Since 1993 The Career Experiences course has offered high school students with disabilities opportunities to gain volunteer job experience at businesses while earning course credit.  Transportation is provided by school buses.  School Job Coaches work with students and employees at the job sites to help teach skills and monitor student progress.  Students also can be assigned to work independently with designated employees or mentors.  The mentors and school staff closely monitor student progress.

Students work from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm each school day then switch job sites at the end of each semester enabling them to gain a variety of work experiences.  This experience leads to students making their own job choices.  Job choices allow students to secure jobs they prefer and jobs that match their strengths.  Job enjoyment, proficiency and success go together making Career Experiences an important link in the future vocational success of each student.

Every student, every individual has a unique ability to contribute to the world.  A goal of all individuals within our society is to reach our full potential.  Every individual has the right to equality of opportunity.  This includes the right to learn, to be challenged and participate in the mainstream of community life.  The Career Experiences course challenges students to discover their full potential and is part of a continuum of services.  Students  develop on task work skills in the classroom and on the school campus.  Students then participate in the Career Experiences course to gain job skills and select jobs that match their interest and ability.  The goal is for students to determine their chosen career path then secure employment. 

Students who have secured employment can continue to earn course credit in the Career Placement or Supported Competitive Employment courses.

Referral Process

Recommendation of the
 Individual Education Plan Committee.

Eligibility

Any Exceptional Student in need
of job skills and job experience opportunities. 
 The goal is to secure employment
 in a career of their choice.

Support Services

Curriculum

Based on the student's
 Individual Education Plan (IEP).

Training

Staff may participate in any trainings and professional development activities. 
 Training includes, but is not limited to:

Questions and Answers
About Persons with Intellectual Disabilities in the Workplace
and the Americans with Disabilities Act

Every year, millions of teens work in part-time jobs. 
 Early work experiences can be rewarding for young workers providing great opportunities to learn important job skills. Today’s youth will be the workforce of the 21^st Century.  One of my priorities for the U.S. Department of Labor is to assist America’s youth in preparing to enter that workforce.

Visit the web site.  Youth Rules

What Hours Can Youth Work?

Florida Child Labor Laws Poster

Restaurant Employer Self Assessment Tool

The Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC), which replaces the Targeted Jobs Tax Credit (TJTC) Program, provides a tax credit for employers who hire certain targeted low-income groups, including vocational rehabilitation referrals, former AFDC recipients, veterans, ex-felons, food stamp recipients, summer youth employees, and SSI recipients.

How does it apply to persons with disabilities? Applicants who are Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) referrals are eligible.  

Parent Brief

Promoting Effective Parent Involvement
in Secondary Education and Transition

Preparing for Employment:
On the Home Front