Special needs students in Demopolis get on the job training

From the West Alabama Newsroom–

A summer program at Whitfield Regional Hospital in Demopolis offers hands-on job training to people with disabilities and special needs.

The Job Exploration Training or JET program is an internship at Whitfield Regional Hospital for people with special needs.

It provides them with valuable work experience — through four weeks of paid on the job training.

“In hopes that eventually students’ll get that experience and hopefully have job placement down the road,” said Ashley Coplin with the Whitfield Foundation.

Program participants work Monday thru Friday — from 8:30 in the morning to two in the afternoon.

They build job skills helping hospital staff with central supply — dietary — and auxiliary services.

“I think it’s like, it’s good for them cause I feel like a lot of them came in like shy and unsure. But like now, they all like, feel more confident,” said JET Job Coach Mae Nettles.

“It’s a very rewarding thing to watch.”

It’s the first year the JET program has been offered at the hospital. It has five participants — and officials say it’s gone so well — they hope to expand the program next year.

“I would love to see it happen in two segments next summer, meaning one round in June and one in July,” said Coplin.

The Whitfield Foundation sponsored the JET program in partnership with United Cerebral Palsy of West Alabama.