Belmont County hosts transition fair to support job exploration for disabled teens

BELMONT COUNTY, Ohio — The Belmont County Developmental Disabilities Board, in collaboration with Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities, held a transition fair to give an opportunity for teens to explore local jobs.

“Kids of all abilities have every opportunity to give back to their community, so we do not want kids with disabilities to ever be excluded,” said Gloria Llewellyn, superintendent/CEO, Belmont, Harrison and Noble County Boards of Developmental Disabilities.

“These types of transitions fairs provide opportunities to see what’s available, but also for vendors to see what children with disabilities can offer to our community and the workforce.”

According to the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, there are more than 500 students with disabilities in Belmont County. The job fair acknowledges the individual skill sets these teens have to be successful in a career.

“The goal for the transition fair is to show students what businesses and agencies are out in the community that can help to support them when they’re ready to take that next step,” said Sean Ragsdale, vocational rehabilitation counselor, Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities. “It helps them to develop self-advocacy skills, seeing who’s out there to support them.”

The event was held at the ECO Center in partnership with the Educational Service Center. Community vendors and partners were present for the 400 teens in attendance.

Ragsdale intends to continue this fair annually in the future.

“We look forward to there being a number two, three, four in the future and reach even more students, as well as parents and their support networks, too,” Ragsdale said.

The goal of the transition fair is to help teens with disabilities take the next step toward their career.