Innovative Support Services (ISS), a Racine-based disability services agency, and The Arc Wisconsin are joining forces with the Racine Unified School District and other community partners to celebrate Transition Day Saturday March 23, 2019 from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Gateway Technical College. Transition Day is an education event for parents and students with disabilities (middle school age to high school) on what they need to know about the transition from high school to adulthood. Multiple local disability services agencies, as well as teachers, transition teachers and supervisors from Racine Unified School district, will be at the event to guide participants through the multiple options that exist for young adults as they leave school. ISS is a partner with The Arc Wisconsin on the innovative Arc@Work program.
Creating a sound transition plan for an individual with disabilities is more important than ever, especially given current economic conditions. Racine’s unemployment rate reported by the Bureau for Labor Statistics is 4.0%, higher than most of the state. According to Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction data (2015-16), only 40 percent of Racine youth with disabilities were employed one year after leaving high school, compared to 64.27% statewide.
“Transition Day is an important and valuable opportunity for families in the Racine area to examine what possibilities exist out there for young people with disabilities when it comes time to leave school,” says Lisa Pugh, Executive Director of The Arc Wisconsin, “It is encouraging to know that ISS and other disability services agencies in Racine are working hand-in-hand with the school district to ensure that families and students get the information and support they need to succeed in life after school,”
Among the participating agencies is Innovative Support Services (ISS), which has made it a priority to partner with the Racine School District to begin working with students with disabilities early to create transition plans and a pathway to the future. They were recently awarded The Arc@Work Innovative Approaches to Community-Based Employment Initiative Grant to bolster their outreach to the local business community and provide job-readiness training to you interested in getting jobs after school.
“We are going into the schools and helping students with their goal-setting and developing their resumes,” says Connie Gardner, Co-Owner, Innovative Support Services. “Each student who completes The Arc@Work Racine program will leave with connections to resources and understanding the accommodations they need. Many will be on their way to a job.”
If you are interested in ISS’ transition services, contact Connie or Erin at Innovative Support Services at (262)-989-3504 or at innovativesupport@tds.net
Learn more about The Arc@Work here: https://www.thearc.org/thearcatwork
