For the first time, the free, public Real Life Fair will be held in conjunction with Butte High School’s Career and Technical Education Career Fair from 8 to 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 18, in the gym.
The Real Life Fair, in its fourth year, helps special education and developmentally disabled students and adults navigate the real world together, such as jobs and human services resources.
“It’s really important to know that families know that after high school, there are no guaranteed services,” said Rose Brock, case manager supervisor for Helena Industries Case Management, headquartered in Butte. “Families need to start thinking early.
“The only guaranteed service who has a developmental disability once they finish school is case manager,” she added. “All the other services are on a wait-list basis. So the sooner families get on the list, the sooner they may have services once their child gets out of high school.”
Developmental Disability Services Program of Montana, a private nonprofit, places children and adults ages 16 and over on case loads, said Brock. She can be reached at 406-782-9244.
Quality Improvement Specialists, a state agency, 700 Casey St., works with children ages 8 to 16. Contact: 406-496-4922 or 406-496-4923.
Also, at least one dozen Butte High students gearing for graduation this spring will attend the fair in their search for career paths.