Zayd and Reyan are 18-year-old twins who love to swim, play basketball, and learn new things. They currently attend Oakton High School with the goal of entering the professional world of IT. This will be the twins’ fourth year of being involved with Best Buddies!

As a part of the Best Buddies Transitions program, Zayd and Reyan actively engaged with the presented material. They asked questions that showed their interest in the topics and came to the workshop every day with a positive attitude and recollection of what was covered the day before. They enjoyed learning how to create an effective resume, what an elevator pitch is, how to present one, what their post-secondary options are, and how to find them.

For example, during a scavenger hunt hosted at the mall, Reyan was impressed by a retail employer who discussed the relevance of IT in a retail setting!

“I loved learning how to give an elevator pitch and having the opportunity to present my pitch to my peers,” said Zayd.

“I really enjoyed learning about what my options are after high school – I didn’t know there were so many!” said Reyan.

During this workshop, individuals learned about what post-high school options exist and how to manage those opportunities. Learning about these options all at once can be overwhelming! Students like Zayd and Reyan engaged in the material by breaking down the possibilities and brainstorming the best track for them, whether college, trade school, going straight into a job, or something else!

Both Zayd and Reyan want to obtain their driver’s licenses. They used this goal as a starting point to create a SMART goal, a framework for creating a goal that is specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-based.

We are excited to bring Best Buddies Transitions to our area, providing Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) to students with disabilities, ages 16-22 in Northern Virginia. State vocational rehabilitation agencies and schools are now required by law to provide these transitions services to improve post-school outcomes of students with disabilities. Best Buddies in Virginia & DC was awarded a contract from Virginia DARS to provide pre-ETS at targeted schools and individually with students.

The Best Buddies Transitions Program has five main components, including self-advocacy/mentoring, job exploration and counseling, a work readiness overview, work-based learning opportunities, and post-secondary counseling. Learning these skills at this critical point for a student with disabilities is key to understanding and preparing for the opportunities available post-school.

To learn more about getting involved with our Transitions program, contact Erin Ijzer (Manager, Transitions Program) at ErinIjzer@bestbuddies.org.