Danial Young completed a program called Project Search, which prepares young people with intellectual or developmental disabilities for the workforce. He expressed the significance of transitioning from school to the real world. Many students with disabilities face challenges post-graduation, lacking opportunities compared to their peers. Experts note that the absence of dedicated programs can lead to a loss of social connections and increased anxiety for families, with some parents needing to leave work to support their children. Transition programs are essential for aiding this demographic during significant life changes.
"It's been very important to learn here, because you're moving into the real world. You're now evolving into this whole different person," he said ahead of graduating from Project Search.
Without a strong, dedicated program planning for life after graduation, youths with disabilities can lose the valuable relationships and social connections they've built during their schooling.
A patchwork of programs helps some transition into adulthood, but experts want more of these offerings to be accessible to everyone who needs them.
Leaving high school is "a time of big change and big decisions, but also it's potentially a time of crisis," said Eddie Bartnik.
Collection
[
|
...
]