Activity Day (WI)

http://www.jacksoncountychronicle.com/articles/2010/05/12/school/04transition.txt

Activity Day helps educate high school students with special learning needs

High school students with special learning needs traveled to Lunda Park in Black River Falls last week for an event designed to help educate them about life skills needed post-graduation.


The event, which is organized by the Jackson County Transition Advisory Council, brought together approximately 75 high school students from the Black River Falls, Alma Center-Humbird-Merrillan and Blair-Taylor districts last Thursday.

“I want (students) to be thinking about life outside of high school — having a general idea about thinking about the future,” said Krista Rowekamp, a Black River Falls High School special education teacher. “We have to be looking at life after high school while (students are) in high school. This helps address that.”

The county’s TAC is comprised of educators from each of the county’s school districts, other area educational entities and various social service organizations from the region. This year’s Spring Activity Day is the third the council has put on for area students; the first activity day was employment-based while the second was on safety and recreation.

Rowekamp said districts must address transition services for their special needs students, and activities like the TAC’s Activity Day are an important facet of that component.

In fact, this year students attended presentations primarily focused on lifelong learning skills like landlord-tenant rights and cyber bullying and identity theft put on by Jackson County law enforcement officials. Students also participated in recreational activities, like hiking, kickball, baseball and yard golf.

TaShika Tengler, a Black River Falls freshman, attended the event for the first time last week and said she not only enjoyed being with her peers and participating in outdoor activities, she also learned valuable information about cyber bullying and identity theft.

“Today, I like that I had the opportunity to be with my friends, learn more about identity theft and be outside,” Tengler said. “I’ve learned that identity theft can be prevented in a lot of ways and it can happen in (a lot) of ways.

“I was able to learn things about what to do and what not to do on the Internet.”

Ryce Harms, a sophomore at Blair-Taylor, agreed.

“(I learned) how to interact with other students and how to help protect my identity when I graduate,” said Harms, who attended the event for a second time last week. “(People) can take my Social Security number and someone else’s name and bank account and take my money. They can get to you easier on the Internet than any other way.”

Lillian Savage, Lincoln’s director of special education designee and school psychologist, said students’ attendance at the event helps address transitional needs.

Districts are required to begin to implement a transitional plan for students starting at age 14 to help prepare them for life after high school, she said.

“We attend (TAC Activity Day) because it helps our kids to network in a way they might not get to otherwise,” Savage said. “It’s our responsibility to give them what’s available in the high school setting to help address that.

“We have to make sure that we give them access to get to where they want to go.”

Charles Norton, Blair-Taylor’s director of special education designee and school psychologist, said students gain skills that will prepare them for living independently.

“The four sections that all students attended throughout the day provided them with valuable information about protecting their identity, avoiding scams, legal rights with regard to housing and recreational activities they can use to lead a healthy lifestyle,” he said.

The event had been previously funded by a grant, but this year the council had to fundraise money for the event..