District 201′s Assisted Learning Vocational Program – An Autism Job Program
Young adults with a range of disabilities, including autism, are getting an early foot in the employment door through Belleville Township High School District 201′s Assisted Learning Vocational Program.
The purpose of this program in southern Illinois is to provide special education students ages 18 through 22 on-the-job training in a field related to their career interests. According to Vocational Coordinator Christine Gooding, the students work for half of their day and attend either the life-skills-focused Bridges Program or the academic-focused Connections Program the other half. The school district provides job coaches for students who need additional support.
There are currently 16 job sites where students do a variety of different jobs. “Through this program, students are able to gain an understanding of their strengths/weaknesses, likes/dislikes and how their disability may affect their work performance,” said Gooding. Many students are hired full time at the job sites upon graduation.
One example is David Sims, a 23-year-old with autism who started out at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital by participating in the vocational program and now averages 32 hours a week operating giant machines that fold and iron sheets, towels, gowns and other linens.
“He has a good work ethic, and he’s just enjoyable to be around,” said laundry manager Glenn Reinneck. “He always greets you with a smile. He’ll say, ‘Have a good week!’ or ‘See you tomorrow!’”
St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, Belleville Animal Clinic and Belleville Area Humane Society are just three of the job sites involved in the program. The district pays minimum-wage salaries for one semester and then shares costs for another semester. They’re hoping to increase the number of businesses and organizations that are participating.
“Our goal is for (students) to be self-sufficient and self-supporting,” said Gooding. “We want them to be productive members of society instead of graduating and just sitting at home.”
Material for this post was gathered from email correspondence as well as articles in Healing Thresholds (click here) and bnd.com (click here).
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