Transition Training for Students
with Special Needs
by Kelly Thompson
March 05, 2007
Two workshops focusing on transition training for students with special needs were scheduled during the month of February. On Wednesday, February 21, 2007, four ninth and tenth grade students went to Chadron, where they were joined with students from Gordon/Rushville, Crawford, Chadron, Gering and Scottsbluff. The morning was spent identifying the meaning of self-advocacy, determining what type of learner and what jobs/careers would match, and playing transition jeopardy.
After eating lunch in the CSC cafeteria, students and sponsors met with assistant manager, Wendy Smith, of Safeway who explained there are more job opportunities than bagging groceries, being a stock person or a cashier. Students were also treated to a tour of the facility. The final stop was the Boys and Girls Club where Rick Berry listened to ideas from the students in order to develop meaningful programs for students of all ages.
The second workshop was scheduled on Tuesday, February 27, 2007 where three eleventh grade students joined other eleventh and twelfth graders from around the Panhandle and were treated to a tour of Heavy Equipment Training Academy (HETA) in Julesburg, Colorado. Hard hats were worn while students and sponsors walked through the mud learning about backhoes, graters and other pieces of machinery. This is a four-week training facility in which certification is obtained as well as a skill learned at the end of the four-week period. After eating lunch in Sterling, Colorado, students were involved in a tour of Northeastern Junior College. The group was split, with half learning more about nursing, cosmetology and early childhood development and the other half learning more about machinery, auto mechanics and welding. Despite the long day, the students were impressed with the tours and stated they were ready to go again next year.
The two workshops were developed by Jan Barber, ESU #13, Transition Specialist from Scottsbluff. Lunches, prizes, and snacks were provided for the students. Additionally, transportation for the outing on February 27, 2006, was provided by a charter bus. A big thank you goes out to Ms. Barber for the opportunity for students with special needs to explore different options that are available outside of the high school setting.
