By Illinois Radio Network

SPRINGFIELD – Disabled Illinois teens are gaining valuable job experience through the Secondary Transitional Experience Program (STEP).

STEP is a partnership between the Illinois Department of Human Services Division of Rehabilitation Services and 660 high schools across the state to provide disabled students the opportunity to work. Louis Hamer, field services bureau chief with the health services department, said it’s important for disabled students to have work experience.

“We know for a fact that over 70 percent of individuals with disabilities are unemployed,” Hamer said. “If these individuals don’t get started early in life, learn some job skills, they’re going to be unemployed more than likely as adults.”

Students with any disability that is documented through a school Individual Education Plan (IEP) is eligible to be referred by the school to STEP. The program also works with students with disabilities that might not be learning disabilities but still present employment challenges, like epilepsy, Tourette’s syndrome and severe diabetes. The schools and STEP work with a variety of employers for student jobs, including Walgreens, McDonald’s, Jewel-Osco and Office Max.

“They see an opportunity and want to be a part of it,” Hamer said. “They know that if these youngsters get the experience now when they graduate, these youngsters are a little bit ahead of the game.”

The DRS receives federal and state-matched funding to provide schools with job training and related services. Students receive a paycheck from their employer. Hamer emphasized that the goal is to position students for success after high school. Once they graduate, students enrolled in STEP will continue to receive support services until DRS feels confident that they can do the job without support.

“Some of these students who have a job while they’re in high school may actually stay with that employer,” Hamer said.

Students with disabilities can also continue their education after high school through the Community College Initiative, which pays for their education if they attend an Illinois community college.