Lauderdale County's special needs students go to work
By By Georgia E. Frye / staff writer
April 10, 2003
For the first time, special education students from Lauderdale County have an opportunity to work, be paid and manage their money thanks to a program designed for disabled students.
The program is run by the Mississippi Industries for the Developmentally Disabled, or MIDD. Four mornings a week, Northeast Lauderdale High School special education students work at MIDD in Meridian.
There, they sort and bag plastic utensils for local restaurants.
The MIDD program is designed to help special-needs students make the transition from school to work. Students could be offered full-time jobs with the program after graduation.
Allison Newell, program director at MIDD, said her company began offering jobs to special education students 21 years ago. While Lauderdale County is new to the program, Meridian public schools have participated for more than 10 years.
Timbrell said she had to wait until all of her students were at least 16 before they could participate in the program.
Kendall Richards, one of Timbrell's students at Northeast High School, said he likes his job "because it's fun." Matt Covington, another student, thinks he might work for MIDD after he graduates.
Through the MIDD program, students also have the opportunity to experience banking. Each student has opened an account at the Meridian Mutual Federal Credit Union.
Timbrell said at the end of each year, students can take money out of their account and use it for Christmas shopping. Timbrell and her assistant, Sharon Shelton, also take the students shopping each week with money they earn.
Timbrell said the program liberates the students who might otherwise not find jobs in the community. She also said the students seem to enjoy what they are doing.
Jonathan Shepherd, another student, said his favorite thing about his job is getting paid.
Timbrell said the pride her students take in their accomplishments is unbelievable. She also said the transition from school to real life is often one of the hardest transitions young people have to make and the program helps establish what could be long-lasting jobs.
