There is a reason every new business is started. Here, at Dharma Dreams Vocational Center, we saw the need to help your future now!

Joanne Burke-Sherman • April 22, 2019

There is a reason every new business is started.  Here, at Dharma Dreams Vocational Center, we saw the need to help your future now!

Your Future Is Here Now.  Help Us Help You Achieve Your Goals

I am a parent of a special needs child. Like many parents, I have been a strong advocate for my child throughout all his schooling years. In this role, I explored many opportunities and programs for special needs students, hoping to find the right fit for my son. Unfortunately, none truly met his needs. Like many parents, I felt we were trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. It was heartbreaking to watch his frustration and feel powerless to help. I tried to get the schools to adopt programs to teach real hands on job skills; but nothing ever came to fruition.  So, it may have taken longer than I would have liked, but eventually the idea of Dharma Dreams Vocational Center was born.

My son has always been a hard worker and has always loved to tinker.  He likes to build things.  He also likes to take them apart.  He is a good kid with so many positive qualities - he has a good heart; he loves the outdoors; he loves to help people and thinks of what they need; he likes to try new things.  He likes so many things; and yet, he never liked school.  Academics was hard for him and very frustrating.  Although the academics are necessary to learn, I knew there had to be more for him.  He is a visual, hands-on learner.

I wish either my husband or I were the right people to teach him the skills he needs, but we are not.  We are not skilled in the trades.  He did have some friends who taught him things, but he needed more.  I tried to get private lessons, but there were not many available.  So, although I could not always find the tutors or skilled trades people to help him learn more, I knew there had to be a way.

People asked about the current technical schools.  Although those schools are open to everyone, it truly was not realistic for my son because he could not suffer through the academics.  So, although Dharma Dreams Vocational Center will have to offer guidance on academic skills such as measurements or chemical interactions, it will not be done through the traditional academic class.  The approach will be more hands on and visual, as well as repetitive to help it sink in.  We will do what it takes to help you or your student learn.

In the end, our hope is for the students to learn skills of proficiency that they can take into the work world with great confidence.  Our hope is to give our students more skills to be as independent as possible.  Our dream is to help you achieve your dream!

Why was this vocational program created for special needs students?
This vocational program was created after recognizing that many traditional educational and technical schools do not meet the needs of hands-on, visual learners with special needs. The goal is to provide meaningful job skills in a supportive, practical learning environment.

What challenges do special needs students face in traditional schools?
Many special needs students struggle with academic-heavy instruction, limited hands-on learning, and rigid teaching models. These challenges can lead to frustration, disengagement, and missed opportunities to build real-world job skills.

Why is hands-on learning important for special needs learners?
Hands-on learning helps visual and tactile learners better understand concepts through repetition, practice, and real-life application. This approach builds confidence, skill mastery, and long-term independence.

How does vocational training support independence and confidence?
Vocational training teaches practical skills that students can apply directly in the workplace. By mastering job-related tasks, students gain confidence, self-reliance, and a greater sense of purpose in their daily lives.

What is the mission of Dharma Dreams Vocational Center?
Dharma Dreams Vocational Center aims to empower individuals with special needs by providing hands-on vocational training, life skills development, and opportunities that support independence, confidence, and meaningful community involvement.