In honor of Assistance Dog Week, we are honoring Franklin, who is Susan Maziarz’s service dog. Shortly after Susan was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis she began to feel the effects of the debilitating disease and became wheelchair dependent. The former nurse and mom felt helpless – even useless at times. Fortunately, Susan was introduced …
It’s Teacher Appreciation Week and Project Discovery sends applause and our “Thank You” from the heart to the diverse community of educators we serve and are inspired by throughout the year. You are creative, innovative and have the most passionate hearts for your students. For all of us, the greatest reward is seeing those students succeed. …
(http://steinhardt.nyu.edu/site/ataglance/files/2017/02/engineers.jpg) Research published in the Journal of Occupational Therapy in Mental Health, gives individuals with Autism and their supporters a new reason to celebrate bringing their talents to the workplace. Published in February 2017, new data suggests that, when supported, the strong interests of individuals with Autism may in the long term, develop into successful …
Microsoft is actively seeking candidates for an ever-expanding list of opportunities, including roles in software engineering, data science, customer service and operations. This was hardly breaking news, until Microsoft announced that these hires would be part of a new program to recruit individuals with Autism. Mary Ellen Smith, Corporate Vice President for Worldwide Operations, introduced Microsoft’s new initiative at the United Nations on World Autism …
Missouri School District Ensures Workplace Success: Starts Transition Early and Culminates with Innovative “Job in the Lab” Program! Dawn Hesse, a Transition Coordinator for the Francis Howell School District in Saint Charles, Missouri, believes career exploration and job skills training should start early, especially for students with multiple disabilities. “Transition begins when teachers have a …
Philadelphia Student Growers Talk about Their Hands-On Career Education Experience. Each summer, something extraordinary happens on the campus of the Martin Luther King High School in Philadelphia, PA. Young adult students, ages 18 to 21, who have multiple disabilities, from autism to intellectual disabilities, are communicating with excitement. Students who rarely speak or make eye …
For ten years, Betsy Gentry worked as a Transition Coordinator in the Special Education Department of the Bradley County School District in Cleveland, TN. Because of her insight and the support of local businesses, many high school students with special needs now work in the community. Teaching Best Practices to Special Education Teachers Today, …
Mike Way, Warehouse and Donations Manager at Resource Depot, a nonprofit organization in Florida, talks about his company’s employment of students with special challenges. Mike says he appreciates his new employee, Ryan and his quick grasp of his job responsibilities. He says, “Ryan gets his jobs done fast and right. He doesn’t shy away from …
Javier West, once a student at risk, no longer fears failure at his job or about his future. Javier has learned exceptional multitasking skills and uses them every day at his job as a shop floor assistant at the Tommy Hilfiger retail outlet in Palm Beach, FL. He dreams of being a firefighter too! Just …
When Pam Roth met Theresa Cortney, a Transition and Employment Specialist for Klein ISD, Houston, Texas, she was concerned about her son’s future. Cory has intellectual delays. In middle school, his teachers saw his aptitude decline. Mrs. Roth knew that her son liked hands-on activities. Cory didn’t do so well in classes that were mostly …