Marino Campus

An extensive search of nationwide postsecondary programs by the Dan Marino Foundation staff found very limited options for students with developmental disabilities. To address this issue, in 2013, the Foundation created Marino Campus, a 10-month industry certification program for teens and young adults with autism, other developmental disabilities, cognitive delays, or physical impairments in downtown Fort Lauderdale. Class instruction combined with real-world work experience prepare students to obtain industry-leading certifications in Computer Technology and Hospitality, industries which serve as strong employment bases for our client population. To greater serve the South Florida community, the Foundation opened a second Campus in 2016 at Florida International University in Miami. Coursework and hands-on curriculum prepare individuals for national certifications in Computer Technology from Microsoft and CompTIA and Hospitality certifications from the American Hotel and Lodging Educational Institute. Other courses offered include sales and marketing, employability and social strategies, financial literacy, and independent living. In addition to the coursework, participants intern with at least two businesses, providing on-the-job experience in their chosen fields. Supports include access to behavior specialists, peer and academic mentors, and tutors. Job coaches assist in career placement and coaching and a certified benefits counselor is on staff. Initial assessments determine a student’s individual learning style (e.g. visual, auditory, or kinesthetic), and the standard curriculum is adapted to capitalize on students’ strengths. Embedded throughout the program is the use of technology. The Foundation, in partnership with the University of Southern California Institute for Creative Technologies, developed the Virtual Interactive Training Agent (ViTA), a first-of-its-kind program addressing a major barrier to employment - the job interview. ViTA is utilized as part of the employability skills training to build interview competency and reduce anxiety. It immerses participants in an environment where they are able to practice job interviews in a variety of situations and apply the complex social skills necessary to gain meaningful employment. Participants practice interviewing in a safe, less stressful, virtual environment allowing for learning based on natural strengths. This leads to confidence and performance in actual interview settings, with the overall goal of empowering students to gain employment, and most importantly, independence. In 2015, Google.org, along with a panel of external advisors, selected the Foundation as a recipient of the Google Impact Challenge Grant. This award funded the development of features for ViTA that enrich the user experience, including gamification and open source capabilities. ViTA software is utilized by Broward County Public Schools and over 50 organizations nationwide.