Written by Jesse A. Saperstein, Habilitation Liaisonce-indianladder2

 

At the College Experience, we work hard and try to play hard, too.  The valuable learning experiences and recreational activities continue for those alumni who make the decision to enroll in the Transitions program.  The Transitions program provides our graduates with a lighter staff presence and more independence as they continue honing the skills learned from their two years at a student.  We have the privilege of seeing many of our alumni succeed in their various jobs and internships.  It is also our hope that the graduates continue to remain involved in the College Experience and serve as mentors for our current students.  They are always welcome at the houses and the activities planned by students.  Their mentorship provides an element of education that staff cannot possibly provide.  After all, they best know what it feels like to be a student and could help guide our current participants through various challenges they have managed to surmount.

The participants of Transitions have the choice to attend an Activities Meeting the last Sunday of every month wherece-indianladder staff helps them plan recreational activities that pique their interest.  It is a privilege to help plan and drive them to these fun outings that are sometimes nostalgic and coincide with seasonal traditions.  Students and staff members visited Indian Ladder Farms in Altamont, NY on the morning of Saturday, October 15, 2016.  We indulged in the glory of foliage, collecting ripe apples from hundreds of trees, and the wide variety of pastries waiting for us at the general store at the base of the farm.  We are looking forward to some more events such as pumpkin carving and a Halloween party over the next week.  Self-advocacy is an important skill for all of our students and the participants of Transitions do a wonderful job telling us what they want so we may try our best to make certain goals come to fruition.

We emphasize that the learning experiences of our students should not and must not stop after two years have passed.  The Transitions program is just one option to continue ripening their abilities and prospects in adulthood.  The most important question we hope our students will always ask is, “What is it that you want, and how can staff work with you to make it happen?