Q&A
DOE discusses efforts to expand work-based learning opportunities for students with disabilities
1:36:01
ยท
103 sec
John Hammer outlines the DOE's efforts to expand work-based learning opportunities for students with disabilities:
- A new role has been created within the division to focus specifically on work-based learning and transition planning
- The Future Ready program includes students with disabilities, with 14% of participants in the 2023 school year having IEPs
- DOE officials visited the Riverview School to observe the impact of adaptive living spaces within school communities
- There are plans to expand adaptive living skills opportunities across ACES programs and high schools
- The DOE is working with the Office of Space Planning to investigate ways to expand these opportunities
John Hammer
1:36:01
Great question and and one that we've all been working on very hard.
1:36:05
Creating a new role within this new division to focus specifically on this work, somebody to work closely with with student pathways, district 75 as he comes under deputy chancellor, Foti's leadership to ensure that we're being really strategic about about how we think about this.
1:36:21
First on future ready, we're we're pushing, students with disabilities are are in this program providing really high quality work based learning opportunities.
1:36:30
14% of the cohort of for of kids who participated in Future Ready were kids with IEPs in school year 23.
1:36:37
And so, still work to do to to to continue to provide access, but but kids are are absolutely, getting access.
1:36:45
You talked a little bit about adapted skills for living.
1:36:49
Deputy chancellor Foti and I, had the had the pleasure of of going on a school visit to the Riverview School 277 q, in Queens District 75 school, but with super with principal Beal.
1:37:02
And we saw firsthand the impact of an adaptive living space within the school community has on those students.
1:37:09
Anybody who's been to a district a secondary district 75 school and has seen students working, in the snack shop or, working, you know, working on their on their ADL skills sees how, how great kids young adults feel, when they're given that opportunity.
1:37:26
And so we're working, along our alongside our office of space planning to investigate ways to expand that those sorts of opportunities which are so important.
1:37:35
Not only in District 75, we're also looking, across our ACES programs or to ensure that, our high school ACES programs have access to those too.