Spring Break
Employers, universities reach out to special needs students
Tim Yaczo
Issue date: 11/7/06 Section: Community
Local students with special needs recently had an opportunity to familiarize themselves with resources that could help them prepare for a future career or college education.
Special needs students and adults who have completed state high school requirements joined at Northgate Mall in Colerain Thursday, for a Transition Fair to help prepare them for higher education and employment in the Tri-State area.
Special needs students include those with learning disorders or other physical or mental disabilities that could pose challenges to their schooling.
The program, "Transitioning to High School and Beyond: Services for Students with Special Needs," was sponsored by the Oak Hills, Northwest, Colerain and Mt. Healthy School Districts.
The fair was tailored toward students in grades eight through 12. According to Julie Dunford, co-organizer of the fair and parent mentor at Oak Hills, the fair's planners assembled approximately three dozen agencies to help students prepare for college or work opportunities in the area.
"(The agencies were) ranging from adult services to colleges, and project search programs for post-secondary options," Dunford said.
The central mall location, off U.S. Route 27, was selected to maximize attendance and visibility for the after school fair.
Representatives at the fair; such as the Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation, the Legal Aid Society, colleges, technical schools and employers; catered toward procuring a greater understanding and diverse atmosphere for special needs individuals.
"There's a real need for community-type training, to understand special needs and how to respond to people appropriately," Dunford said. "Transportation, even, is a huge lacking area. Most adults who use these services don't have a driver's license."
Although Dunford said the only representatives from Miami University came from the Hamilton branch, the Office of Disability Resources (ODR) at the Campus Avenue Building attends to students with special needs on the Oxford campus.
Special needs students and adults who have completed state high school requirements joined at Northgate Mall in Colerain Thursday, for a Transition Fair to help prepare them for higher education and employment in the Tri-State area.
Special needs students include those with learning disorders or other physical or mental disabilities that could pose challenges to their schooling.
The program, "Transitioning to High School and Beyond: Services for Students with Special Needs," was sponsored by the Oak Hills, Northwest, Colerain and Mt. Healthy School Districts.
The fair was tailored toward students in grades eight through 12. According to Julie Dunford, co-organizer of the fair and parent mentor at Oak Hills, the fair's planners assembled approximately three dozen agencies to help students prepare for college or work opportunities in the area.
"(The agencies were) ranging from adult services to colleges, and project search programs for post-secondary options," Dunford said.
The central mall location, off U.S. Route 27, was selected to maximize attendance and visibility for the after school fair.
Representatives at the fair; such as the Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation, the Legal Aid Society, colleges, technical schools and employers; catered toward procuring a greater understanding and diverse atmosphere for special needs individuals.
"There's a real need for community-type training, to understand special needs and how to respond to people appropriately," Dunford said. "Transportation, even, is a huge lacking area. Most adults who use these services don't have a driver's license."
Although Dunford said the only representatives from Miami University came from the Hamilton branch, the Office of Disability Resources (ODR) at the Campus Avenue Building attends to students with special needs on the Oxford campus.
