By: Sophia Braida
On March 24, about 40 students from Wallenpaupack attended the Wayne County Collaborative Transition Expo held at the Ladore Retreat & Conference Center. This event, which has been ongoing since 2015 (save for a couple of years due to covid), was organized by Wayne County’s Collaborative Transition Committee. The committee focuses on supporting students with disabilities as they transition from high school to employment. Their main goal is to address the challenges faced by these students after graduation by connecting them with helpful resources, organizations, and networks. The Wayne County Collaborative Transition Committee contacted various groups to attend the event with the goal of exposing students with special needs to resources that will aid them in their future.
This year’s event began with a moving speech by Skye Skinner, a graduate of Honesdale. Her speech helped set the tone for the day, as she spoke openly about the challenges she has overcome while living with disabilities. By sharing her personal experiences, Skye was able to connect with students in similar situations and emphasize the importance of perseverance and resilience.
Like previous years, the Expo featured five breakout sessions and provided students with opportunities to interact with vendors from various organizations. One session, led by the Workforce Alliance, allowed students to observe and evaluate mock interviews. The session was highly interactive, encouraging students to step in and suggest ways to improve a poorly executed interview, making it both engaging and educational. Another breakout session highlighted the Project SEARCH program, where current interns described a typical day and explained how the program has helped them develop goals for their futures.
Alumni also attended to share their experiences in the workforce. Darian Gordon, a Wallenpaupack graduate who now works full-time in maintenance at the school, was especially relatable to students, as he has followed a path similar to the one many hoped to follow for their respective futures. Students were also given the opportunity to approach vendors individually and ask questions that could help them better prepare for their futures.
Overall, the event allowed students to gain valuable insight into life after high school while building confidence in their ability to succeed.
