Lincoln County School District’s ECEL (Education for Community Employment and Life) and PACE (Post-secondary and Community Experiences) Programs are making significant strides in preparing students with disabilities for successful transitions into adulthood. Led by instructors Babe Brown at Newport High School and Miracle Fingerson at Taft 7-12, these programs offer comprehensive approaches to education, focusing on functional academics, life skills, and vocational training.

Both programs serve students aged 18-21 who have graduated or received a non-standard diploma and qualify with a modified diploma and Individual Education Plan. Funded through Federal IDEA dollars and the general fund, ECEL and PACE share a common vision: to empower students through choice and provide them with numerous opportunities.

The programs feature a range of key components designed to support student growth and independence. These include practical life skills training, vocational skills development, community integration, student-driven learning, and an emphasis on self-advocacy. Through these elements, students are equipped with the tools they need to navigate life in the community as individuals with disabilities.

Innovation is at the heart of both ECEL and PACE. Students participate in running their own businesses, creating products such as Good Dog Treats, Fire Starter Bricks, and tending to Newport Nursery in the ECEL program, while PACE students make soap, body wash, blankets, and school stickers. Beyond these entrepreneurial ventures, students engage in unified sports, community service projects, and benefit from workshops led by local professionals.

The ECEL classroom, dubbed “the Crib” by students, is designed to feel more like a home than a traditional school environment. Similarly, PACE focuses on getting students out into their community, familiarizing them with bus routes and accessible places in Lincoln City.

“We go shopping. We take public transit. We are getting them out in their community,” said Fingerson. “I want them to know their bus routes and accessible places that exist in Lincoln City.”

Both programs partner with local businesses and agencies to provide real-world work experience. PACE, for instance, collaborates with Backpack for Kids and will soon start volunteering at Bright Horizons, an equine therapy farm. Students also engage in job shadowing opportunities at business such as hotels and grocery stores.

Dr. Carol Stock, LCSD Special Education Director, praises the programs: “I am incredibly proud of the work that our teachers do with our transition-aged students. They have built a wonderful community within these programs!”

The impact of these programs is evident in the aspirations of their students. After leaving the ECEL program, one student aims to learn to drive, secure a decent job, and eventually live independently. Another student hopes to get a full-time job in a restaurant and finds the transition program “a lot more relaxing than High School.” A recent alum learned the valuable skills of being able to say “no” and how to talk to people on the phone.

Brown emphasizes the program’s impact: “Everyone is successful in their own way. Our students prove time and time again that they can do amazing things.”

Both ECEL and PACE are always seeking community support through donations and welcome local artisans and professionals interested in sharing their skills with students. For more information about these programs or to learn how you can support their mission, please contact Newport High School or Taft 7-12.