An amazing partnership helps students with disabilities learn jobs skills by working in our state parks!

The West Shore ESD, the Department of Natural Resources, and Michigan Rehab Services have joined together in a collaborative effort for the past 9 years to make this happen, with the goal of the program to give students a work experience during the summer and prepare them for future employment opportunities.

Job trainers from the West Shore ESD work directly with the students by:
- modeling new tasks
- building up soft skills
- offering constructive coaching
- teaching students how to record time and progress
Jamie Killips is one of the Reintegration Program staff members, and one of the job trainers this summer. She shared, "Some of my favorite aspects of being a job trainer have been watching the students grow and mature from the first week to now. It’s about giving them authority to make some decisions on their own, providing them ideas on how to 'work smarter not harder' and allowing them to work together as a team instead of individuals."

Lizzie Talbert is a student at Mason County Central High School, and is working at Ludington State Park this summer as part of this program. When asked her favorite part about her job and the program Lizzie said, "I like trash and debris pickup because I can get into conversations with people while doing my job, which helps with my social anxiety. The program gives really good job experience and has helped me a lot. I’d like to do it again next year!"

Are you interested in learning more about the WSESD’s partnership with the DNR and MRS? Find more information on our website at WSESD.org. We’re excited to keep this beneficial partnership going for many more years!