{"id":502,"date":"2026-05-19T10:03:12","date_gmt":"2026-05-19T10:03:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tucsonmovingreport.com\/?p=502"},"modified":"2026-05-19T10:03:12","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T10:03:12","slug":"university-of-arizona-program-helps-students-with-disabilities-gain-job-skills","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tucsonmovingreport.com\/?p=502","title":{"rendered":"University of Arizona program helps students with disabilities gain job skills"},"content":{"rendered":"
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TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – Maggie Aroz has been challenging herself to make friends at the University of Arizona.<\/p>\n

Read more Republican lawmakers say Arizona not doing enough to combat Medicaid fraud<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been challenging myself where I speak to imaginary friends, and I want to get that captured into real friends,\u201d Aroz said.<\/p>\n

Aroz is graduating from Project FOCUS<\/b><\/i>, a two-year transition program for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities.<\/p>\n

According to the Special Olympics<\/b><\/u><\/i>, adults with disabilities face an unemployment rate more than twice as high as adults without disabilities.<\/p>\n

Through Project FOCUS, Aroz has earned a workforce readiness certificate and gained social skills.<\/p>\n

\u201cAppropriate social behavior – with peers, with people you don\u2019t know \u2013 sort of that distinction \u2013 Project FOCUS has really helped with that,\u201d said Emily and Ruben Aroz, Maggie\u2019s parents.<\/p>\n

Aroz has Down syndrome and is working at the Children\u2019s Museum of Tucson. Aroz and 10 other students are graduating this year with certificates from the University of Arizona\u2019s College of Education. Over the last two years, they were supported by about 58 undergraduate peer mentors.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have representatives of 13 different majors, so everywhere from biology to nutrition,\u201d said Sylvi Gonzalez, Project FOCUS instructional specialist.<\/p>\n

These peer mentors help Project FOCUS students navigate campus.<\/p>\n

Since 2010, more than 100 students have earned certificates, supported by more than 500 peer mentors. Gonzalez said the benefits go both ways.<\/p>\n

Read more Tucson staycation deals offer Memorial Day alternatives as gas prices climb<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cEverybody that encounters any of our students takes away something because I do think that it\u2019s a reciprocal relationship between our peer mentor and our student,\u201d Gonzalez said.<\/p>\n

The Aroz family said the program has set Maggie up to succeed.<\/p>\n

\u201cI got some new friends in classes that I\u2019ve been in and friends that have been my peer mentors, and students that are my friends,\u201d Maggie Aroz said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt builds on the perspective for her that she can do hard things and succeed, and that\u2019s been a great blessing for us,\u201d Ruben Aroz said.<\/p>\n

Project FOCUS is funded by donations, so follow the link<\/b><\/u><\/i> if you\u2019d like to support.<\/p>\n

Isabela Lisco<\/b><\/u><\/i> is a <\/i>Report for America<\/b><\/u><\/i> corpsmember covering education solutions for 13 News. Her position is made possible through funding from Report for America and the <\/i>Arizona Local News Foundation\u2019s<\/b><\/u><\/i> Arizona Community Collaborative Fund.<\/i><\/p>\n

Are you streaming 13 News?<\/p>\n

Watch a free live stream of Tucson Now and 13 News at TucsonNow.Live<\/b><\/u><\/i>.<\/p>\n

Be sure to download the free Tucson Now app, which you can find on Apple<\/b><\/u> and Google<\/b><\/u>. <\/p>\n

If you are using a desktop computer, you can use your mobile device to scan the QR code below.<\/p>\n

Read more AI system fails during Glendale Community College graduation ceremony<\/a><\/p>\n

You can submit your breaking news or weather images here<\/b><\/u><\/i>.<\/b><\/u><\/i><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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