ACE-IT Transition Program for Youth

In the last month before the 2016-17 school year end, students with developmental disabilities and their parents have been faced with news that a program that has helped them gain employability and independent living skills will no longer be offered through the Port Townsend School District. In the efforts to maintain the program, the students and families are asking for communtiy support to sustain the program that has not only given students with special needs the opportunity to gain real life Job Experience, but also promoted Social Inclusion for people with Developmental Disabilities.

The goal of the ACE-IT program who partners with Fort Worden PDA as a host business, is to maximize a student with special needs' opportunity for independence. The postsecondary Transition Program is for students ages 18-21 who have completed their high school requirements and wish to further develop skills in job training, independent living, and life skills.

Through a series of targeted internships students have the opportunity to acquire competitive, marketable and transferable skills to enable them to apply for a related employment upon completion.

The benefits of an offsite Transition Program in a host business—such as Fort Worden—is that it allows students to participate in integrated, competitive, on-the-job training while making community connections that will serve them in their adult lives.

Students work one-on-one with a job coach developing strategies to help them succeed in their designated vocational plan. The interns gain skill development in:



· Interpersonal communication

· Task prioritization,

· Teamwork

· Customer service

· Organization

· Listening skills and ability to take direction

· Problem solving and decision making

· Development of positive work ethics and motivation.

The ACE-IT Transition Program was developed in the summer of 2016 and was a collaboration between the Port Townsend School District, the Jefferson County Developmental Disabilities Program, the Fort Worden PDA, and ACE-IT Employment Services

Recent developments state that Students are in jeoprady of losing this program. Port Townsend School District , whom provided the funding and transportation for students in 2016-17 to attend ACE-IT Transition Program has chosen not to continue the funding for this experience, which is why we- the students and parents and providers- are asking for community support to raise funds to continue to support the needs of youth with developmental disabilities in Jefferson County.

 See the ACE-IT Facebook Page ‌

 Our website: Aceitproject.org ‌