Bishop John Noonan | Diocese of Orland website

Magnify of Central Florida is offering on-the-job training programs designed to help individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities find meaningful work. The organization connects participants to real-world opportunities that align with their interests and strengths.

One participant, Nick, found a sense of purpose through his placement at Heartland Haven, a nonprofit horse ranch in Orange County. The ranch rescues and retrains horses and provides an environment for personal growth and healing. Through this partnership, Nick has gained hands-on skills while becoming part of the Heartland Haven community.

Nick’s daily responsibilities include caring for the horses, preparing special meals for those with dietary needs, cleaning stalls and barns, painting fences, maintaining equipment, and ensuring the property is safe. With support from ranch staff and Magnify job coaches, he is learning time management, workplace safety, multi-step tasks, and teamwork.

The program aims to build confidence and independence among its participants by providing supportive environments where they can learn practical skills.

To support Magnify of Central Florida’s efforts to create more opportunities for people with special abilities, donations can be made at the 21st annual Harvest Ball at https://www.harvestball.org/.

The Diocese of Orlando was established in 1968. It includes 79 parishes, 11 missions, two basilicas, and 43 Catholic schools across Brevard, Lake, Marion, Orange, Osceola, Polk, Seminole, Sumter, and Volusia Counties. The diocese is currently led by Bishop James Noonan. More information about the diocese can be found at https://www.orlandodiocese.org/.