October 27, 2014 at 4:12 p.m.
RHS Amazing Race helps students prepare to enter the workforce
RHS Amazing Race helps students prepare to enter the workforce
Not only is October National Disability Employment Awareness Month, but the School District of Rhinelander is also entering the third and final year of its Let's Get to Work grant. The grant is designed to increase competitive employment for students with disabilities.
"The goal is to get more access to more businesses in the area and to hand out information about our Let's Get to Work grant and about our work experience program," said special education teacher Shelley Lehman.
The students were divided into three groups before heading out into the community to talk to as many business leaders as possible. The students spent the first part of the morning practicing their handshakes, reading and communication. After rehearsing their skills, the students went out with scripts and information in hand to speak with business owners and managers around Rhinelander.
"We have our students go in and feel a little bit more comfortable talking about their ability and disability," Lehman said. "Students with special needs are five times more likely to be employed after graduation if they have two or more paid jobs while they are in school," she added.
The students chose which businesses they wanted to reach out to based on their interests and skills.
"We let the kids decide which businesses they wanted to go to," Lehman said. "We want them to find places they're interested in working at and places that would be a good fit for them."
The event isn't just for the students, however. It also gives business owners a chance to get to know the kids.
"It helps the business owners get more comfortable with hiring students with disabilities and gives the students skills they'll use the rest of their lives," Lehman said.
This first time out for the students is being used as a type of trial run, Lehman said. The goal is to continue the event in the future.
"We're going to look at it and evaluate it. We may do it every year and we may do it every other year," she said.
"We think it's really important to get the kids out there and involved in the business community, so it's definitely something we'll be doing more of."
For more information about the program, contact Lehman at (715) 365-9500 ext. 8135 or via email at [email protected].
Marcus Nesemann may be reached at [email protected].
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