High school students are often offered opportunities for exploring pathways for their future, like college visits, internships, or career training programs. For students with disabilities, it may be harder to see themselves in some of these pathways. This is the gap that Michigan’s Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) program is filling for students with disabilities, and The Arc is excited to be a part of it.
Recently, students from our Pre-ETS classes at Battle Creek Central and Union City High School had the opportunity to hear from members of the Self-Advocates of Calhoun County, a joint initiative of The Arc and Community Inclusive Recreation (CIR), about what life looks like as adults with disabilities in our community.
Self Advocates as role models
“The Self Advocates are powerful role models: adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are advocating for themselves and being the teacher in front of the class,” said Executive Director, Clare Tanner. “The students in that room hung on their every word. You could hear a pin drop.”
The Arc is a contracted Pre-ETS provider through Michigan Rehabilitative Services, offering instruction and experiences in the areas of job exploration, postsecondary education counseling, workplace readiness training and self-advocacy training. During their visit to the classes, Self Advocates shared their experiences and answered student questions about services they receive, their jobs, and social activities.
“I liked that I got to share about everything that I have experienced in the past and that I experience now,” said Self Advocate Raheem Robinson. “It made me feel great that I got to share my knowledge with the rest of the class that might need it.”
The guest speakers shared more than job experiences or information about services. One student asked what advice they would share with their 16-year-old self, and Self Advocate Annie Gale replied, “Just don’t be afraid to speak up for yourself.”
Guest speakers and other Pre-ETS activities are important because they help students connect the dots between skills they are learning in class and life after school, said Chasity Allen, Learning Disability Case Manager at Union City High School. These special learning opportunities are impactful for students, who are already requesting more Self Advocates as guest speakers, said Tanner.
Robinson hopes the students learned something about themselves from his visit, “You can accomplish anything that you want, with some help you can do it.”
Self Advocate, Veena Narasimhan, wishes the students well in their future, "“It was wonderful speaking to them, I hope they are successful in life, they are really bright.”
What is Pre-ETS
According to Michigan.gov, “Pre-ETS are an early intervention delivered in a variety of developmentally appropriate experiences with the goal of ultimately leading to competitive, integrated employment outcomes.”
Pre-ETS are available in Michigan to students with disabilities who are age 14-26 and accepted or enrolled in secondary or postsecondary education.
For more information, please call us at (269) 966-2575.
