Supported Employment

Hello! I'm Mrs. Bradshaw.

As the Special Education Job Coach in the Milford School District, I assist students with their career development process. Career development is a lifelong process that can be fostered through educational opportunities both in the classroom and outside of the classroom.

The importance of work-based learning

Work-based learning experiences extend the walls of the classroom out into the community. These experiences can help a student make career decisions, network with potential employers, select courses of study, and develop job skills relevant to future employment. Through the interaction of work and study experiences, students can enhance their academic knowledge, personal development, and professional preparation. Students have the opportunity to participate in work based learning experiences via job shadows and internships.

Job Shadows

A job shadow is a career exploration activity in which students observe the work day of a professional.

Job shadows are designed to help students explore a field of interest while developing research skills and building occupational knowledge. A job shadows gives students the opportunity for to ask questions of the worker being shadowed and includes opportunities for the student to see what REALLY goes on in a “day in the life” of the worker they are shadowing.

Internships    

An internship is a career preparation activity in which students are placed in a workplace for a defined period of time to participate in and observe work within a given industry. Internships are structured, time-limited experiences that occur at a work site. They are designed to give students hands-on experience, providing them a deeper understanding of the occupation and industry. Internships may be paid or unpaid. Students participating in internships have the ability to earn credit towards their high school diploma.

Internships are intended to enhance workplace knowledge and workplace awareness. They help build the skills required for specific occupations by exposing students to all aspects of the industry and the multiple career options available at a workplace. Internships engage students in their own learning and provide opportunities for reflection on the experience