CHARLOTTE, N.C. — South Piedmont Community College has launched a new workforce opportunity to empower students with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  

The SPCC Compass Education Program is for adults with IDD. Students are studying math, reading, writing, while gaining interpersonal skills needed for them to thrive academically and in the workplace. 

The Compass Education Program was already offering a Food Service Academy. Thanks to a partnership with Pressly Animal Hospital, SPCC is now offering a new workforce opportunity, the Pet Care Academy. 

Students in the Pet Care Academy are training on how to assist with animal care in retail settings, while also learning about animal behavior, grooming techniques, handling and restraining of animals and other duties. 

"This is our very first partnership within the community with our local vet," said Nikki Myers, director of Compass Education at SPCC. "We reached out to multiple different pet care facilities and no one seemed to reach [back] out until we [contacted] Pressly Animal Hospital. They immediately got back in touch with us." 

According to the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD) and The Arc, historically, the majority of people with IDD have been unemployed or underemployed. They stated this is despite their ability, desire and willingness to work. 

Myers says this partnership is one way of helping students with overcoming potential job barriers. 

"This gives the confidence and the skill set they need to go out and become employable," Myers said. "So many times the students aren't given an opportunity and a chance. Our students are very dedicated [but] low in confidence. This gives them the confidence they need to go out and be a part of the community. Pressly Animal Hospital has been a true blessing for our students, they have incorporated them into their facility, they have been encouraging and just really loved on our students. That's what we really wanted."

Dr. William Pressly is the owner and lead veterinarian of Pressly Animal Hospital. 

He said the business was thrilled to offer this workforce opportunity for students with IDD. 

"My oldest daughter has special needs," Pressly said. "My team has seem her grow up since she was a baby, so they know the challenges and the delight of dealing with a young adult trying their best to fit into this world. We felt it was our duty."

"Our next goal as a practice, I'm going to send a letter to the local [animal care businesses] and have a career fair here and let them meet the students. Introduce them to employment. These kids have work ethic I think has been lacking in a lot of young people today in the workforce. They want to succeed, and if you give them the tools they need they're going to succeed. That's our job with the Pet Care Academy to give them the tools and [help] kick the door open for them to try and get them to the next step," Pressly said. 

David Fore is a Compass Education student. He says the program is giving him the tools he needs to get a job. 

"I see it benefiting me a lot, and not just me, a whole lot of the other students here," Fore said. "It's a next step forward in our community and college." 

The Pet Care Academy will begin its new session during spring 2025.