Pennsylvania training program readies young adults with disabilities for work life

From the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review:

Shari DeGeorge wants to become a waitress -- even if she has a lot of obstacles to overcome.

DeGeorge, 19, of North Huntington has Down syndrome. Because of her disability, she may never drive. And she is extremely shy.

But for the next year or two, DeGeorge and her twin sister, Jill, who has Down syndrome, will learn how to run a household and see what it takes to work in food service as part of a new program sponsored by the Allegheny Intermediate Unit.

"I want to go shopping," said DeGeorge, a Norwin High School graduate. "I can't wait to be able to plan everyone's meals."

The intermediate unit on August 12 conducted an open house of the newly renovated Dormont dwelling that will serve as a daytime training center for a program that starts this fall and continues through the school year.

The DeGeorges and six other young adults ages 18 to 21 -- all high school graduates -- will be responsible for food shopping, cleaning and other household chores. Each afternoon, they will visit workplaces to learn more about possible job paths.

"Some kids just are not ready for the big bad world yet," said Susan Grant, supervisor of career development at the intermediate unit. "People with disabilities are underemployed across our region.

"We need to be doing more work to get them prepared for the workplace."

Participants must have career aspirations and a desire to move out on their own.

Pam DeGeorge has helped her daughters look for work for more than a year. She believes that public transportation is key. As part of the program, the twins will use Pittsburgh's light-rail system to attend job shadowing opportunities, a first for them.

"We want to make them as independent as possible," said Alan Friedman, director of special education for the intermediate unit. "These are skills we don't get the opportunity to teach kids in school."

Just like their peers, these young adults are ready to move on to the next step in their lives, said Chris Rodocker, a planning specialist with Allegheny County Department of Human Services.

"They just need a chance to blossom."