New Dayton Special Education Programs

DAYTON - High school is difficult for many students. For students with special needs or disabilities, connecting with peers and the community is a major challenge.

Dayton School District Special Education Director Larry Bush understands the challenges these students face and said the special education program is working to do a better job of meeting student needs with two new options.

One program, implemented last year, allows students with special needs to job shadow at local businesses and charitable organizations.

"We wanted to branch out and get those kids into more of a functional program," Bush said.

He said the special education program also reached out to the Waitsburg special educa- tion program and now joins the group for lunches and activities on a weekly basis.

Bush said about 61 students currently receive special education in the Dayton School District.

A greater majority of the students have disabilities like Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and dyslexia, Bush said. A smaller portion of the students have severe develop- mental disabilities.

"Less than 10 of those 61 are kids with significant develop- mental disabilities," Bush said.

Bush said the special education program helps students who may not feel as connected to the school district and their peers as other kids their age. By combining the Dayton and Waitsburg special education students once a week, students can do things like decide where to eat lunch and have social interaction with more students with similar interests.

And Bush said he is especially proud of the job shadow program.

"The job coaching situation is something we're fairly fond of," Bush said.

The students are led by special education Para-Profession- al Kristina Mascall, who started helping out last year.

"The students learn to interact and be nice to people," Mascall said.

The students are taught to ask, "what can I do first" when they arrive at any of the volun- teer locations, Mascall said.

Students Rhiannon Coxeen, a junior volunteers at Mc- Quary's and the local clothing bank. The students learn how to organize products in the store and at the clothing bank they put out the clothes, hang things up and help bag and count items.

Coxeen, an initially shy girl, worked quietly at McQuary's, pulling product to the front of shelves and rearranging perishable products by their expiration date. She shakes hands and introduces herself with rehearsed motions, but at the first mention of Nintendo DS or the Kingdom Hearts games, Coxeen lights up and spills over with bubbly friend- liness. She said she enjoys video games, a variety of music and the television show "Supernatural."

Coxeen said she has made friends in Waitsburg because of the crossover program. The job shadow program and visit- ing with students in Waitsburg helps students like Coxeen con- nect with the community and other students while learning important life skills.

Bush said he is happy with the programs and what they are doing for the students.

"Both of my parents are deaf, so essentially my first language was American Sign Language," Bush said. "I just kind of feel this natural empathetic connection (to people with disabilities)."

Bush said it has been great to watch the instructors grown and develop along with the students. Some of the educators are young and Bush said they have grown by leaps and bounds.

"There's no question, we're going to continue (the program) next year," Bush said.