An inside look at the internship program for high school students with disabilities (and how to get involved)

Such delicious ice cream Clark is known for many things – first and foremost, its delicious food.

This spring, the family-owned small business received a new honor: becoming the only local business willing and eager to offer internships to people with disabilities.

John Samsel in Hudson Community Enterprises and learned about its new internship program for students with disabilities, hiring Zi’Nayiah Warren (hearing impaired) to work at So Delicious.

With the help of a job coach and an American Sign Language interpreter, Warren began an internship at the ice cream shop this spring, which has adopted a new process that allows hearing customers to write their orders on a whiteboard.

Samsel was glad to see that everything was going well.

“I was really excited about the opportunity to intern for the deaf,” he said. “I wasn’t sure how it would go, how she would serve the clients. But, you know what I believe in? Everyone should have an opportunity — and we wanted to give her that opportunity.”

Warren said in sign language that the So Delicious team has been extremely supportive.

“The staff here, oh my goodness, they’ve been so supportive and so friendly,” she said. “They’ve been really good about communicating with me if I need any help. I’ve shown them some sign language, like if I need help, they’ve signed for ‘help.’”

Hudson Community Enterprises is a nonprofit corporation that has been providing training and employment opportunities for people with disabilities for more than 60 years.

HCE operates six business lines, including building maintenance services, electronic content management/document scanning, document shredding, embroidery, digital printing and packaging, and order fulfillment. Each of these businesses employs people with disabilities, many of whom have received workforce development/training and vocational rehabilitation services.

In 2023, HCE established the Deaf Employment and Inclusion Centre, and DEAFinite Solutions, a social enterprise created by and for deaf and hard of hearing people. New Jersey Division of Vocational Rehabilitationproviding valuable employment opportunities for up to 60 disabled students each year.

Participants will receive comprehensive training in essential skills such as professionalism, teamwork, adaptability and appropriate workplace behaviour to enhance their job performance.

With the support of this funding, interns can work up to a total of 150 hours per year at no cost to the employer.

Lauren Weishaar, assistant vice president of workforce development at HCE, said her team is always looking for more companies.

“HCE is actively seeking employers interested in taking on these students,” she said. “We feel this program not only provides necessary employment opportunities throughout New Jersey, but also provides our partner employers with the opportunity to contribute to the growth and development of our student interns.”

The impact is huge, Weishaar said.

“By hosting our student interns, your organization is actively working to shape a more inclusive and equitable future while solidifying your company’s position as a socially conscious leader in the community,” she said.

Samsel and crew discovered this firsthand.

Samsel said the So Delicious team was inspired by Warren and decided to host an ice cream social for the deaf community over Memorial Day weekend.

“It was so much fun,” Samsel said. “The community, the career guidance, the translations… they organized the event so well. It was awesome to see people coming from all over to support Zi.”