District 94 highlights transition internships and plans new transition apartment

Community High School District 94 officials described expanded work-based learning and independent-living training for students in the district’s transition program and announced plans to convert a greenhouse into a transition apartment intended to simulate a home environment for students aging into adult services.

The presentation, led by Erica Gudashaw, the district’s transition and vocational coordinator, noted that federal law (Section 113 of the Rehabilitation Act) guarantees pre-employment transition services for students with disabilities and that District 94’s program emphasizes employment, education/training, and independent-living skills. Gudashaw outlined partnerships that place students at sites such as Lehman Middle School cafeteria, West Chicago Public Library, Fox Valley Ice Arena, St. Charles Do It Best hardware and an on-campus student business called WeGoTees.

Why it matters: Officials said on-site work experiences and a realistic practice apartment are intended to help students generalize skills they will use after they exit public education at age 22, including meal planning, laundry, time management and on-the-job interactions. The district said the apartment will provide a different building entrance and a “home-like” environment to help some students and families feel more comfortable accessing transition services.

Officials described specific internship experiences and partners. Gudashaw said some internship shifts have been extended this school year from two to four hours to replicate part-time employment conditions, including 30-minute breaks. Fox Valley Ice Arena was cited as a new community partner where students work four-hour shifts supervised on site by Jeri Anne Johnson. At St. Charles Do It Best hardware, students perform inventory and stocking tasks; student Jenna described using a handheld scanner to help with inventory.

Program staff also showcased Wake Up We Go, a student-run coffee operation on campus that sells coffee, teas and snacks and operates with a $2 price point for drinks and $1 for snacks; staff described payment by cash or $10 punch cards. A short video and student comments illustrated ordering, payment and basic operations.

On facilities, Gudashaw described plans to remove one greenhouse closest to the building and construct a transition apartment with an open-concept area, two operating kitchens, a living area for transition-planning meetings, a bathroom and laundry facilities. The district said the space will support meal preparation, clothing care and other household tasks tied to independent living. In response to a scheduling question, Sam (staff) said construction planning will be discussed for summer work with the goal of having the apartment ready by the start of the next school year.

Staff and family members in the audience praised the internships and the planned apartment as life-changing for students moving into adult services.

What’s next: District staff said construction planning will continue; the timeline described by staff aims for the apartment to be available by the beginning of the next school year.