Home Plate Cooking - Helena, AL

Ms. Kay and the ladies at Homeplate Cooking have provided a wonderful job experience for our HHS student. She participated in food prep and got to observe the daily operations of a busy restaurant/catering facility.
Homeplate Cooking
5129 Highway 17
Helena, AL 35080
(205) 621-6502
kay@homeplatecooking.com

On the job as Office Manager - Jefferson State Hoover, AL

CHHS students work in the Nursing Department and The Pioneer Bookstore at Jeff State sorting, filing, and stocking.

School2Working Brochure

Nursing Department Office - Jefferson State Hoover, AL

We are thankful for the partnership with Jeff State. Currently our CHHS students are completing Nonpaid Community Based Work Instruction in the Nursing Dept. and Bookstore.  The students sorted, alphabetized, and filed paperwork in the Nursing Department. They also assisted the  Bookstore by cleaning and stocking.

Fall 2015 YAIT Meeting in the News

Shelby County Reporter article on special guest speaker Timothy Alexander at Fall 2015 YAiT meeting. Turning abilities into opportunities: UAB football player shares experience with YAiT students. 

Published 3:00pm Friday, October 23, 2015  By GRAHAM BROOKS / Staff Writer 
Read the story here.

Timothy Alexander - YAiT Meeting 2015

A native of Birmingham, Timothy Alexander,graduated from Erwin High School in 2007, where he was ranked number #8 in the state in football and dreamed of playing in the NFL. Timothy embarked on a bigger challenge in life, when he was in a horrific car wreck that left him paralyzed from the neck down. He now is dedicating his life to motivating and inspiring others. We are so grateful that he took the time to share his inspirational story with our YAiT students!
                                                                                                                                       
Twitter: @1stN2ndTimothy
 

YAiT Grant 2015

YAiT Grant- We got to announce to the students that we were just rewarded a $13,000.00 grant from the Alabama Council on Developmental Disabilities to fund "Young Adults in Transition Model for Multi-School Systems."

Gwen Brown - Parent Advocate YAiT 2015

Gwen Brown is a peer advocate with Disability Rights & Resources (DRR). She is also the mother of three children; one with autism and one with sickle cell disease.
Her mission is to empower people with disAbilities to fully participate in their school and community.
Mrs. Brown is a great resource for our students and their parents!

Dr. Frank Buck YAiT 2015

Dr. Frank Buck helped us learn how practical and easy it can be to get organized.

Dr. Buck helps people achieve their goals through organization and time management. He is a veteran school administrator, speaker, and writer. Most of all, he has shown countless educators and business people an easier way to work.  He shares these secrets with leaders all across the U.S. and into Canada.  As a blogger for over a decade, he has helped countless readers from around the world.
Dr. Buck's newest book, the 2nd edition of Get Organized!: Time Management for School Leaders, is for you.

Pure Bliss Hair Salon - Mt. Laurel

Students learn what it takes to run a full service hair/nail salon.
Pure Bliss Salon
15 Mt Laurel Avenue
Mt Laurel, Al 35242
205-538-5972

Nursing Department Office - Jefferson State

The students are able to assist the Nursing professors and office staff at Jeff State with clerical jobs such as sorting and filing.

Home Plate Cooking - Helena, AL

Home Plate Cooking provides delicious, homemade from scratch meals, that can go from your oven to the table in less than one hour. They also offer daily hotplate specials for dine-in or take-out.
5129 Highway 17
Helena, AL 35080
(205) 621-6502
 homeplatecooking.com
Cutting grapes for chicken salad and assisting with hot-plate meal preparation is the order of the day for our Work Instruction student.

Pioneer Bookstore - Jefferson State, Shelby-Hoover Campus

Students stock items in the bookstore and help with filing in the Nursing Department at Jefferson State Community College's Shelby-Hoover Campus. We appreciate Jefferson State for opening their arms and their hearts to our students.

Home Plate Cooking - Helena, AL

 

Student's assisting with food prep for lunch plates and chicken salads.

 

Home Plate Cooking provides delicious, homemade from scratch meals, that can go from your oven to the table in less than one hour.

5129 Highway 17
Helena, AL 35080
(205) 621-6502
 homeplatecooking.com

Career Center Students - Stone Hollow Farmstead

College and Career students from the landscaping program harvested Tabasco peppers that will be used for sauce and peppered vinegar at Stone Hollow Farms.

