Managing life transitions

Camas School District vocational development program, Transition House help students with special needs

By Danielle Frost

December 19, 2013 12:00 am

Life

Karen Hall, co-owner of the Camas Hotel, chats with intern Aleah Stewart as she waters plants in the hotel's atrium.

Christopher Merritt vacuums floors at Camas Technology Associates. Customers walking into the business are greeted with a big smile and handshake, courtesy of the CHS intern. Looking on is Henry Midles, Life Skills teacher.

Josiah Schmid washes dishes at K'Syrah restaurant in downtown Camas. He is a student in the CHS life skills vocational development program.

Tim Younger and Mary McFarland combine ingredients for zucchini bread. The Transition House helps students learn cooking and baking, among other skills necessary for independent living.

Kiersten Leathers, 19, researches recipes for zucchini bread on Pinterest at the Camas Public Library. She is in her first year of the Camas School District's Transition House, which teaches students with special needs daily living skills.

Students with special needs at Camas High School are developing academic, social and vocational skills for life after graduation.Additionally, young adults ages 18 to 21 can also participate in a program that helps them learn the basics of living independently: How to use public transit, obtain job skills, budget, do yard work and navigate a grocery store, to name a few.

Program participants can often be seen around the downtown area, washing windows, interning at local businesses or researching at the library.

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