Transition Programs That Build Employability Skills & Community Connections

Transitioning into adulthood is a daunting task for students with individualized education plans (IEPs). The transition team at the Oshkosh Area School District (OASD) supports students and families by helping them to develop skills for post-secondary life. Our ultimate goal is to make sure that we give our graduates the skills they need to be college, career, and community ready.

We have developed several programs and initiatives that help our students to develop independent living and employability skills. Programs layer on each other so that our students build skills in succession and give opportunities for growth and independence. The level of support that we offer is contingent on individual needs and goals and is carried out in tandem with the goals of their IEP. 

Typical curricula are not equipped to teach students the skills they need to become independent or employable, leading us to seek out specialized curricula from national transition-to-work organizations Project Life and Project Search. We have replicated these programs within OASD. 

Project LIFE is a comprehensive national program that gives individuals with disabilities the opportunity to develop, practice, and strengthen skills that are high predictors for increased adult independence and successful integrated community employment. Project LIFE offers a targeted course of study in combination with participation in experiential life skills education and authentic work-based learning experiences within the local community. Students may participate in this program in their junior or senior year or both. OASD’s Project Life is held at our community YMCA site for classroom instruction. A typical day at Project LIFE includes classroom learning focused on the course of study and 2-3 hours of work-based learning under the supervision of a special education teacher and job skill trainers. 

Project SEARCH is another nationally recognized program designed for new graduates with disabilities to improve employment and educational opportunities. This nine-month program focuses on young adults who have completed their graduation requirements and have been assessed and accepted into the program. Total immersion in the workplace reinforces daily instruction as interns receive continuous feedback and gain employability and competitive work skills. This program has been successful because of our long-standing partnerships with our host business, DVR, job developers, and our long-term care agencies.

Another significant employment training resource we have developed is our school cafes; The Wildcat Cafe at Oshkosh West and the Spartan Snack Shack at Oshkosh North. The cafes in both of our high schools offer authentic work experience for students, who receive hands-on training in customer service, communication, teamwork, money handling, personal responsibility, and task analysis, among other skills. Our cafes serve the entire student body and staff on a daily basis, and last school year, our student employees served 68,000+ people. As a result of the success of the cafes, OASD recently purchased a customized and fully accessible food truck. The funding came from generous donations by businesses and organizations in the community. Our Brewing Futures mobile café, the first in the country operated by a school district, is another opportunity to give our students real-life employment training while integrating into our local community. “Unfortunately, preconceptions are often a barrier to employment for people with disabilities. Brewing Futures is one way we can show our community that our students are incredible and that they can be an asset to any business,” stated OASD Special Education Director, Linda Pierron. The student employees earn credit during school hours for their work and are paid employees on evenings and weekends. In the first few months after the launch of Brewing Futures, we have been gratified to feel the community’s overwhelming support. During the 2022 season, Brewing Futures participated in 63 events and employed 27 students. There are currently 30 events booked for the 2023 season which begins soon!

Since initiating these programs in our district, we have seen a significant increase in our post-graduation survey outcomes, especially in the area of competitive employment, defined as 90 consecutive days in a community setting, working 20 hours or more per week, and earning minimum wage or greater. We find value in offering our students authentic work experiences and curriculum focused on independent living. The outcomes are indicating that we are truly preparing our students to be college, career and community ready. While these outcomes are the ultimate goal of our transition program, the impact that our food truck has had on the awareness and perceptions in our community about our students’ abilities is another celebration of success! 

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