The statistics tell the story: unemployment rates for people with disabilities are almost 2x higher than for those without, and about 30% of Americans with disabilities participate in the workforce, according to the Department of Labor. There are many barriers for employment facing individuals with a disability and participating in a career training program can be helpful in overcoming those barriers both in obtaining the skills needed for a job, securing interviews and ongoing support during the employment.
Community Mainstreaming Associates’ (CMA) new CMA eAcademy training and work program develops skills for meaningful employment in the field of e-commerce for the program attendees.
Discover eAcademy at shopeAcademy
The charity boutique housed on eBay sells books, art and sports memorabilia at great prices. Community Mainstreaming Associates launched this social justice enterprise in conjunction with its Day Habilitation program to support individuals in developing life skills that encourage independence. For trainees completing the program and earning an eAcademy certificate of completion, CMA will aid the individual in obtaining paid work in the community utilizing these skills.
How it Works
CMA solicits donated goods from our network and the broader community. Items are cataloged through an established process in a work training site and warehouse donated to us by the Bellmore-Merrick school district and at the main office in Westbury. Participants work with job coaches to pick up, catalog, and sort donated items; describe, photograph, competitively price and list the items on our eBay shop; monitor buyers; process payments; package, ship and track deliveries; offer customer support as well as provide personal thank you letters to both donors and buyers.
“The eAcademy is a wonderful learning experience for all involved, the initial success is due to the caring CMA staff, motivated trainees, and benevolent donors.”
Abe KIng
CMA Job Coach/eAcademy Founder
To Donate Items
CMA eAcademy received a grant from North Shore Autism Circle supporting start-up operations, and the hiring of 3 individuals who are on the Autism spectrum.
We look forward to “seeing” you in the shop, shopeAcademy.