Whole CommUNITY Academy logo featuring the word "UNITY" highlighted and a heart within a speech bubble on the right.

OPENING FALL 2025-2026

INTRODUCING PRE-VOCATIONAL SERVICES

A person in a wheelchair and another person in work attire discuss in a workshop. Both wear ear protection. Another person works in the background.

OUR MISSION

Inspire a more inclusive community by offering vocational opportunities and activities of daily living for people with disabilities in pursuit of viable employment options

OUR STORY

We believe everyone should be able to achieve economic independence after graduation.

To effectively remove barriers and enhance the employability of adults with disabilities, it is essential to provide accessible vocational experiences, allowing time to explore and develop marketable skills.

Two individuals stand in a modern office setting, both smiling. The person on the left has curly hair and glasses, while the person on the right has straight hair and glasses, arms crossed.

[Beth] My name is Beth Humbert, and I’m the founder of Whole Latte Love Café. The cafe is a vocational training program for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities who have already graduated from high school. And out of that process, we’ve discovered that some of the referrals that we’re getting aren’t quite ready for our supported employment working environment. So, because of that we formed Whole Community Academy, which is a vocational grade 23 training option for high school students. When students with a disability are in school and they are on IEP supports or Individual Education Services, they are allowed to be in school until they’re 22. Typically, a student finishes Ohio academic requirements between the ages of 18 and 19 years old. So, they have a couple of years to discover what they’re interested in and explore those interests and skills and abilities, and that’s what we’re going to focus on at the Academy.

Our curriculum is coming from a very well-known organization out of Kentucky, Education Associates. Their materials are all hands-on, evidence-based materials. They’ve broken every step down. So, for those individuals that are hands-on learners this will be a great opportunity for them to explore what their interests are and examine that thoroughly in the safe space of a classroom. And then we’ll take it out further into the community where they can do informational interviews, maybe a career shadow day, maybe some volunteering, and eventually some paid internships. So, this project has obviously started. We raised some money this year with our Coffee With a Purpose benefit, but we still have a lot of work that needs to be done to complete it. Still more curriculum to purchase and staffing to hire, and if you are willing to help us get this project to the end we are always greatly appreciative of the generous donations from our community.

Promoting Inclusion One Person at a Time

Help us on our mission to provide a direct vocational pathway to community employment for those supported on waiver services through our local County Boards.

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Whole CommUNITY Academy (WCA)

The Academy strives to introduce pre-vocational opportunities based upon person-centered interest assessments and hands-on community exploration activities.

Along with classroom instruction, students will explore:

  • Interest assessments
  • Selected interests in a variety of hands-on learning opportunities
  • Job shadowing, informational interviews, volunteering, paid internships
  • Portfolio building, resume composition
  • Interview techniques and job search navigation
  • Linked with disability-focused state organizations for sequential and continuous support

Our vision is to provide a direct vocational path to community employment.

Our Program: Project Discovery

A combination of instructional methods and hands-on strategies used in a classroom setting, Project Discovery offers learners the opportunity to explore, experience, and develop real-life insight pertaining to the necessary job skills needed for a variety of entry level positions.

Students who learn by doing will excel and enhance their exploration through practical daily living activities, while addressing social communication and workplace behaviors, as well as examining personal preferences in career exploration, and job skills training for community employment.

Introducing Project Discovery and Achieve Life Skills Curriculum

Hands-On, Evidence-Based
Career Education for ALL Students

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Our Career Exploration Series

Allows adults to explore a variety of careers while discovering their interests and aptitudes for a limited time.

Our Adaptive Series

Including video modeling and dynamic supports, such as audio, text and role playing with multiple modes of instruction so no student is left behind.

Our Job Skills Training Series

Provides comprehensive career and technical instruction to prepare students for a specific career of their choosing. Learning is relevant to real world employment.

Students are given the opportunity to discover their career passions and interests through hands-on career kits. Students use real job tools to explore, practice and learn valuable job skills.

In Partnership with Education Associates

Nationally Recognized.
Results Driven.
Proven Results.

Improving test scores and achieving successful transitions are both critical outcomes that matter to dedicated educators.

Education Associates’ Project Discovery curriculum was developed by a team of nationally recognized curriculum experts and career guidance professionals as well as skilled workers in each career field. We passed a rigorous evaluation process by the U.S. Department of Education and received its validation and approval. In addition, it has been selected by the National Dropout Prevention Network as a Model Program.

Bar chart showing test score increases in Kershaw, Virginia Beach, Mt. Pleasant, and Meade. Pre-test scores range from 24%-30%; post-test scores range from 70%-95%.
Young person holding a tray in a cafeteria setting. Text highlights educational achievements: 100% graduation rate increase, 56% drop-out rate decrease, 97% employment rate increase.
A woman with dark hair in a bun, wearing a gray t-shirt, smiles while resting her chin on her hand inside a room with a water dispenser and colorful straws in the background.

Briana Cogar, Academy Instructor

A woman with light eyes and a long braided hairstyle smiles slightly, wearing a black top and a necklace with a cross pendant, standing in front of a light-colored background.

Bri Newsome, Employment Navigator

Whole CommUNITY Academy logo featuring the word "UNITY" highlighted and a heart within a speech bubble on the right.

EIN #93-2476922

1306 S. Main Street
North Canton OH 44720

For additional questions, please send an email to academy@wholelattelovecafe.org or call 234-360-2233, ext 1314.

       

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