ICAN California Abilities Network

Directly advancing the Social Support Network issue, ICAN’s Teens with Disabilities Social Program offers youth with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD) ages 13-18 opportunities for social engagement and community integration that effectively combat loneliness, develop social skills, and help them form meaningful relationships. By supporting the transition from high school to adulthood–a time often filled with uncertainty for many families– this program fills a significant gap in services by ensuring continuity of care.

Adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD) can face significant barriers to meaningful employment. To target this issue, ICAN's Workforce Training programs provides individuals with IDD, including youth 24 and under, opportunities to gain real life work experience and training while exploring their interests, such as in ICAN's Creative Studio where they make and sell handmade items. Meaningful, paid employment gives our clients the chance to improve their economic situation, gain valuable skills and move towards independence.

This grant will allow us to relaunch and expand our Marketplace Initiative program. This program is comprised of micro businesses we started like the ICAN Photo Booth and Hermosa Coffee Co., a mobile coffee cart business, all of which create employment opportunities for adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD). For many of our clients, this is their only opportunity of employment, and the work our clients do fills them with an invaluable sense of purpose and provides them with a consistent source of income.