Stepping Stones Learning Center

Stepping Stones Learning Center has been one of our community job exploration sites since last summer. This site gives our students an opportunity to assist in classrooms and do custodial work. For the last year, Cameron, who has identified this as an interest, has been working as a custodian in the school. He has to take out the garbage from the classrooms, refill paper towels and other items in the bathrooms and any other tasks that are asked of him. Andrew, who attended Stepping Stones as a young child, Danyel and Ashlee have been working in classrooms, helping out with snacks, arts and craft projects and spending time with the children as they play. Don Sinton, Coordinator of Public Relations and Development, and his staff have been most accommodating. Our students and job coaches, Kari Thompson and Stephanie Rice have always felt welcomed. Last week when the group arrived, they were greeted by this lovely display, highlighting our students. Thank you Stepping Stones for making our experiences unforgettable!

stepping stones - slideshows

Joan Michaelree, the Vocational Evaluator for SHC and I attended the New York State APSE Conference in Lake Placid. “APSE is the only national organization with an exclusive focus on integrated employment and career advancement opportunities for individuals with disabilities. APSE is a growing national non-profit membership organization, founded in 1988 as the Association for Persons in Supported Employment, now known as APSE. (taken from the APSE web site) It was a wonderful, informative two days. The overall message was “all people can and should work” There were presentations on transportation, funding, iPad apps and New York State policies. The key note speaker, Joe Marrone, was the kind of guy who “walked the walk” and “talked the talk”. It was evident that he believed in the philosophy that everyone can work and had a no-nonsense approach to making it happen. The state is questioning adult placements, such as day habs. A person who has the ability to work is strongly encouraged to do so. Transitional Day Habs, which work to prepare individuals for work, generally have a goal of getting a person into supported employment within 18 months. This type of day hab is becoming more available. It is clear that students need preparation to be successful in employment. Families can talk to their young children about what they want to do when they grow up. We all need to embrace the philosophy that we are preparing ALL students for employment. Preparing students with disabilities for employment is a team effort. Families, teachers, service coordinators and adult agencies all play an important role in this process. For more information on APSE, visit the web page: http://www.apse.org/

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It's hard to believe that it's February. The school year is more than half over, where did the time go? The Transition Staff has been busy attending conferences on the New York Initiative, Employment First. There has been a lot of information on work incentives as well as supported-work options. Holy Childhood is looking at different ways we can jump on board. Transition Meetings began in January. This is a great time to meet with the team, especially the student and family, to brainstorm as to how we can plan for the future. It also provides time to develop IEP goals that relate directly to this plan. We have started the second half of the internship program. Some students have chosen to remain at the site in which they have been interning. All of the students were asked for their input and their choices were honored as much as possible. We have opened yet another Walgreens. This Walgreens is in Chili on Paul Road. Walgreens is a proponent for hiring persons with disabilities. If you get a chance check out their web site: http://www.walgreens.com/topic/sr/disability_inclusion_workplace.jsp There are a couple of other exciting things in the works and we'll be talking about them here!