The BCI Skills Center is proud to announce the launch of an innovative program to teach adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities the skills needed to gain employment in roles that require knowledge of the Salesforce platform. The pilot program will begin with ten adults attending daily sessions over the course of two months beginning in January of 2019.

In 2017, nearly 70% of adult Americans with developmental disabilities were unemployed. Compare this to the reported fact that the demand for Salesforce-skilled people will reach 3.3 million jobs in the United States by 2022 and you see an opportunity. A really big one.

Salesforce is the world’s #1 customer relationship management (CRM) platform, used by more than 150,000 companies around the world. With access to local Salesforce and industry experts, students in the course will gain a thorough understanding of the technical skills required for high-demand jobs, in addition to soft-skills like interviewing techniques, workplace communication, and collaborating with colleagues.

Projected Impact

The Skills Center is a vocational training facility specifically for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the St. Louis region. Currently the organization has created training programs for two vocations but plans to strategically increase careers and participants based upon needs, success, and quality opportunities. Their goal is to have at least 10 vocations and training for over 100 students by 2021.

The Skills Center has chosen the Salesforce platform as a focus for their first technical skills program because of the high demand of jobs in the St. Louis region that require Salesforce certifications. In 2015 Salesforce launched Trailhead, a fun and interactive way to learn about all the features of the platform and get certified in using the software.

Todd Streff, executive director of the Skills Center knows the impact that this course can have.

“Adults with Autism or other intellectual disabilities can be an incredible addition to any workforce. With the right training and preparation we believe that the adults who come through the Skills Center Salesforce program will be able to contribute right away and make an impact in their new career.”

The Skills Center is currently securing local St. Louis area companies and organizations who use Salesforce to place graduates into Junior Administrator roles upon completion of the program.

“Salesforce, Trailhead and the Skills Center just seem like a perfect match. We can develop a curriculum that supports our students, prepares them for high-demand, technical jobs, and they can learn along at their own pace in a guided environment,” explains Streff.

Interested parties can learn more on November 10th from 9:30-10:45 a.m. at the St. Charles City-County Library Spencer Road Branch in St. Peters or December 1st from 10 a.m. to noon at St. Charles Community College.