Work-based skills at home: an extra hand at home benefits families
Before the Covid-19 outbreak, Nick Hallgren was learning employment skills at Beechwood Continuing Care. Once Beechwood’s nursing facility restricted access and school districts moved to online learning, Nick was one of many students needing additional guidance in the final leg of his high school journey.
Erin Richeal, Nick’s teacher at Project SEARCH, and her business partners sprang into action. Project SEARCH is a business-led partnership which offers a unique school-to-work program for students with disabilities who are in their last year of high school. The program is provided by Beechwood Continuing Care in conjunction with Erie 1 BOCES, Aspire of WNY and The Summit Center.
“It was important to maintain their mastery of skills,” Richeal said. “The students continued to meet with me via video chat and connect with their transition coordinator two or three times per week. In addition to their schoolwork and some special projects, we really focused on transferring as many work-based learning skills as possible to their home environment.”
Nick’s last rotation at Beechwood was in the Environmental Services department, where he was performing housekeeping tasks in rooms where residents recently left the rehabilitation facility.
“He has transferred his working skills to home, which has been a great help to me and his dad, since we both continue to work full-time,” said Nick’s mother, Janell Hallgren.
One class project included creating a video to send to the Beechwood staff and residents, who they have worked closely with since September. The students used a device to record their introduction and recite a positive quote they researched.
“The families have been great,” said Nicole Skaros-Marcello, school project manager for Aspire of WNY. “One of the first steps we took involved connecting with the families to ensure they still wanted to continue in the program. They all did.”
Of the five students in Project SEARCH this year, two were hired in March by Beechwood Continuing Care. Now, considered official employees, both were able to remain onsite. One is specially trained for taking temperatures as required by New York State and the other is cleaning residents’ rooms.
The remaining three students, who are practicing their skills at home, are also fine-tuning their employability by completing online applications and rehearsing interview techniques.
“I have one student who is helping her family with their business,” Richeal added. “All of our video meetings have been scheduled to ensure she can fulfill that role. Another is an exceptional gardener. In between tending to the seedlings for his family’s raised beds, he’s been taking free online courses offered by Cornell Cooperative Extension and Oregon University.”
As these young men and women enter their adulthood, the Project SEARCH team is committed to ensuring they have a solid foundation for continued independence.
“This past month, we’ve connected them with the adult service providers that they will be working with when they leave the program,” Skaros-Marcello added. “We are getting them to a good place, but letting go is the hard part.”