Transition Paves the Way to Success

Transition services have always been a requirement for students with disabilities, according to Mary Lou Shafer, ESC Director of Special Education.  The Greene  ESC has been providing transition services for the past nine years and currently has two transition coordinators, Kristen Irwin and Mike Deliman, who work closely with the school districts  and with students in ESC programs to develop job-training skills.

Kristin Irwin is the ESC’s Transition Coordinator for students with severe disabilities, explains Shafer. Kristin established a job-training site at Wright State University which she implemented four years ago with only five students. Since that time the program has grown and now has sixteen students working in various job-training sites on campus.  Beavercreek, Fairborn and Sugarcreek school districts utilize Kristin’s services through the WSU program, and also utilize Kristin for in class instruction relating to job readiness, social interaction, interview techniques and other job related skills. Kristin works, too, with the students at the Greene County Learning Center developing the same skills. Soon she will be training ESC students at Wright Patterson AFB in a new job development setting.

Mike Deliman, the ESC's Job Development coordinator, works with students at the Academy of Greene County. Mike provides job training at the YMCA and the Domestic Violence Center. Mike works with high school students to prepare them for future employment through on site training in the areas of building maintenance, landscaping, and cleaning.  Mike also provides hands on experience for the students at the Greene County Learning Center. Mike and Learning Center teacher Craig Aukerman have designed a crafts class for students to make or repair small items. The class includes life skills math instruction in measuring, aligning, fractions, and volume. From the academic math, the students apply the information to a project that they are making or repairing. Currently the students are repairing a picnic table and are making templates from the damaged pieces.

In addition to the work that Kristin and Mike are doing, the ESC also coordinates programs with other schools and colleges.  During the 2007-2008 school year, the Learning Center piloted a program with the Greene County Career Center that allowed ESC students to develop job-related skills at the Career Center while completing academic requirements at the Learning Center.  With the success of our students in that program, and recognizing that some of our students were interested in more college focused careers, the Learning Center began introducing high school students to “college life.”  So far, students have toured Sinclair Community College and have learned about campus life and the expectations of post secondary education.  Future plans include additional tours and programs to learn about opportunities for college students.  The ESC plans to involve parents and guardians so they may learn more about college admission, financial aid, and other requirements for their child to attend college one day.

While some students are learning about college life, others are actually taking college classes.  Starting on January 5, 2009, in step with Winter Quarter, 2009 at Sinclair Community College, six college-bound students started attending classes there.  They are doing so by participating in the Sinclair Community College Advanced College Entry Program.  The six students meet daily during sixth period, log on to the internet and work independently to complete college work.

This is an exciting opportunity for both students and staff.  Students are being identified for post secondary education, both college and vocational, earlier and are participating in these programs now using the support of familiar staff making future transition a little more familiar to each student.