The Santa Maria Joint Union High School District will co-host the eighth annual Opportunities Expo for students with disabilities and their parents living in Northern Santa Barbara and Southern San Luis Obispo counties on Thursday, Oct. 29.
The free event, to be held from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Veterans Memorial Community Center, 313 W. Tunnel St. in Santa Maria, also marks National Disability Awareness Month. It will feature a guest speaker with information for parents and families about having a post-high school plan, as well as informative booths displaying employment, program, advocacy, and residential opportunities.
These students are likely to experience more frequent and challenging transitions to life after high school than other students, Pioneer Valley High School special education teacher Jody Dowell said in a press release.
“The end result is that when a student with disabilities leaves high school, they are often faced with unemployment, less meaningful activities during the day, lack of continuing training and educational opportunities, lack of appropriate housing options, and lack of vital personal support,’’ Dowell added.
Translator services will be provided, and dinner is included.
For more information, please contact Dowell at 922-1305, Ext. 5433, or jdowell@smjuhsd.org.
This article appears in Oct 15-22, 2015.