We were pleased to welcome D219 Special Education Teacher Aby Karottu and Employment Specialist/DRS Yvette Stroesser-Schmidt who shared with club members the purpose of D219's Bridges Program and the skills and instructions provided to young adult students through this program.
In conjunction with the Americans with Disabilities Act, 1990, District 219 Bridges Transition Services is committed to providing students with a community-based, functional, real world curriculum. The focus of the program is to enhance students' life and vocational skills. Our goal is to prepare our students with disabilities to “live independently, enjoy self-determination, make choices, contribute to society, pursue meaningful careers, and enjoy full inclusion...in the mainstream of American society.”
District 219's Bridges Adult Transition Services serve adult learners aged 18 through the day before their 22nd birthday. Transition Services operate between the hours of 9:00-2:00 pm. These students have met District 219 graduation requirements and are preparing to be contributing members of the community. Services are structured to enhance skills for young adults needing Community-Based Instruction in the domains of independent living, personal management, recreation and leisure, and vocational training. Services foster a cooperative relationship among staff, students, families, colleges/schools, community organizations, local businesses, adult agencies, and service providers in order to help support the adult learners transitioning away from the high school setting.
Employability skills are taught through community-based work experiences, such as internships, apprenticeships, and other on-the-job training experiences, providing increased opportunities for students to develop problem solving skills addressing a variety of situations within a workplace environment.
Vocational training is also taught through community-based work experiences, such as volunteering and on-the-job training experiences, provide increased opportunities for students to learn a specific job, task, or skill at an integrated employment site, and to transfer the knowledge gained to real-time work experiences.
If you are interested in learning more about District 219's Bridges Adult Transition Services (https://www.niles-hs.k12.il.us/bridges/) or are interested in partnering to provide a community-based work experience, please reach out directly to Yvette (847-626-3619, yvestr@d219.org) or Aby (847-626-3607, abykar@d219.org).