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“When you focus on someone's disability you'll overlook their abilities, beauty and uniqueness. Once you learn to accept and love them for who they are, you subconsciously learn to love yourself unconditionally.” ― Yvonne Pierre
Internships at ReFocus: A two-way street.
ReFocus extends an invitation to college students in Rhode Island to propose an internship project through which they can share current knowledge, skills, talents or hobbies to improve and expand ReFocus’ programs and services for adults with developmental disabilities.
In turn, ReFocus provides a friendly, supportive environment where you can explore first-hand how you feel about diversity, inclusion and equality – and how society should treat people who are somehow “different.” A ReFocus mentor will supervise your project and serve as sounding board for your thoughts, feelings and questions about how to work with adults with differing abilities. Your mentor will also write an evaluation of your project for your CV or academic advisor.
Think out of the box
Here are some internship possibilities, but don’t let them limit your creativity:
- Turn your hobby or talent into a workshop at one of our Community Centers in Providence. Dance, arts & crafts, costuming, painting, acting, drawing, singing, cooking, aerobics – all possibilities. We’re always looking for new experiences for adults with differing abilities.
- Evaluate our intra-Agency communications and make recommendations for improvement in speed and efficiency. ReFocus has more than 20 locations throughout Rhode Island – a challenging internship project to sink your teeth into.
- Develop a publicity program to increase ReFocus brand recognition throughout Rhode Island. We’re really a publicist’s goldmine. And there are plenty of stories you can tell.
- Create a video or write an Op-Ed piece about diversity based on your experience at ReFocus.
Funding for Internships
Many Rhode Island colleges and universities offer compensation for internships that have a positive impact on the community. Please check with your financial aid office. Cutbacks in funding for human services do not allow us to offer paid internships at this time. If you need supplementary income, please check our employment opportunities. ReFocus welcomes college students as members of our staff, full or part-time, during the academic year and over the summer.