SCHOOL-TO-Farm INTERNSHIPS at goodale farms
(April 2, 2015 - Riverhead, NY) Basic Life Skills students from Jill Tapper’s and Tim Paige’s class began a six week student internship program at Goodale Farm in Riverhead, NY, during the week of March 16th. They worked at the farm on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30AM to 10:15AM. Students fed the newborn calf and baby goats and two girls helped sterilize bottles and prepare the goat cheese to sell at an upcoming Farmer’s Market. Ms. Tapper explains, “Hal Goodale has given my students an opportunity to gain some valuable employment skills through an internship on his farm. Our students participated in a six-week internship at Goodale Farm. Riverhead employers have many life skills to offer students with developmental disabilities. Currently, sheltered workshops are being phased out and students like ours have fewer places to seek employment upon transition from high school. My students are dependable, come with support, and truly can master the kind of jobs they require on our local farms, so I am very grateful and excited about the unique opportunity they have been given by Mr. Goodale. We want to thank him very much for his participation in this program." |
The New York State Education Department no longer awards Individualized Education Program (IEP) diplomas, but instead award a Skills and Achievement Commencement Credential or SACC. According to the NYSED website, “The Skills and Achievement Commencement Credential will provide this group of students who are exiting school after attending at least 12 years, excluding kindergarten, with a commencement certificate similar in form to the diploma issued by the school district. The Skills and Achievement Commencement Credential must be accompanied by documentation of the student’s skills and strengths and levels of independence in academic, career development and foundation skills needed for post-school living, learning and working.” According to Ms. Tapper, previously, when students with an IEP diploma (prior to the SACC) would apply for a job they would check off "yes" to having a HS diploma. Because of the wording on applications, students can no longer do this, which means they will appear not to be eligible for jobs they apply to after they graduate, so it's essential employers are updated on this change. |