Y.A.L.E

At home I volunteer at a program called Y.A.L.E. or Young Adults Learning Experience. This program is for severe mentally challenged students that can not move on to a college after there extension at a highschool.

Most students in severe special education classes are allowed to stay in the school until the age of 22, and then from there the school usually helps find them a job, or another program that they can be involved with full time. Where i'm from, they offer both, my teacher Mr. Donnelly helps his students apply for jobs at places such as, local markets, Target, Shaws, stop and shop, and extra jobs around the town or the school. He prepares them all there years to get to the point of working with money, with a cash register, talking to people, taking orders, and organzing things.

On top of working, the students are offered a night program called Y.A.L.E. which is two times a week, which helps continue their education, and stay connected with their peers. They might read books, do activities, paint, color, bake, have parties, and continue their learning.

It's truely a great oppurtunity for the students, and they enjoy it very much.

WINARC is a similar program, you can find your local ARC program in your town.


Thanks for reading =)