Transition Conference held for Secondary Students with Disabilities

CLOQUET, Minn. — Mentoring day, a transition conference for secondary students with disabilities, was held on Monday at Fond Du Lac Tribal and Community College.

Roughly 300 students from 14 school districts gathered for the event. The day was comprised of break-out sessions, exhibitors, and a keynote speaker.

The purpose is to help students with disabilities starting thinking about employment, post-secondary education and independent living skills.

Mentoring day has taken place annually under the leadership of the Northern Lights Special Education Cooperative since 1992.

“In the state of Minnesota, it is required that we talk about these things with our students. So, it’s super important to get our students connected as early as possible, along with even the families that here also attending a day for themselves,” said Jessica Knutsen, Secondary Transition Coordinator with the Northern Lights Special Education Cooperative.

Mentoring Day is a local version of the National Disability Mentoring Day, which is organized by the American Association of People with Disabilities.