The South Dakota Advisory Panel on Children with Disabilities met to discuss transition options for children with disabilities.
Their goal is to help prepare these kids for a better life once they become adults.
In Wednesday's meeting, panel members talked through the multiple resources available to children throughout the state to help them succeed through adulthood. The state offers programs that are catered to age and ability.
Debra Willert is a state special education coordinator for ages three to five. She said she works with school districts directly to help kids in unique situations.
“And I’ve worked really hard at trying to help districts understand how they can just look at one or two students, and try to figure out how they can maybe provide those services in that least restrictive environment, that early childhood setting,” said Willert.
Katie Gran is a transition specialist for vocational rehabilitation. She said transition assistance is built on teamwork - bringing the student, parents, teachers and community support together.
The vocational rehabilitation program is focused on older children who are preparing to join the workforce. Individualized education programs are built for each student.
“And what we are doing is again, we’re just enhancing those soft skills, we’re building the students' stamina to work more than just a couple hours here and there. They’re working about five to six hours a day, so they are getting a more of a realistic picture of what it’s going to be once they are done with those IEP services,” said Gran.
Gran said every public school and tribal school in South Dakota has a vocational rehabilitation counselor for student support.
State vocational rehabilitation services include assisting students find employment, counseling services, pre-employment training, and a paid work experience program for students 16 and older.
