Work Exploration
- Kanawha County's Work Exploration Program is a model for providing career exploration opportunities to special education students in Kanawha County Schools. The students are not paid and are supervised by employment specialists who remain on the job with them.
Why is the program needed?
Every job in America requires some sort of preparation through education and training. The more the preparation, the greater the chances of success. Prospective workers need preparation in learning specific job skills as well as learning good job habits. The program allows students to explore various career areas while obtaining the skills necessary for maintaining employment.
Where do the students train?
Innovative community and business leaders provide a variety of job sites for community-based training. Our students work in
- Large Businesses
- Small Businesses
- Hospitals
- Schools
- Restaurants
- Recycling Centers
- Nursing Homes
- Greenhouses
- Grocery Stores
- Car Dealerships
- Print Shops
- Hotels
- Recreation Centers
- Fast Foods
- Shoe Shops
- Book Stores
- Local Malls
- Government
- Animal Hospitals
- To develop a monitored job exploration program for special education students
- To provide a curriculum that includes school and community training
- To establish community-based sites for job exploration
- To prepare students for employment after graduation from high school
- To provide a curriculum that insures the development of vocational skills and good work attitudes for special education students.
Business men and women who allow Kanawha County students to use their offices and businesses for effective job training. A supportive administration and teaching staff that realizes the importance of the world of work and the preparation required to enter that world. Employment specialists who work alongside students at the job sites. Supervision is a necessary key to success. Supportive parents and family members who encourage regular participation and help students understand workplace rules and expectations.
What is the purpose of this program?
The purpose of the Work Exploration Program is to prepare students with disabilities for competitive and supported employment and to provide a transition from the world of school to the world of work and community.
For those students not yet ready for competitive employment, the program prepares them for other community activities and helps all students lead more productive lives in their own homes and communities.