Stone Hollow Farmstead
2006 Dead Hollow Road North
Harpersville, AL 35078



 

Mt Laurel Library - MT Laurel, AL

Since the Mt Laurel Library  now has their own beautiful, new facility, there is a need to re-sticker all inventory with the new building address. Our student is assisting in that endeavor working with everything from books to DVD's.

Home Plate Cooking - Helena, AL

Home Plate Cooking provides delicious, homemade from scratch meals, that can go from your oven to the table in less than one hour.
5129 Highway 17
Helena, AL 35080
(205) 621-6502
 homeplatecooking.com

Stone Hollow Farmstead - Vincent, AL

This family business has grown from a natural love for the land and nurturing the process to producing the finest cheeses, honey, specialty foods, botanicals, cosmetic extracts, and osmeceuticals.  Honoring both her parents' and her grandparents' heritage, Deborah Stone founded Stone Hollow Farmstead in 1999 with her husband, Russell, and daughters, Fallon and Alexandra.

Stone Hollow Farmstead
2006 Dead Hollow Road North
Harpersville, AL 35078

JeffCo Inaugural YAIT Meeting

Shelby Co. students were honored to be a part of the inaugural JeffCo YAIT (Young Adults in Transition) meeting. We are very proud of our OMHS and CHHS students that spoke about their experiences in YAIT.

Home Plate Cooking- Helena, AL

Home Plate Cooking provides delicious, homemade from scratch meals, that can go from your oven to the table in less than one hour.

5129 Highway 17
Helena, AL 35080
(205) 621-6502
 homeplatecooking.com

Vincent Gardens - Vincent, AL

The students helped Vincent Gardens with the delivery and sale of the Fall Mum's fundraiser with Chelsea Park Elementary.

Pure Bliss Salon - MT Laurel, AL

Pure Bliss Salon- 15 Mt Laurel Avenue Mt Laurel, Al 35242    205-538-5972

We are excited to work with Pure Bliss, a full service professional salon offering hair, nail, and Esthetician services, in the beautiful town of Mt Laurel.

North Shelby Library, Mt Laurel AL

Since the Mt Laurel Library  now has their own beautiful, new facility, there is a need to re-sticker all inventory with the new building address. Our student is assisting in that endeavor working with everything from books to DVD's.

Alabama Childhood Food Solutions, Sylacauga, AL

Feeding hungry families...One smile at a time.. Alabama Childhood Food Solutions provides food to families in Shelby, Coosa, and South Talladega counties. Our students learn that it truly is "better to give than receive!"


Alabama Food Solutions
205 Old Home Place
Alpine, AL 35014
(256) 245-6115
Cell Numbers (256) 404-2004 or (256) 208-6463
childhoodfood@gmail.com

Recruiting Job Site - Jefferson State Shelby-Hoover

Thank you Jefferson State Community College for listening to how Shelby County Schools are impacting student's lives. We are excited about the possibility of bringing some of our students to work in various work settings at the Shelby-Hoover Campus. Some of the preliminary areas include the Culinary Program, Nursing Office, and the Pioneer Bookstore.

Keeping It Real Training

A wonderful morning of training hosted by the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce for this year's Keeping It Real events. We are looking forward to another great year of partnering with the Chamber to teach Shelby Co. High School students about finances, budgeting, and transition skills.

Transition Planning and the Work Component Slide Show

Click this link to view our Transition Planning and the Work Component Slide Show presentation.

"Transition Planning and the Work Component," Special Services Center, Pelham, AL

Transition Team, (Chris Moore & Laura Partain), In-Service Presentation, for July 30, 2015 In-Service Training

Greens Detail, Childersburg,AL

We are happy to welcome Green's Detail as a new community based work instruction site in Childersburg, Alabama

Transition Leadership Institute, Auburn, AL

The Transition Leadership Academy provided our local transition team with leadership skills to direct local transition services.

Transition teams from around the state - consisting of transition professionals and consumers gathered for an intensive 3-day training and technical assistance program. This program included large group presentations, small group meetings, and networking and program development activities. The Transition Leadership Academy "TLA" offers assistance and guidance to transition practitioners and administrators as they set goals and develop plans to improve outcomes for students with disabilities in their secondary schools.

College Prep at Samford Univesity, Birmingham, AL

Students from Metro Birmingham area schools attended a "College Prep" program this summer at Samford University. This unique program, sponsored by Vocational Rehabilitation, helps prepare our college bound students. Chris Moore, Shelby Co. Work Instructor, spoke today about how dyslexia affected his life. See powerpoint for a personal testimony of how he  overcame obstacles that confronted him throughout his life and how he "turned stumbling blocks into stepping stones."
He offered sound advice including some of his favorite quotes: "Failure is a detour, not a dead end street", " If there is no wind ROW", and "The snail reaches the ark." His motivational testimony showed the students that all things are possible.

