Welcome
Empowering Abilities. Building Confidence. Preparing for Real Work.
Sonny House Job Skills Program helps high school students with cognitive disabilities build independence.
Students Learning Through Real Work
Dog Treats After School Program
Students currently participate in Sonny House’s after-school dog treat micro-business, where they learn production, packaging, teamwork, and workplace behavior in a supportive environment.
This hands-on experience helps students build confidence, independence, and job readiness skills.
About Sonny House
Sonny House Mission Statement
- Sonny House Job Skills Program is a Maryland nonprofit that prepares high school students with cognitive disabilities for employment and independence through hands-on job skills training.
- Students learn workplace routines, communication skills, teamwork, and self-advocacy in supportive, real-world learning environments.
- Our goal is to help students transition confidently from school into their communities and future employment opportunities.
How We Got Started
- Sonny House Job Skills Program was founded by LeAnn Holden-Martin to help students with cognitive disabilities build independence through real-world job skills.
- The program began with small, hands-on learning opportunities and continues to grow through community partnerships and new workforce-training experiences for students.
Community Support & Recognition
Thanks
- Sonny House Job Skills Program is grateful for the community support that helps our students grow and succeed.
- In 2024, Sonny House received a $27,000 community impact award supporting continued job-skills programming for students with cognitive disabilities.
- This support helps us expand hands-on learning opportunities and build new workforce training experiences for students.
Sonny House in the news
Hanging By A Tread of Emotion
This NBC Channel 4 feature highlights how art and creative expression help students with special needs process emotions and communicate their experiences. The segment shares the heart behind Sonny House — creating safe, meaningful opportunities for students to build confidence, self-expression, and connection.
1st Place Winner for Sonny House
Sonny House was honored to receive the VOYA Unsung Heroes Award, recognizing innovative programs that make a lasting difference for students. This award celebrates the impact of hands-on job skills training and the dedication to helping students with cognitive disabilities prepare for real-world success.
Sonny House Performs at Wolf Trap
Students from Sonny House had the opportunity to perform at Wolf Trap, demonstrating confidence, teamwork, and creativity on a professional stage. Experiences like this help students build independence, communication skills, and pride in their accomplishments.