Local students with special needs recently had an opportunity to familiarize themselves with resources that could help them prepare for a future career or college education.
Special needs students and adults who have completed state high school requirements joined at Northgate Mall in Colerain Thursday, for a Transition Fair to help prepare them for higher education and employment in the Tri-State area.
Special needs students include those with learning disorders or other physical or mental disabilities that could pose challenges to their schooling.
The program, "Transitioning to High School and Beyond: Services for Students with Special Needs," was sponsored by the Oak Hills, Northwest, Colerain and Mt. Healthy School Districts.
The fair was tailored toward students in grades eight through 12. According to Julie Dunford, co-organizer of the fair and parent mentor at Oak Hills, the fair's planners assembled approximately three dozen agencies to help students prepare for college or work opportunities in the area.
"(The agencies were) ranging from adult services to colleges, and project search programs for post-secondary options," Dunford said.
The central mall location, off U.S. Route 27, was selected to maximize attendance and visibility for the after school fair.
Representatives at the fair; such as the Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation, the Legal Aid Society, colleges, technical schools and employers; catered toward procuring a greater understanding and diverse atmosphere for special needs individuals.
"There's a real need for community-type training, to understand special needs and how to respond to people appropriately," Dunford said. "Transportation, even, is a huge lacking area. Most adults who use these services don't have a driver's license."
Although Dunford said the only representatives from Miami University came from the Hamilton branch, the Office of Disability Resources (ODR) at the Campus Avenue Building attends to students with special needs on the Oxford campus.
The ODR provides a plethora of ways to assist and support students with special needs including sign language interpreters, academic information via alternative media, research assistants, transportation and modified housing.
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One such service is a reading program through the Alpha Phi Omega coed service fraternity to provide taped textbooks on campus. This program allows blind and dyslexic students to access readings required to complete courses.
"Alpha Phi works with all sorts of community members to facilitate a comfortable environment for any type of learner," said junior Sean Weaston, Alpha Phi Omega member. "I think it's great we can commune one-on-one or with a group to really help others achieve their goals."
Other university participants at the Transition Fair included Wright State and Northern Kentucky University.
Dunford cited a well-organized advertisement campaign, which included posters at Northgate and all buildings within the four school districts' jurisdiction, as an explanation for the substantial turnout and interest.
The fair until this year had been held at Northwest High School. Co-organizer Reena Fish, the Transition/Work Study Coordinator for the Northwest district, led the collaboration effort with the other schools.
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