Every student deserves the chance to dream big and succeed, no matter the challenges they face. For many students with disabilities, the transition from high school to the next stage of life—whether it’s college, a career, or independent living—can feel daunting. But at Benton Community Senior High School, the new Transition Alliance Program is opening doors to brighter futures and helping students build the skills and confidence they need to achieve their dreams. The Transition Alliance Program (TAP) is in its inaugural year at Benton Community Senior High School. TAP, in partnership with Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services (IVRS), has the opportunity to work with students who have disabilities in planning for their transition after high school. This means making a plan for what life will look like after graduation, including deciding what students want to do for a career, how to build a path to get there, and developing the independent living skills they need to be successful. TAP starts working with students at age 14 and can continue to provide services past graduation up until age 25 with a full application.
At the core of TAP’s mission, there are five main categories of focus that TAP works on with students, called Pre-Employment Transition Services or Pre-ETS. These activities can be delivered in school or in the community. Students are able to participate in TAP in a classroom, small group, and individual settings. It’s great to have the flexibility to really cater to each student and their needs. The five categories of Pre-ETS are job exploration counseling, work-based learning experiences, counseling on opportunities, workplace readiness training, and instruction in self-advocacy. Job exploration counseling provides students with opportunities to learn about various career options and the work skills necessary to be successful. Work-based learning experiences provide students with opportunities to connect with their community to assist them in relating school experiences to real-life work activities and future career options. Counseling on opportunities includes activities that provide students with information and guidance on a variety of postsecondary education and training options. Workplace readiness training develops employability skills, social skills, and independent living skills. This focuses on soft skills, which are important in all aspects of life, not just the employment world. Instruction in self-advocacy develops the self-advocacy skills needed in education, workplace, and community settings. Being able to learn when and how to disclose a student’s disability is an important skill so that students can ask for accommodations in their future schooling and work settings.
Students with disabilities need more support than typical students, which is why I’m excited to introduce this program to the school. TAP is a supplemental program to the services that the school currently provides, creating additional opportunities for students to explore job opportunities, connecting students with the community for real-life job experiences, preparing for additional schooling and training needed for a career, developing the skills needed to be successful, and increasing their self-advocacy skills. Since the beginning of the school year, over 20 students have signed up for services through TAP and IVRS. If there are any questions or if you think of a student who would be a good fit for TAP, please reach out to Samantha Shoemaker or a teacher at the high school. sshoemaker@benton.k12.ia.us