Program Helps Transition of Special Needs Students (TN)
October 4, 2010
Rutherford County Schools h as found a new way to serve older special needs students.
The system recently launched its Transition Academy at MTSU for those ages 18-22 with intellectual disabilities. Federal law requires that special education students be offered services until age 21.
In some cases, those students attend high school after most of their peers have graduated, said Connie Hendrix, a compliance/transition specialist with the system.
"By that time there’s no other person in high school your age. This allows them to have peer involvement," she said.
From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day, the six students involved in the pilot program spend the day in a classroom setting at the Wesley Foundation adjacent to campus.
During the morning, teacher Mary Watkins will teach them how to budget, plan meals, access local transportation and maintain the apartment rented from the Wesley Foundation. After lunch, they’ll visit job sites on and around campus to gain some work experience in their area of interest.
University students in Karee Orellana’s practicum course for elementary and special education majors are also receiving college credit for helping the students transition from high school to an adult life.
"The eventual goal is for them to learn job skills and learn independence, maybe live on their own," said Peggy Kruspe, who also works as a compliance/transition specialist. "A lot of them have that potential, but we need to make sure we support them."
Each local high school was asked to nominate two students for the program, but the parents of all invited were not willing to commit.

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Watkins taught special education at Riverdale before retiring. She came out of retirement to teach the transition students part time.
"She has a way of working with special needs students that gives them confidence and brings out the best in them," Kruspe said.
Watkins said she’s excited about the program because the students are excited to be learning new skills.
"It’s something that’s been needed for a long time. Everything they’ll learn will last them a lifetime," she said while watching several students paint canvases to decorate the apartment where they’ll spend part of the day. "They won’t want to go back to high school after this."
Thomas Slabaugh, 19, spent last year at Blackman High. Originally from Kentucky, he calls himself "the new kid."
"I think I’m going to like it," he said. "It’s like living on your own. I told my parents I wanted to do this."
He and a couple of other students, along with Greg Boyce who serves as an educational assistant, spent part of a morning removing shrubs from the front yard of the apartment, something Slabaugh enjoyed.
"I’m used to working in landscaping. I like to split wood. I’m not scared of hard work," he said.
Boyce noticed Slabaugh’s work ethic almost immediately.
"He works like a horse. If I had a landscaping business, I wouldn’t hesitate to hire him," said Boyce, adding that keeping the apartment and yard tidy is something each student can play a part in.
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"They can look at something and be proud that they did it. I’m here as a mentor, a role model. I just want to try to empower them," he said. "A lot of people say, ‘You can’t do that.’ They can, just in a different way."
This year’s program was funded with just over $119,000 in stimulus funds. Schools in Cookeville partner with Tennessee Tech, but Vanderbilt University offers a similar program. The Vanderbilt program is run by former county schools employee Tammy Day, but is not connected to a school system, Hendrix said.
Those involved have no doubt it will grow quickly.
"We’re working on a grant to get it funded next year. We ask that the families be able to give $15 a week for the students to eat meals on campus, but that’s a hardship for some, so we’re looking for scholarships, too," Hendrix noted.
Shirley Bell, special education coordinator for county schools, said she’d like to see the Tennessee Lottery be able to provide some funds.
"These students have completed all the requirements for graduation, but they don’t get a diploma. They get a certificate of attendance. There’s more than enough money there to help them become productive members of society," she said. "They’re still our students and they deserve their share."