Building Utah

This is Derek Miller, Speaking on Business. Since opening in 1968, Columbus Community Center has fostered development, independence, and inclusion for individuals with disabilities. Their robust services include day activity programs, residential services, and more to come. Chief Executive Officer, Kristy Chambers, joins us with more. Kristy Chambers: At Columbus, we believe everyone deserves the chance to contribute their talents to meaningful work. The Utah Uniquely Abled Machinist Program is our next bold step, training adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder to become skilled CNC machinist technicians. In partnership with the Utah Manufacturers Association, Salt Lake Community College, and the Utah MEP Alliance, we’re addressing two urgent needs: the 60 to 90 percent unemployment rate among adults with autism and the shortage of CNC machinists in Utah. This 12-week program combines 300 hours of technical CNC instruction with 180 hours of job- readiness training. We go beyond training by providing person