Published: October 30, 2009 12:28 pm      

Transition Fair helps people with disabilities

Morehead State University students are hosting an inaugural Transition Fair to help people with disabilities learn about college and employment opportunities.

Organizing the fair are students in a Transition to Adult Life class in the Department of Early Childhood Elementary and Special Education at MSU. The fair is Nov. 6 from noon to 3 p.m. on the third floor of the Adron Doran University Center.

“The Transition Fair provides students with information not only regarding college, but employment and community opportunities," said Dr. Sarah Hawkins, who teaches the class.

“We have local, regional and state agencies attending the fair,” Hawkins said. “We will have local businesses that hire disabled people as well.”

Local, regional and state businesses and employers will have booths with information about their business and what it has to offer people with disabilities, Hawkins said.

The following businesses will be at the fair:

• KY Office of the Blind

• KY Special Parent Involvement Network

• MSU-Disability Services

• Protection and Advocacy

• Carl D. Perkins Center

• Arc of Kentucky

• Vocational Rehabilitation-Melissa Elliott

• Kevin Howard, Indiana/Kentucky Regional Council of Carpenters

• Institute of Human Development-IHDI (UK)

• Merrill Lynch

• Adult Learning Center

• Big Lots

• CiCi's Pizza

• Maysville Community and Technical College

• CAKY-Morehead

• Tractor Supply

• Champion Supports and Services

• Active Day of Ashland

• Stewart Home School

• Independent Place

• Big East Special Education Consultant-Lisa Parsons

• KY Housing Corporation

• Special Olympics

• Mountain Comp

• Commission for Children with Special Health Care Needs

• Liz Snyder-Ashland CCSHCN, Audiologist

• KY Business Leadership Network

• Career and Technical Education-Fleming Co.

• Tiffany Looney-Big East Regional Interagency Transition Team Parent Rep.

• Heather Shelton-ADA Coordinator at ACC

• Big East Transition Consultant-Carol Cooksey

The event is being conducted as a Learning Service Project for the students in the special education class.

“We applied for the $2,955 Learning Service Grant earlier this year,” Hawkins added. “We received the grant in April. The grant was funded by the Learn and Serve America through the Kentucky and Louisiana Campus Compacts.”

The class is using the funds for postage for mailings, printing, posters for the fair and traveling expenses for four students who will attend the Kentucky Council for Exceptional Children Conference Nov. 22-24. There the students will be making presentations about the Transition Fair to show how the class used the funds from the grant.

“Each student has a job to do in the fair,” she said.

The class has been planning the fair since August.

More than 200 high school and middle school students from surrounding counties will be attending. Many of the schools are within 100 miles of MSU.

“Special education professors will be here to talk to students about what's available,” said student Karen Roberts.

For more information about the Transition Fair, contact Hawkins at 783-2830.