Tammy’s Story
Working Together Works -
A School Perspective
Sue Furey, Transition Coordinator
Missoula Public Schools

For two years, Tammy was enrolled in Vocational Preparation classes as part of her high school curriculum. She completed her fourth year of high school in June 2002, but her IEP team had already decided Tammy would continue working on her IEP goals and objectives during a fifth year of high school. In the summer of 2002, Tammy participated in a two-week, individually focused pilot transition program. Students were introduced to adult service providers and offered opportunities to engage in paid work experience.

In addition to this experience, Tammy was identified in September 2002 as one of ten students to participate in the Graduate to Work program. Tammy’s team started a Vocational Profile, which would help guide her additional paid work experiences and future employment. To develop the Profile, team members met with Tammy and her mom to discover information about her daily routines at home, including chores and leisure activities. Next, staff met with Tammy’s teachers to learn about her school routines, strengths and support needs. After an extensive Discovery process, Tammy’s team gathered for an Employment Planning Meeting. Attendees included her mom, teachers, Vocational Rehabilitation counselor, and Developmental Disabilities case manager, as well as staff from the University of Montana’s Rural Institute.

In addition to identifying the job conditions in which Tammy would be most successful and the contributions she could make, the Employment Planning Meeting outcome was to identify businesses that might be a good match for her skills and support needs. The Good Food Store seemed to be the best fit and the one that most interested Tammy. Tammy selected Montana Works (paid by Vocational Rehabilitation) to assist school staff with job development. A job developer from Montana Works met with Good Food Store management and presented Tammy’s Marketing Portfolio, a photographic resume outlining Tammy’s contributions and skills. The Good Food Store agreed to offer Tammy a 6-week work experience opportunity. A school paraeducator provided job coaching for Tammy. Working together, pooling school and adult agency resources, allowed Tammy’s Vocational Rehabilitation dollars to be stretched and maximized.

At the end of the work experience, Good Food Store management was asked if they would be willing to hire Tammy for a permanent position but they weren’t able to do so at that time. Tammy’s job developer then marketed her to the school district kitchen, which was another employer identified at the employment planning meeting. The school district agreed to a work experience position and Tammy started in early April. At the time of this writing, Tammy is quickly learning the tasks and acquiring the skills required for her new position, and she is again being coached by a paraeducator from the school. When the work experience ends, Tammy’s team will approach the school district about hiring her for a permanent position.

Tammy is an active young lady. Besides school and her employment experiences, Tammy is involved in many 4-H endeavors. She has a positive attitude about her job and has learned the value and importance of work. Through collaboration, cooperation, and linking together to maximize funding, her team of school and adult agency personnel, as well as Tammy and her family, have helped to ensure Tammy a future of working in and contributing positively to her community.

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