The Summer Earn and Learn (SEAL) program provides students with disabilities, aged 14 – 22, with work readiness training and paid work experience. SEAL is a statewide strategy that includes employability skills training and paid work experience for students with disabilities receiving services from Texas Workforce Commission Vocational Rehabilitation Services (TWC-VR).

Throughout the program, students will receive work readiness training and be connected with area employers where they have the opportunity for hands-on work experience for up to five weeks. The students learn about the employer’s industry while also gaining workplace skills and knowledge that will help prepare them for a successful transition into postsecondary education and employment. Upon completion of the program, some students are even presented with the opportunity to continue working full-time.

In 2022, approximately 70 students referred from TWC-VR were placed in over 30 different worksites in the South Plains region, some of whom were offered permanent positions after the program had concluded.

“Summer Earn and Learn provides students with disabilities the opportunity to learn and take on responsibilities associated with careers they might choose for their future,” said TWC Commissioner Representing Labor Julian Alvarez. “This program helps students return to school with positive work experiences, meaningful skill sets, and confidence that they can pursue their career goals.”

The SEAL program is a partnership between the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), Workforce Solutions South Plains (WSSP), and Texas Workforce Solutions-Vocational Rehabilitation Services (TWS-VR).