Special Education Students Explore Careers at Local Businesses

Thirty Logan and Sky View high school special education students participated in the first Disability Mentoring Day (DMD) held in Cache Valley, Tuesday Oct.26. The students visited local businesses matching their interests to gain knowledge about potential career prospects.

 

Pre-service teachers from the department of special education and rehabilitation at Utah State University and high school paraprofessionals served as mentors and accompanied the students to the sites.

 

Bob Morgan, Utah State special education and rehabilitation professor said the event was important for three reasons. First, DMD provided youths with disabilities the opportunity to participate in community employment to identify preferred jobs, consider areas where they need additional training and begin to explore careers. Second, the event provided parents and teachers a chance to consider future options for youths. Most of the mentors were special education teachers, Morgan said. This event helped them understand that elementary and middle school-aged students grow to be adults, and that a large portion of their learning should be geared toward decision making in adulthood. Third, DMD gave employers the chance to see what youths with disabilities can do on a job.

 

“Many youths with special needs can perform the majority of job tasks very well, and they become reliable, dedicated employees,” Morgan said.

 

Participation in DMD can result in internship opportunities or sometimes function as a first interview on the way to employment, Morgan said.

 

Along with Logan and Sky View high schools, participants in the event came from the Center for Persons with Disabilities at Utah State. Participating employers were Lee’s Marketplace, Macey’s Food and Drug, The Herald Journal, Shaffer’s Bakery, All About Kids, The Copper Mill, PetsMart, Bridgerland Animal Hospital, Subway in Smithfield, McDonald’s in Smithfield, Tony’s Grove and Cantwell Lumber.

 

The event was organized and sponsored by the department of special education and rehabilitation at Utah State. Morgan said he would like to see the event become semi-annual, but the department is in need of volunteers to help make this possible.