Preparation activities allow students to build a knowledge base. Experience and instruction occur in the classroom and community. As their confidence builds, so does their ability to plan a career pathway and goals.

Student Run Business

Volunteering or Community Service

Career and Technical Education (CTE) Courses

The academy support team are special education resource teachers. They help students with Individualized Education Plans. This includes:

• Organizational and study skills.
• Individual test administration.
• Review of instructional materials.
• Behavioral support plans.
• Self-advocacy.

Community Work Experience (CWE)

The possibilities are endless. Our training types include:

• Animal care
• Assembly
• Childcare
• Clerical work:  filing, scanning, data entry, shredding, digitizing, and collating
• Computer dismantling
• Floral design
• Food preparation and service
• Grounds maintenance
• Housekeeping- laundry
• Mailroom
• Retail work: stock, inventory, bagging, and courtesy clerk
• Teaching
• Warehouse logistics

These experiences help students learn important skills for future employment success. Benefits include:

• A link between school and work.
• Career paths based on interests and talents.
• Learn soft skills to maintain employment.
• Build self-confidence and awareness.
• Learn self-advocacy in the workplace.
• Gain academic, social, and communication skills through work.
• Learn about the current job market.
• Meet professional role models.

We follow the Fair Labor Standards Act guidelines:

• Participants will be a youth with disabilities. Students will need intensive, ongoing support to perform in a work setting.
• Placements connect to classroom instruction and individualized education programs.
• The students are the primary beneficiary of all placements.
• Students do not displace employees or assume vacant positions.
• The business partner and school staff provide continued and direct supervision.
• School staff provide ongoing instruction and close supervision.
• Students are not entitled to wages for the time spent in the work experience.
• Students are not entitled to employment at the business at the end of their work experience.

Students work in groups and independently. Some students work with job coaches briefly to establish expectations and performance.

Career and Transition Services works with over 350 partners each year. We place approximately 1,200 students with disabilities in community work experiences each year. Some of our sites include:

Youth Apprenticeships

Competitive Employment

Job coaches may help get students started. Students begin to understand workplace expectations. They develop hard and soft skills. They can take these experiences and skills to their future careers.

Contact

To learn more about Career Preparation activities, contact Career and Transition Services at 571-423-4150 or follow us @FCPS_CTS on Twitter.