District 88 Transition Program thrives with community support

At District 88, our mission is to work for the continuous improvement of student achievement. And that mission includes all students – from various socioeconomic and academic backgrounds.

One area of pride in District 88 is the services we offer for students with special needs to ensure they are successful and reach their goals. One service we provide is our Transition Program, which helps students ages 19 to 21 learn life skills, obtain job training in a community setting and successfully transition to adult life. This year, Transition Program students will work toward their independent living goals by learning how to budget, grocery shop, prepare meals, navigate transportation options and access the many community resources available to adults in order to be as successful as possible after they leave District 88. Students who have graduated from the Transition Program have gone on to earn competitive employment at various locations in the area. Other students have gone on to continue to use their life skills through placement in group homes, supportive living and residential placement.

One of the main reasons the Transition Program is successful is because of the support from community businesses, which welcome our Transition Program students into their company to obtain job training. Through those vocational opportunities, students lean valuable skills such as how to greet guests, how to handle money, how to use a cash register, how to clean the facility, how to organize merchandise and more.

On Jan. 30, the Transition Program hosted an appreciation breakfast to thank those local businesses for their support. During that event, the business owners were presented with a certificate and were able to hear directly from students in the Transition Program, who expressed how much it means to them to be able to gain experience in the workforce. A PowerPoint presentation also was displayed to show the work the students are doing in the community.

The companies that were recognized are:
Addison Public Library, St. Vincent de Paul, Fortuna Baking Co., Sunmist Restaurant Inc., DuPage County (Community Services), Club Fitness, Hyatt, Clyde’s Delicious Donuts, Parents Alliance Employment, District 88 staff member Esther Delgado, Anyway’s restaurant, Fingers N Faces Hair Salon & Nail Spa, Glass Court Swim & Fitness Club, York Township, ReNew, Amy’s Salon & Spa and SpringHill Suites Chicago Elmhurst/Oakbrook Area.

The Transition Program is always looking to expand its vocational sites. If you’re interested in being a vocational site, contact District 88 Vocational Coordinator Christine DiRienzo at cdirienzo@dupage88.net or 630-530-3248.