Brittney Faircloth, a transition teacher with Lawrence County Schools, said it’s important to start thinking about possible career paths for special needs students even before they start school.
DUBLIN, Ga. — Skills 4 Life Day brought together more than 200 special needs students from seven counties in Central Georgia. The event featured several stations that taught functional and job skills with the help of community businesses and volunteers.
Ángel Antonio Gómez Juan and his classmates learned about nutrition, navigating retail stores as customers or employees, and more.
“All I know is that I want to create something and be someone who helps people,” he said.
Skills 4 Life Day shows special needs students that the possibilities in life after school are endless. Organizers say this is all about preparing students for the future.
There were 11 stations including topics such as construction, landscaping, insurance, finance, health and fitness, food service, housekeeping, janitorial, medical, and nutrition.
Georgia State Schools Superintendent Richard Woods said events like this contribute to the state’s workforce.
“Our motto at the Department of Education is to prepare every student for life, and this is a perfect fit for that path, providing students with the life skills they need to succeed,” he said. Said.
The idea for Skills 4 Life came from a Skills Learning Day in Lawrence County three years ago. Over time, more county special education programs became involved. Brittney Faircloth, a transition teacher with Lawrence County Schools, said it’s important to start thinking about possible career paths for special needs students even before they start school.
“What we don’t want is for them to graduate to sitting on the couch, because that’s what happens all too often. That’s why we’re really, really pushing this, and we’re seeing this across the state. I really hope so,” Faircloth said. They are capable and can accomplish anything. We just provide them with an opportunity. ”
The ability to lead them to their own interests. Riley Troilli, a special education teacher in Bleckley County, said she agrees that students with special needs should be exposed to post-graduation options early.
“I’m very happy and blessed that everything went as planned,” Troili said. “It’s great to see businesses being represented as well today. One of the great things about this work is that these kids certainly have the ability to do something in our society and in our communities. That they can understand that they can do it.”
Woods said Georgia businesses and industries are looking for great employees, and this event shows there are jobs for every student.
“When we talked to people in businesses and industries who have worked with special needs students, we found that they make great employees,” he said. “That’s very possible for us because they’re very dedicated, very attentive to user requests, and very pleasant to the people they interact with.”
The seven minutes students spend at each station prepares them for the rest of their lives. Organizers say they hope to hold Skills 4 Life Day again next year and get more schools involved.
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