Helping Students with Special Needs Explore Career Paths

Upon entering a classroom at the Harry B. Ward Technical Center in Riverhead Monday morning, a visitor was greeted by a room full of smiling faces. Perhaps not what one would expect of students in school during the summer. Not only that, but these students were there voluntarily. Behind those smiles might have been the knowledge that they were doing something for their futures, and that, surely, was something to smile about. Special needs students ages 14 to 21 have been exploring career possibilities as part of a two-week Eastern Suffolk BOCES program that concludes today. Twenty-six students have been taking part in the summer career exploration program at Eastern Suffolk BOCES’ two campuses (the other is in Bellport), said Erin Sellek, the program’s assistant administrator. This is the first year of the program, free to students and funded by a five-year grant at $300,000 per year from the New York State Education Department’s Acces-VR program, she said. Acces-VR assists people with disabilities in achieving and maintaining employment and enjoying independent living. Read More