The 2012 Expo for Transitioning Youth will be held Saturday, March 10, from 8:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Bel Air High School. The Expo is a conference for teens and young adults with special needs facing the challenges and opportunities of the transition to adulthood.
A sampling of the workshops at the conference includes:
"The College Admission Process – Getting There from Here," designed to help students and their parents navigate their college journey;
"So You Want to Drive?," information on obtaining a driver's license in Maryland when specific medical conditions are present; and
"Mastering your Money after High School," an interactive workshop which will teach students to be money smart in these financially challenging times.
Other workshops will focus on summer internships (paid and volunteer), how to apply for Social Security benefits, and work without losing benefits. In addition, attendees will have the opportunity to meet with representatives of vendors, agencies, organizations and support groups.
"This conference addresses the issues that face young people with special needs as they transition to adulthood," Helene Dubay, Chairperson of the Expo Planning Committee, said. "Regardless of their specific challenge, learning disabilities, visual impairment, mobility issues, et cetera, these young people have questions about how they're going to achieve their goals. Our conference will help them to develop a plan for the future, using available community resources that they may not know exist."
This event is sponsored by the Harford County Department of Community Services (Commission on Disabilities and Local Management Board), the Harford County Public Schools Department of Special Education, The Arc Northern Chesapeake Region, Abilities Network, the Bel Air Office of the Division of Rehabilitation Services, the Office on Mental Health, and The IMAGE Center.
Registration for the free conference is available on line at http://www.harfordcountymd.gov/services/disabilities/expo.html. For more information, contact Sharon Grzanka, Disabilities Coordinator, at 410-638-3373 voice/TTY or via email at disability@harfordcountymd.gov.
The Harford County Commission on Disabilities was established in 1995 to serve as the voice of the disability community in Harford County. Members are appointed by the Harford County Executive, with the approval of the Harford County Council.
The Harford County Department of Community Services was established in 1979 via Executive Order and works daily to meet the needs of our seniors, youth, people with disabilities and those struggling to overcome addiction. The department works with federal, state and local governments and with private agencies to ensure Harford County continues to evolve and remains dedicated to providing the best possible services for its citizens and community.