Coginchaug, Local Businesses Offer Work Training for Students With Disabilities

Ian Stewart is really enjoying his job at Durham Market.

Once a week, the Coginchaug High School junior spends a little over an hour restocking shelves, filling the sugar or mopping floors at the neighborhood grocery store on Main Street.

"I'm really good at stacking," the 16-year-old said.

Ian is one of about ten students that participate in the high school's life skills program, a program designed to prepare students with developmental disabilities for life, post-graduation.

"The state wants our students work ready," said Elizabeth Shoudy, transition counselor at the high school. "Starting junior year they start going out to work sites and it usually changes every semester so that they have a variety of experiences by the time they leave high school," she says.

Ian has been working at Durham Market for about a month after finishing a job at Core Club. During a recent visit to the store he kept busy by refilling a cooler with orange juice, making sure to separate the juice with pulp from the juice with no pulp.

"He does a really good job," said store owner Bob Mounts. "Every week that he comes in I try to teach him something different."

Mounts is one of many local business owners who've embraced the program by offering to provide the students with on-the-job training.

"They're wonderful," said Shoudy. Local businesses that have recently participated in the program also include Durham Pharmacy, Durham Fitness, Brenda's Main Street Feed, Dick's Citgo, Lyman Orchards and the Durham Public Library.

"For these kids to get out of the school environment and be in the community, it allows them to work on their social skills, their work skills and allows the community to see that they're contributing," said Shoudy.

"[Ian] is incredibly proud to be making a meaningful contribution in the community," says his mother Tammy Stewart. "The businesses that Ian has worked for have welcomed him with open arms and have had nothing but positive praise for his performance.

"As happy as I am to see the district advancing our kids, I'm even happier to see our community supporting this program without reservation," Stewart said.

Many of the students involved with the program will end up attending the Middlesex Transition Academy, according to Shoudy.

Of course, when he's not working or doing homework Ian enjoys drawing at school, where he's a member of the high school's art club.

"I do that every Tuesday, if it's canceled or not," he said.

Back at Durham Market, Ian's enthusiasm to do some heavy lifting is welcome news for the owner.

"I hurt my back so it's nice to have him here to help out," said Mounts.