APSE Conference, Mobile, AL

On June 17th- 19th the Alabama APSE (Association of People Supporting Employment) and ACDD (Alabama Council on Developmental Disabilities) Conference was held in Mobile, Alabama. Professionals in the disability arena as well as individuals with disabilities came together to not only learn but have fun.

 This year's conference featured a panel presentation featuring life challenges- tragedies and triumphs -told from the perspective of individuals with disabilities and their family members. Keynote speakers were Jeff Steinberg, (With his distinctive style of humor and song, reminded everyone that they are all a "Masterpiece in Progress"), Sue Swenson, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, and Derrick Tennant (reminded us that while we all face significant obstacles in life, each can be used as an opportunity to become better and stronger. We have the choice to "Love our lives".) Daily breakout sessions were very informative and beneficial in educating service providers/stakeholders and those involved in disability advocacy

Touring Hibbett's Warehouse, Alabaster AL

Hibbett Sports
On June 3rd,  the Shelby Co. Work Instructors, along with members of the Greater Shelby Chamber of Commerce, attended the 2nd quarter Industry Tour of Hibbett Distribution Center in Alabaster, Alabama. We learned about many exciting things that are taking place in this 412,000 ft. National distribution center.

Publix-Doug Baker Blvd, Hoover, AL

Helping student complete an application at Publix Grocery on Doug Baker Bldv.

Chelsea General Store, Chelsea, AL

We are looking forward to a fall partnership with the Chelsea General Store. This is such an interesting place to work and visit. They have a range of items from a new line of Amish patio furniture, local jams and jellies, to army surplus items.

Chelsea General Store, Chelsea, AL
14555 U.S. HWY 280
Chelsea, AL 35043
(205) 678-2793
contact@chelseageneralstore.com
Hours of Operation
Mon-Sat: 9-6pm
Sun: 1-6pm

Certified Nursing Training Program, Alabaster, AL

Students toured the Certified Nursing Training Program in Alabaster. It is an intensive two week course leading to CNA Board Certification. The students also learned about the CNA affiliation with Shelby Ridge Rehab and Nursing Facility and the job opportunities available there.

E&E Hardware, MT Laurel, AL

E&E Hardware -a throwback to a neighborhood general store of days gone by- specializes in everyday home hardware needs. Casey Crane, store owner, carries everything from light bulbs, air filters, garden supplies, and tools - to fishing rods and snow sleds. He  assists our Work Instruction students in general store maintenance, receiving, unloading, and stocking of new inventory shipments.

E & E Hardware Store
7 Mt. Laurel Avenue
B'ham, Al. 35242
(205) 769-6704
Business Hours (Mon – Fri, 9-5) (Sat 9-2:30) (Sun closed)

11th Annual Mock Interviews

Over 45 Shelby County Business leaders donated their time to participate in the 11th Annual Mock Interview that was held at the Shelby County Instructional Services Center.  Cindy Vinson and Becky Goggins organized the event that brought in young adults from Pelham, Alabaster, Thompson, Project Search, and Shelby County Schools. Chris George from the Shelby County Sheriff's Department was the guest speaker.

Superintendent Randy Fuller, Shelby Co. Board member Peg Hill, and Taziki's Café owner, Keith Richards provided comic relief with an example of how NOT to interview. Mr. Richards was surprised when previous students, who are now employed by Taziki's, came back to honor him for his contribution and commitment over the years.  We greatly appreciate all of our attendees' time and effort to help these students prepare themselves for the future.

Shelby County Chamber of Commerce Career Awareness Fair, Columbiana, AL

The Greater Shelby County Chamber of Commerce  hosted a Career Awareness Fair for area 10th grade students on April 23-24 at the Shelby County Exhibition Center in Columbiana.

The program, sponsored by Legacy Community Federal Credit Union, is an opportunity for business professionals to share education/ training requirements, salary range, workplace expectations and more needed to be employed in the respective career cluster fields.

Volunteers in the professions listed below addressed students in the real world of work.

Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
Architecture & Construction
Arts, AV Technology & Communication
Business Management & Administration
Education & Training
Finance
Government & Public Administration
Health Science
Hospitality & Tourism
Human Services
Information Technology
Law, Public Safety, Corrections, Security
Manufacturing
Marketing
Science, Technology, Engineering, Math
Transportation, Distribution, Logistics

YAIT Meeting, Birmingham, AL

Our third YAIT meeting was held on April 17th at the Shelby Baptist Medical Resource Center.  Students from five area Shelby County Schools  and Project Search attended. The morning was filled with motivational and informative speakers. Special guests from the Alabama State Department of Special Education also attended the meeting.

The agenda contained such topics as "What's your label? " Watch the video and see how students are removing stigmas and labels that have been placed upon them.


Guest speaker Larry Thornton, owner of several Birmingham, AL area McDonald's, shared his motivational testimony about his personal experiences in dealing with labels others placed on him while growing up in the 1960's. Watch Mr. Thorton's Video.



Allison Solomon, the director of University of Alabama at Birmingham Disability Support Services, spoke on the topic of students getting the additional support and assistance they may need at a two-year college or university.

We continued the discussion of "Life Plans", and Oak Mt High School student Ashton Ayers told us about her hardships that resulted from a traumatic brain injury that occurred during her Freshmen year.


 Needs and goals for upcoming 2015-16 meetings were also discussed.
We are so excited to have such a terrific start to the initial launch of the YAIT  group in the  Shelby County School System!

YAit Meeting Video

YAit Meeting Video

Fast-Track Career Programs - Jefferson State

Jefferson State Fast-Track Career Programs

Cheeriodicals, MT Laurel, AL

Cheeriodicals is a small business site in the town of MT Laurel, Alabama. Our students learn to appreciate the hard work and commitment it takes to operate and work in a small business. While here, students assemble orders for personalized gift boxes for specific situations. Students learn to take direction, work with a boss, the importance of fulfilling detailed orders, and meeting shipping requirements. Also, they are taught the joy of providing a bit of happiness to someone, "in a cool green gift box."

If you are looking for a get well gift, something for children & teens, a new baby present, or an indulgent "design your own" gift then Cheriodicals is the place for you.

Cheriodicals

15 Olmsted Street
Birmingham, AL 35242
customerservice@cheeriodicals.com
1-855-584-2207

KTL Smith Insurance Group INC, Pelham, AL

Kai Smith not only owns Kai's Coffee in Pelham, but she also has her own insurance agency- KTL Smith Group Inc. - right next door.

Our student got a chance to experience working in an office environment. He did data entry that involved searching/recording policy numbers and coverage information.
KTL Smith Insurance Group INC
2955 Pelham Pkwy
Pelham, AL 35124
(205) 989-5857

Ross Bridge Meeting, Hoover, AL

The Jefferson/Shelby Business Advisory Council Meeting was held on 3/26.
Mrs. Faye Rivers was kind enough to host the meeting at the beautiful Renaissance Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa.

David Dionne from Red Mountain Park was the guest speaker and talked about his commitment to hiring individuals with disabilities.

The Council also learned about the new GATE Project in conjunction with UCP of Greater Birmingham.

A former student, Josh Fleagle, had some of his amazing art on display at the meeting.  The Artisan Arch Foundation  assists Josh in various projects as well as creates opportunities for special needs individuals with limited career potential in the mainstream market. To see more of Josh's work visit artisanarch.wix.com.

Josh's work was used to grace the cover of notepads, postcards, and Christmas Cards used at the hotel.

The Renaissance Ross Bridge Golf Resort and Spa is a 259-room resort  located in the suburb of Hoover, Al. Ross Bridge boasts the second longest golf course in the world and is one of three hotels in the state of Alabama to receive its four diamond rating from AAA. Travel + Leisure named it one of the top 500 hotels in the world.

Renaissance Ross Bridge Resort & Spa
4000 Grand Ave
Birmingham, AL 35226
205-916-7677
sales@rossbridgeresort.com

Salon Suites- Colonnade, Birmingham, AL

Students observe the daily operations of a busy hair salon as well as perform entry level tasks such as maintaining the styling area and replenishing supplies of products, towels,and smocks.
3411 Colonnade Parkway #400 35243
Master Stylist
Christina Durham
563-0040

Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum, Calera, AL

The Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum is the official state railroad museum of Alabama. Dedicated to the preservation, restoration, and operation of historically significant railway equipment, the museum is located at 1919 Ninth Street, Calera, Alabama. Students assist annually preparing for Major events such as Cotton Tails and Thomas the Train.

Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum
1919 9th Street, Calera, AL  35040