Finding a path: Transition fair helps parents with disabled children plan for life after high school

Claudia Thomas says that for an average child, their path after high school is generally outlined for them: go to college or get a job.

"But when you have a child with a disability, often they're not able to go to college. And you can't say OK, fine, just go get a job. An employer has to understand they're working with a child with a disability," Thomas said.

Her 17-year-old son, Dennis, has autism, and she worries about his options after graduation. He'll be a junior at Central High School in Cape Girardeau next year, but she's already planning for beyond. "It's like, where do you go from here?" she said.

Thomas got some answers Tuesday at the Southeast Transition Fair, which brought together more than 20 agencies that assist people with disabilities. This is the first year for the fair, which was hosted by the Southeast Regional Professional Development Center and the Local Administrators of Special Education. Agencies in attendance included Horizons Enrichment Center, Sikeston Regional Center, VIP Industries, Jefferson Community College, Terrace Gardens Group Home and Vocational Rehabilitation Services.

Thomas said Dennis will most likely live with her after graduation, at least for a while, as he gets practice functioning as an adult. She wants him to get a job, not solely to make money, but so he feels like a contributing member of society.

Next year he'll get practical work experience through a program at Central High School. The program allows students with disabilities to work for part of their school day at a commercial business. Students do not get paid for their work but do receive academic credit. Dennis doesn't know his job placement yet, but Thomas is excited about the skills he'll learn.

Debbie Ebaugh, a transition coordinator at Central, said she works closely with parents and students to make sure placement is specialized for each student. Her job centers on preparing students for life after high school, and she said that the agencies she recommends to parents vary greatly depending on the student's abilities.

KIT DOYLE ~ kdoyle@semissourian.com Olivia Kurtz, right, showed crafts that she and other Central High School students made in "Cool Tools" class to her mother, Mary, center, and younger sister, Caroline, at the Southeast Transition Fair. Debbie Ebaugh, left, heads Central's special services and helps teach "Cool Tools."

KIT DOYLE ~ kdoyle@semissourian.com Olivia Kurtz, right, showed crafts that she and other Central High School students made in "Cool Tools" class to her mother, Mary, center, and younger sister, Caroline, at the Southeast Transition Fair. Debbie Ebaugh, left, heads Central's special services and helps teach "Cool Tools."

"When we get freshmen, their parents are scared to death. But we tell them we'll link them to the right agencies, so when they leave, when I'm obsolete, they have someone," Ebaugh said.

Representatives from the Sikeston Regional Center, which provides case workers for some of the families that attended, distributed pamphlets with the addresses of Web sites that explain parents' rights and responsibilities.

Case workers begin discussing legal guardianship issues with parents a year or more before a child with a disability turns 18. "Families tend think their child is going to need their help forever. They don't realize that at age 18 they can't legally make their decisions," said Royce Kessel, case management assessment supervisor.

Other agencies described work opportunities. Diane Bryan, the vice president of VIP Industries, was at the fair to explain options available at sheltered workshops. About 150 mentally retarded or developmentally disabled people work at the Cape Girardeau office, completing tasks such as shredding or cleaning.

For higher-functioning students, counselors from community colleges were available to explain options for financial assistance or acceptance. Sharonica Bingham, 17, wants to enter the nursing field. Through a work experience program, she currently works at Landmark Hospital and wants to go to college in Atlanta. She struggles with reading comprehension and worries she might not be accepted.

Sandra Smoot's daughter Sanetta has a mental disability, but she doesn't want to rule out the option of college. "I try to explain to her that even with a disability you can still get from point A to point B," Smoot said.

lbavolek@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 123

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