Break for High School Students with Disabilities (MS UCEDD)

April 22, 2019

Alternative Spring Break participants, from left to right: Jordan, Christian, Ameer, Hoy, David and Anna

For one group of Hattiesburg-area high school students, Spring Break 2019 is not about the sand, the sun or the water - it's about preparing for the future.

During the week of March 11-15, the Transition of Teens to Adult Life (ToTAL) Program at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) Institute for Disability Studies (IDS) hosted an Alternative Spring Break on the Hattiesburg campus focused on preparing high school students with disabilities for employment.

Funded by the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services, the Alternative Spring Break provided training through a combination of hands-on training, classroom setting training and community-based learning opportunities. Participants explored college options, examined work opportunities, set personal goals, learned to become a self-advocate and developed a personal electronic portfolio.

"Students who attended this week-long training event focused on various employment skills from following directions, developing a resume to practicing interviewing skills," said Dr. Jerry R. Alliston, associate director of the Institute for Disability Studies. "Attending college is traditionally considered a path to employment, and these spring break participants definitely made the most of their time while at USM."

Participant Anna Moudy said, "This program has helped me to learn about the different types of stress and how to relieve stress. I also learned how to follow directions better when we created pottery."

"My favorite part has been going on the campus tour of USM and seeing the campus," said Jordan Haynes. "I enjoyed having the opportunity to be active on the actual football field, ‘The Rock.' "

For more information about the Alternative Spring Break or other transition to adulthood programs, call 601.266.5163 or visit https://www.usm.edu/disability-studies