Innova Coffee -Birmingham,AL

Our Oak Mt. High School student is learning the fine art of becoming a barista at Innova Coffee.

Spoon & Ladle- Pelham,AL

These Montevallo High School students worked hard labeling hundreds of soup containers today at Spoon & Ladle. The soups of the day will be packaged and sent to area supermarkets and restaurants.

Jeff State Community College Bookstore- Hoover,AL

The bookstore at Jeff State gives our Oak Mt.High School student the opportunity to take inventory and stock. She also learned the process of how the home office determines how all merchandise is to be staged.

Innova Coffee- Birmingham,AL

Our Oak Mt. High School student helped chop
and measure the mint for the wonderful ginger
mint lemonade served at Innova.

Inova owner Tyler Nash allows our student an
invaluable opportunity to experience the
 day-to-day operation of a self-owned small business 

Alabama Childhood Food Solutions- Sylacauga, AL

Feeding hungry families...One smile at a time.. Alabama Childhood Food Solutions provides food to over 600 families in Shelby, Coosa, and South Talladega counties. Our Chelsea High School students learn that it truly is "better to give than receive!"

                                                              

Self Determination Conference- Gardendale, AL

The Self-Determination Conference for Youth with Disabilities was held on September 19th in Gardendale, Alabama. The free conference was sponsored by the Alabama State Inter-agency Transition Team (SITT). High school students, parents, and professionals from several school systems attended.

The conference included a general session with featured speaker Chris Moore.There were break-out  sessions throughout the day, with separate sessions for parents. The goal of the conferences was to build engagement and self-determination skills for youth with disabilities throughout our state.
We were honored to conduct several of the sessions alongside some of our YAiT students presenting information on the Young Adults in Transition organization.*
Participants received information on how to start a YAiT club at their own schools with a facilitator manual given for  adult sponsors. Please see video below to see personal testimony of how YAiT has impacted the students' lives.

*"The contents of this product were developed under a grant from the Alabama Council on Developmental Disabilities  (ACDD). However, these contents do not necessarily represent the views or policies of the Council."

YAIT Presentations -Self Determination Conference-Gardendale,AL

The first ever Self-Determination Conference took place in Gardendale with 112 students, 27 parents, and over 70 professionals in attendance. Some of our Young Adult in Transition students presented during 4 break out sessions. Many schools are now interested in forming their own YAiT groups.

Jefferson State Community College Pioneer Bookstore - Hoover,AL

The Oak Mountain High School student got to experience assisting students and faculty at the Pioneer Bookstore. She scanned merchandise and completed transactions at the register while working on customer service.

Innova Coffee- Birmingham,AL

Innova's first priority is to introduce their customers to an entirely new coffee experience. They are now open M-F 6:30am-5pm and Saturday, 7am-3 pm at 4700 Colonnade Parkway. We want to thank them for allowing our Oak Mountain High School student to participate in non-paid work instruction. He was given the opportunity to learn processes involved in the fine art of brewing such as different grinds, water temperature, espresso, and the "pour-over"method.

Jefferson State Community College, Hoover, AL

Our Oak Mountain High School student experienced her first day of non-paid work instruction at the Jeff State Book Store. After Ms. Cheryl gave her a tour and a brief orientation of the store's daily operations, the OMHS student was able to assist with inventory.

Young Adults in Transition Meeting-Montevallo, AL

Over 150 students from all seven Shelby County High Schools and Project Search had the opportunity to come together for a back to school YAiT meeting at American Village in Montevallo, Alabama. We were inspired and entertained by our special guest speakers HK Derryberry and Mr. Jim Bradford. They have made more than 175 appearances and shared their incredible story with more than 40,000 people since 2012. 

Laura Partain & Carrie Redice invite HK & Jim

to be honorary YAiT members.

They have been featured on NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt, This Morning Show in London, and a part of Tragedy into Triumph, a 4-day live event with NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders.

Their amazing story, The Awakening of HK Derryberry, is available to purchase online and in bookstores as well. To find out more about HK & Jim's incredible life journey; follow HKDerryberry on Facebook; or go to their web site http://hkderryberry.com.

Click HERE to see event photo album.

Researchers at Vanderbilt University have discovered that HK is one of only five or six people in the world with a medical diagnosis of hyperthymesia, otherwise known as Superior Autobiographical Memory. He has the ability to remember every event including time and place that’s occurred to him since he was 3½ years old. Researchers are optimistic that studies on HK’s brain may one day lead to a breakthrough for people suffering memory loss. Several of the students were asked to give their birthdates while HK gave the day they were born and information about events that happened on that day in history. Their amazing true story and HK’s triumph over insurmountable odds is an motional rollercoaster for all audiences. HK’s life is constant reminder to us all that everyone can accomplish anything in life if they always keep a positive attitude, define their personal goals, have fun, work hard, and never give up. He frequently tells his listeners “the only disability any of us have in life is a negative attitude”.

Click HERE to see event photo album.

HK “sees” every day as a new opportunity to touch someone’s life. He never allows his physical disabilities to become a permanent handicap or excuse. He is an accomplished equestrian, snow skier, boat captain, and inspirational and motivational speaker. With some assistance, he has even piloted an airplane.


After the great message,the students  were able to take group tours of American Village. 

An incredible lunch from Southern Sweets provided by the ACDD*  
was a great ending to a truly a wonderful day!

*"The contents of this product were developed under a grant from the Alabama Council on Developmental Disabilities  (ACDD). However, these contents do not necessarily represent the views or policies of the Council."