A student at Smith County High School was recently featured in a video about his employment at Smith County Animal Clinic. Dalton Shoulders is part of the Transition Pathways Project with Vanderbilt University. This project is in conjunction with the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) on Employment of Transition-Age Youth with Disabilities at Virginia Commonwealth University and is funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR), Administration for Community Living.
The Transition Pathways Project is examining the transition services that prepare students for employment after high school. Paid employment is considered a “best practice” in transition, but we wanted to (a) better understand the impact of paid employment on students and (b) develop practical and free resources that can help schools put this best practice into actual practice. The team at Vanderbilt created resources to help the teachers connect students to paid employment. Vanderbilt’s role was to coach and support the teachers in making community connections, advocating for jobs, and problem-solving any barriers that may arise while trying to obtain employment. One key piece of our project is the employment planning meeting. The parents, teacher, student, and Vanderbilt staff came together to hold an employment planning meeting. We invited outside supports, like Vocational Rehabilitation, to discuss the student’s likes and dislikes, strengths, needs, and supports that could help the student be successful in a job. Dalton took the lead in the meeting and had a PowerPoint that outlined his interests, job goals, and what he may need help with at work. Leaving the meeting, each person had a defined role in helping Dalton get a job.
Brandi Hays, the IEP Transition Coordinator at Smith County High School used personal connections to advocate for Dalton to find employment. Brandi asked Dalton’s mom if it was okay to post about Dalton on Facebook, list his skills, and ask about employers that have openings within Dalton’s career of interest. Brandi received a response from Dr. Lindsey Dixon at Smith County Vet Clinic. Dr. Dixon said she had an opening and would be willing to hire Dalton if his skills matched the job requirements. Dalton’s teacher, Tammy Givens, also played an instrumental role in making this happen and preparing Dalton for his job. Tammy works with each of her students to promote self-advocacy and they engage in soft skills instruction on a daily basis. Dalton has been employed at Smith County Vet Clinic since March of 2023.
In this video, Dalton’s support team will share their experiences of coming together to help him reach his employment goals. Brandi Hays, the IEP Transition Coordinator, discusses how she connected with employers and advocated for Dalton in a rural community. Dr. Lindsey Dixon talks about her experiences hiring Dalton and working with students with disabilities. Lastly, Dalton will discuss his employment and how he enjoys working at Smith County Animal Clinic.
