At 1111 W. 12th St., a relatively inconspicuous building is the location for powerful, life-changing work being done for students with disabilities. Ector County ISD’s 18+ Transition Learning Center (TLC) provides services and resources for not only students but also the students’ families as they plan the transition from school to life after high school graduation.
At 10 a.m. today (Oct. 5), local leaders will recognize the critical nature of the work being done at the TLC by hosting an event to kick off National Disability Employment Awareness Month. Students will lead a short program, Odessa Mayor Pro-Tem Mari Willis will mark the occasion with a proclamation, a tour of the facility along with snacks made and served by the students will follow.
The goal of the 18+ program is to provide an easy transition to life after school by providing multiple opportunities to learn and use the skills necessary to function as independently as possible. Students participate in a variety of activities so that the last day of school is identical to the first day of the rest of their lives. Transition to the Future provides individualized transition services in a combination of classroom and community-based environments for individuals with disabilities who are 18-21 years of age and have met all their high school requirements.
