Students in the United Cerebral Palsy of Arkansas Academy of Leadership and Social Services will benefit from several enhanced, hands-on learning opportunities throughout their four years at Mills University Studies High School. Students in freshman seminar will have authentic opportunities for career exploration that include participation in freshman seminar, where they will hear from guest speakers from local business and industry partners, and participation in the annual career exposure event, where UCP and several other central Arkansas businesses, participate in this event for all ninth graders geared towards informative, engaging career exploration. 

Beginning this school year, students will participate in industry field trips, job shadowing, career mentoring, mock interviewing, and potential internship or externship opportunities because of this partnership with UCP. Nearing graduation from the United Cerebral Palsy of Arkansas Academy of Leadership and Social Services, scholars will have opportunities to earn concurrent credit and industry-recognized credentials and will create a capstone project that has been co-developed by the team at UCP and the faculty at Mills University Studies High School during their senior year. 

United Cerebral Palsy of Arkansas President and CEO, Paula Rader said, “As one of the largest disability service organizations in Arkansas, we are proud to be leading the charge to educate and bring awareness at the high school level about the opportunities for employment within the disability community. We’re very proud to establish the United Cerebral Palsy Academy of Social Services and Leadership within the Pulaski County Special School District and look forward to what the future holds for this partnership.”