At Drexel University, we pride ourselves on our commitment to civic engagement – after all, we’re not just in the community, we’re a part of it.    

That’s why Transition Pathways was honored to hire two AmeriCorps students over the summer. AmeriCorps is a hub of national volunteer service programs. At Drexel, AmericCorps students work in nonprofits as part of their co-op experience, learning valuable skills that they’ll take into their future careers.    

As part of the Transition Pathways team, our students worked with autistic young adults in our school-to-work programs, supported our young adult advisory council, and helped run disability hiring events with our employer partners. In their time with us, they gained a deep understanding of disability, neurodiversity, and the value that autistic people bring to the workforce. This experience will help them be effective and understanding coworkers and supervisors in their careers. More importantly, it helped cement a commitment to being a part of their communities.   

We asked one of our AmeriCorps students, Teddy Mulvihill, to share more about his experience.     

My name is Teddy Mulvihill, a senior studying general business at Drexel. My one and only co-op was happily spent serving as an AmeriCorps workforce development assistant at the A.J. Drexel Autism Institute.   

In early April, I was assigned to my host-site of the A.J. Drexel Autism Institute, and I was very pleased with the placement. Over the course of my 6 months at the Institute, I helped with numerous projects and events, including a hiring event with more than 100 attendees, two panels, two conferences, a tabling event, filming of promotional videos, and even some of my own smaller projects. I also developed many skills through my service including business communication, teamwork, leadership, and organization. In a career sense, this experience was incredibly fruitful, and I will take these skills with me.   

One of my fondest memories was helping to organize the June 2nd Breakfast and Awards ceremony celebrating 7 years of success of the programs at Transition Pathways. It was so inspiring to see all the graduating participants on that amazing morning. I will never forget that moment and all the potential that I felt in that room. To see the participants of the school to work programs grow and succeed has deepened my passion for civic engagement.    

I loved this experience and would not trade it for any other co-op.      

Transition Pathways provides experiential learning to students with autism and/or intellectual disabilities with a goal of sustainable, competitive employment in the community. Stay in touch with us!