or support needed to complete them, such as transportation.

A flexible career

Vocational training gave Cassidy Nilles a flexible career.

MDA Ambassador Cassidy Nilles launched her career through vocational training and plans to take that route again when she reenters the workforce.

While growing up in the Chicago suburbs, she wanted to be a hairstylist. She liked the idea of being her own boss and having a career right out of high school.

“From junior year on, I spent every day of the week training for what I wanted to do,” Cassidy says. “I lived and worked in Los Angeles for about three years — as long as I could after being diagnosed with limb-girdle muscular dystrophy [LGMD] at age 20.” She liked controlling her destiny and earning money via talent and hard work.

Cassidy is currently a stay-at-home single mom to her 6-year-old daughter and uses a power wheelchair for mobility. She observes that vocational training can be easier for a single parent, as well as a person with a disability, to afford and manage around their needs.

“There are many options for certification programs and opportunities to expand the career you’re in,” she says. For example, although Cassidy can no longer work as a hairstylist, she plans to stay in the beauty industry, perhaps as a licensed colorist who creates custom hair color formulas for an online company.

“If my daughter wanted to go into vocational training, I’d say, ‘heck yeah,’” she says.

Adaptable skills

Another advantage of vocational training is that it allows an individual to focus on their interests and adaptable skills.

Richard Vagen attended a Starkloff career program.

“If you are a great problem solver, into computers, or love travel, there are careers, many remote, that can be attained via vocational training that leads to certification,” Alice says.

Lori Becker, CEO of the Starkloff Disability Institute in Missouri, is also a graduate of the Starkloff Career Academy. She has seen firsthand how vocational training can leverage transferable skills.

“Every disability is unique and has different impacts on the body,” she says. “I’m legally blind. Our chief financial officer has congenital muscular dystrophy [CMD]. The great thing is that there are plenty of vocations that are not the typical carpenter or electrician.”

She gives an example: “Cybersecurity is a booming field that can be done on your computer at home. You could get a certification in as little as six months and get an entry-level job. Then you can grow in increments — whether it is going back for a higher IT certification level or pursuing a master’s degree.”

While each person’s interests and needs may be different, people in the disability community commonly have skills that are adaptable to just about any job.

“Many people with disabilities are great at planning, organizing, and problem-solving because they live in a world not designed for them,” Lori says. “Employers are looking for more diverse talent. They want to hire a workforce that reflects the community.”

Richard Vagen, who has a type of muscular dystrophy and uses a wheelchair for mobility, works part time in enrollment for continuing education at St. Louis Community College, which delivers professional development and vocational opportunities. After earning a bachelor’s degree in art history, Richard attended a Starkloff career program aimed at honing job interview skills for people with disabilities.

“I think the number of programs offered in the vocational space and the way they adapt with the times gives people with disabilities the opportunity to discover fields in which they can rise,” he says. “My job evolved into virtually all remote work, with flexibility that allows me to help raise my kids and manage my disability.”

Presenting oneself to employers as a person with a disability who is confident in their skill set and has the certification to back it up can be a pathway to a career, not just a paycheck.

Steve Wright is an award-winning writer and advocate based in Miami. He lectures throughout the US and abroad on creating a better built environment for people with disabilities.

Mentorship Program

Teens and young adults with neuromuscular diseases can join the MDA Mentorship Program to connect with mentors in a variety of fields and get hands-on learning in a supportive environment. The aim is to help youth discover their strengths and interests and increase the number of people living with neuromuscular diseases in the workforce. Learn more at mda.org/mentorships.

Choosing a Path

Deciding what to do after high school is challenging for everyone. Read about strategies to help teens with disabilities think about their next steps or future careers at MDAQuest.org/career-path.