Welcome, Jack Beckner, the new Manager of Transitions for Best Buddies in Virginia & DC!

“I am so excited for this upcoming year in Best Buddies Transitions,” Jack shared.

“We have great support from our National Transitions Team. They are constantly updating our curriculum and rolling out new resources for our students. This year we will have a really good chance to grow our program to reach more students across Northern Virginia.”

This summer, Jack is leading three Transitions workshops at the Best Buddies office. At each workshop, students gain a good understanding of what careers are available to them and what they would be interested in pursuing. They learn key skills that will help them in the job search, hiring process, and workplace.

“Our Transitions program helps students with IDD prepare for their life after high school,” Jack explained. “Whether they want to enter the workforce immediately, pursue higher education, or join a career readiness program, we help them determine what they need, what is available to them, and how they can work toward independence.”

During the first workshop in June, students created a vision to board to help organize and visualize their goals. Students also participated in mock interview where they practiced interview etiquette, answering common interview questions, and how to deal with a question for which they did not have a good answer. Finally, students practiced respectful cooperation, communication, and decision-making by building a tower out of marshmallows and uncooked pasta.

The next workshops will be held at the end of July and mid-August, and students will continue to work on career exploration, teamwork, resume building, and interview skills. The final workshop will focus on other post-secondary options, such as higher education and independent living.

“Growing up can be scary (it certainly was for me), but the earlier we can get our students thinking about their future, the smoother their transition to adulthood will be,” Jack concluded.

If you’re interested in learning more about the Best Buddies Transitions Program and would like to join a future workshop, email Jack Beckner at JackBeckner@bestbuddies.org.