Pathways to Employment

Why Parents Choose Pathways

Excellent Staff: The intervention specialists, transition coordinator, and job coaches demonstrate sincere concern and respect for each young adult in the program. They evidence this by meeting each person at their readiness level and establishing appropriate steps toward achieving their chosen goals.

Award winning staff! Pathways staff were award the 2019 Franklin B Walter Outstanding Educator Award for making extraordinary contributions to the education of students with disabilities.

Observable Growth: Successful adults possess numerous soft skills that are difficult to measure but easily observed. Pathways participants exit the program having gained maturity, independence, and greater confidence, as well as life and employment skills.

“…love, love, love this program. My son is confident, independent and ready for competitive employment.”

Parent, Pathways Program

Caring environment: Leaving one’s “home school” is scary for both parents and program participants. However, the routines, structures, and open communication practices implemented by the staff members enable the quick development of trust.

Why Students Love Pathways

Applicable learning: As a Pathways participant, young adults focus on functional academics as they apply to daily living. Everyday tasks, serving as the foundation of the curriculum, such as budgeting, shopping, cooking, and time management enhance both math and reading skills.

Pathways graduate, Emily Boehl was with the program for three years. With her sparkling personality and her family’s commitment to her success she brought an enthusiasm to participate, a willingness to try and a great sense of humor overcoming many challenges. Read her Student Profile to learn more about her Pathway’s experience.

Real-life experiences: Young adults in the program enjoy several short-term (2-3 months) work experiences in the community. With the help of their one-to-one job coach, participants identify work fields best suited to their strengths, interests, and aspirations.

“Pathways is awesome. I can do all kinds of things independently – ride the metro, go to the grocery and the bank…”

Student, Pathways Program

Lasting friendships: Throughout their time in the program, participants plan and attend community outings with their peers and their families. During which they practice travel training, experience new things, learn self-advocacy, and form life-long friendships. Best of all, they have fun!

What Makes Pathways Unique?

Individualized experience: Pathways staff construct a customized daily schedule that aligns to the needs of each young adult. No two participants have the same experience.

Job training: All participants learn how to search, apply for, and interview for a job. They understand how to conduct themselves in a professional setting through on-the-job training and the assistance of their job coach. Most importantly, the work experiences provide students the chance to transfer classroom learning to real- world situations.

Business Partnerships: Pathways to Employment has an assortment of community partners from various industries such as clerical, pet care, retail, food service, entertainment, healthcare, personal care, hospitality, and childcare. Should a student desire an experience in a setting in which there is not an established partnership, the Pathways staff will build one!

Pathways to Employment has two classroom sites: one in Blue Ash and the other at the Scarlet Oaks Career Campus.