by Emily Martin.

Bishop Park Community Center hosted the school’s annual transition/career fair May 2. Special education department chair Kelli Fulton said the fair is an opportunity for tenth through twelfth grade special education and special needs students to get in touch with vendors, colleges, universities and agencies that can help them once they graduate from high school.

“When [special education students] turn 16, we incorporate into their Individual Education Plan (IEP) services to help them transition from high school to work or college,” Fulton said. “These agencies will help them further their education with the center for student services on a college campus or provide them with opportunities for work, independent living skills and things like that.”

Vendors from various Civitan services, banks and schools set up booths to speak with students about their futures. Schools such as the University of Arkansas – Monticello, UCA, ITT Technical Institute and the University of the Ozarks provided information regarding programs students can enter upon enrollment. After taking courses the high school offers through Saline County Career Center, the students can earn certificates to move on to these programs.

“They can go on, once they get that certificate to go on to like Regency Beauty Institute for cosmetology or heavy mechanics, machinery schools, welding schools and things like that,” Fulton said. “We also have agencies that will help them get situated in group living situations for those who couldn’t live independently. We also put them in touch with banks because it’s important to know what to do with their paychecks once they get them and so the banks are here to tell them about the savings and checking options that they have available.”

Additionally, the fair had several panels for the student. In one panel, students were able to hear from graduates of the school’s special education program about what they encountered after high school and in another, a speaker spoke with senior students about self-advocacy.

In a separate panel, a transition consultant from the state department taught the students about pocket resumes they can have ready when searching for a job. Several students from the high school were

also present to help enlighten the students on how to dress appropriately for job interviews.

“We hope the students gain a better understanding of what’s out there for them service-wise,” Fulton said, “and of the different colleges and universities that have services to help them once they get to college, just so they can be aware of the things they need to be doing to better prepare them for life outside of high school.”