Jobsites/STW Program (School-To-Work)
Jobsites (Non-Paid Work Experiences)
Many students participate in jobsites both in the Bellevue School District and throughout the city. Jobsites provide students with experiential learning opportunities that allow for generalization of skills learned in the classroom to be applied directly to a work environment. Students generally participate in 1-3 jobs per school year, however this does largely depend on the need of the student. Those who qualify to participate in the School-to-Work Program (see below) during their third year work with their employment specialist from At-Work! on finding individualized paid job experiences upon graduation.
- BSD Transition Treasures Art (Fused Glass Art Program)
- BSD Copy Center
- BSD Everbean Coffee Shop
- BSD Mail Room
- BSD Sherwood Forrest Elementary School
- BSD Stevenson Elementary School
- Hopelink Foodbank
- Overlake Hospital
- Homegoods
- Patriot’s Glen Retirement Home
- TJ Maxx
- Salvation Army
- Jubilee Reach
- Little Bits Horseback Riding
- Bellevue Municipal Golf Course
- At-Work! Offices
School-to-Work Program
The King County School-to-Work Program (STW) is a King County operated program that works directly with DDA (Developmental Disabilities Administration) assists students with developmental disabilities to leave school with a job and experience a seamless transition to adult life and support services. Learn more here: http://www.kingcounty.gov/healthservices/DDD/services/employment/school-to-work.aspx.
For questions about DDA elgibility, please contact Jennifer Strehle, Program Coordinator: [email protected]
The STW Program takes a team approach to offering direct services to students. Students work with an Employment Specialist who will partner with the student’s team of educators and collaborate with parents and the adult service system to help the student find a good job match before they leave school. The STW Program offers training, benefits planning, and resource coordination for students and families enrolled in the program.
Bellevue School District works directly with the At-Work! Agency as our embedded employment vendor. Employment specialists work closely with students in the STW Program during their last year to find them a paid job upon graduation (if not sooner!). Students in the STW Program are not guaranteed a paid job by graduation. If a student graduates without a paid job, they can continue to receive supported employment services with the support of the At-Work! Agency to continue job placement (or another employment vendor of their choice).
The At-Work! Agency is a highly supportive and innovative conduit between people with disabilities and mainstream employers in the community: http://www.atworkwa.org/
Students who do not qualify for DDA services still work on job exploration and training and are connected with DVR (Department of Vocational Rehabilitation) upon graduation for short-term job support.