Vail’s Special Education Department recently launched a new program called THRIVE (Transition from High school to Real world Independence through Vocational Education). This new program helps our students with disabilities in the 18-22 year age range transition out of their high school classrooms. The goal of THRIVE is to support students as they build connections with the community and prepare for life beyond high school.
In the first couple weeks, students have been to Tractor Supply to volunteer and practice doing the work that employees would do there, Walmart to learn how to grocery shop, the W. Anne Gibson-Esmond Station Library to practice being in a public setting, and Michael’s to buy materials for a t-shirt business they plan on starting. Our staff members work with our business partners to find an appropriate fit that our students will enjoy well beyond high school. These businesses have given students opportunities to experience things they normally wouldn’t experience in a classroom setting. The program is a perfect model of our motto: Where Education Is a Community Effort.