All of my amazing students are on the Occupational Course of Study designed to meet academic requirements for graduating from high school with a diploma while providing the hands-on experiences to gain real life job skills.
Although every one of them views life through some type of disability, I want them to experience the "little successes" that will lead to lifelong employment that is rewarding and exciting.
One of my greatest challenges is convincing many of them that they have the potential to reach the goals we dream about.
Projects like this can be time-consuming and exhausting, but the daily, hands-on training for this population is absolutely critical to their future.
My Project
Many young adults with disabilities struggle with life skills that are often overlooked in academic and vocational education. This is true for my students as well, since traditional classroom instruction seldom addresses critical social/interpersonal skills such as teamwork, conflict resolution, use of body language, empathy, and independent problem solving in a real world setting.
Mobile vending carts, along with a portable electronic cash register, would provide the platform to help my students develop both academic and interpersonal skill sets that are essential for future employment.
As students are scaffolded through increasingly complex levels of handling product inventory, advertising, and sales; they would practice the skills and gain the confidence for a successful future.
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mr. Ralston and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
