City of Tampa moves ahead on internship for individuals with intellectual disabilities

Young adults aged 18-22 with intellectual disabilities will soon be able to apply for an internship through the City of Tampa. The training pays $15 an hour, with up to 25 hours a week available. That’s according to a presentation to City Council last week by Ocea Wynn, Tampa’s neighborhood and community affairs administrator.

“The purpose of the program is to provide an equitable and inclusive workplace awareness by exposing individuals with intellectual disabilities to opportunities within the City of Tampa,” Wynn said at the meeting.

Wynn said she was excited about the program, initially motioned for by council members Luis Viera and Guido Maniscalco in September 2022. Last April, City Council asked staff to report back with more details on how the program would be implemented. Tampa partnered with Pepin Academies and MacDonald Training Center, which both specialize in education and vocational training for those with learning disabilities.

Viera, who’s championed the internship program, said the internship is distinct because it provides work within city departments.

“It's important to note that it’s not a program for businesses,” Viera said. “It’s a program that we're funding for city departments including, if I may, I’d love to have an intern in Tampa City Council. But it’s something that makes us stakeholders.”

Tampa Parks & Recreation department’s therapeutic supervisor is a liaison under the proposal, and the agency coaches would monitor students’ progress as they go through their day. “We want to make sure that they feel comfortable with their working environment,” Wynn said.

The internship will align with the city’s traditional program and start posting materials on its website beginning Aug. 25. Wynn said marketing materials and a job announcement will soon be on the city website.

In 2022, Viera proposed 10-12 internships and a budget of $115,000. That proposal is moving ahead with help from the administration by this year’s end. Viera says next year’s proposed internship budget is $200,000.

“A lot of these families feel left behind and isolated by a society that doesn’t care about them, a culture that mocks them, and an economy that leaves them behind,” Viera said. “This is a good gesture by the city of Tampa.”

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