JA Hosts Career Work Day for Special Needs Students

Author: Makenzie Morris
Corporate Responsibility
Published: Tuesday, 24 Jan 2023

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Hear a recount of the event from Steve Smithers, Special Populations Coordinator for QCC TEC

Image caption: JA of the Heartland

The Quad City Career & Technical Education Consortium (QCC TEC) administers the delivery of Career and Technical Education (CTE – skilled trades, applied sciences, modern technologies, career preparation). Their region includes 16 Illinois school districts in a four county region – Rock Island, Henry, Mercer and Stark. Their office is based at United Township H.S. (East Moline). QCC TEC coordinates the delivery of CTE related activities for our regional school teachers, counselors and special needs students. More information about QCC TEC can be found on their website. (www.uths.net/QCCTEC)

The students participated in hands-on experiences to gain a greater awareness of possible careers in their future. Our career day started with a welcome and open discussion about jobs, earning a paycheck, and how we spend our needs and wants. Then the students gathered into groups, so they could experience each of the five stations. The stations included restaurant work, housekeeping work, grocery store work, animal care work, and banking work. During lunch students built their own Jersey Mike’s sub sandwich and listened to music from Ben Schwind with Common Chord. At the end of the day, students were able to shop and spend the money they earned throughout the day to buy small toys, sunglasses, pet toys, etc.