Middletown Schools Start Workforce Training For Special-Needs Teens

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — At their most recent meeting, the Middletown school board approved a new program to place older teen/young adult students with special needs into the workforce at local businesses.

The program is known as a "Young Adult/Transition Program" and it's where students ages 18–21 with disabilities will take part in training to enter the workforce.

In fact, the Middletown school district is currently looking for Middletown-area businesses that would be interested in hiring the teens and young adults, said Board vice president Jacqueline Tobacco.

The program will be housed at Middletown High School South and students will take classes that focus on career readiness, life literacy and key skills. The teens will then be placed at job sites throughout the area.

"The students will come in the morning for a life-skills class and then be out in the community in the afternoon for work," said Tobacco.

"I’m very proud of the administration for developing this program focused on life skills, work experience and building a social community for our students as they transition to adulthood," she continued. "I strongly encourage local businesses to partner with the district on job opportunities for our students in all areas."

It's similar to something that has been in place in the Holmdel school district for many years, where teens and young adults with special needs work at Bell Works, Dearborn Market and in the Holmdel Rec. Department. In fact, Middletown modeled its program off the Holmdel program and met with Doreen Riegal, the transition coordinator for students with disabilities at Holmdel High School, to learn how to launch such a program in Middletown. Related: Holmdel Students With Disabilities Working At Bell Works

At their Jan. 24 meeting, the Middletown school board unanimously approved the "Transitions" program.

The program started going into effect this winter in the Middletown school system.

"Because traditional high school programs are not focused on these areas, it is important to provide our students with a bridge into adult life that exposes them to vocational skills and functions of independent living," said Jessica Alfone, Middletown's assistant superintendent of curriculum, instruction and special services.