Cinco de Mayo’s helping hand

Edison High School’s Special Abilities Cluster will host a Cinco de Mayo soiree on campus Friday to raise money to buy much-needed buses for the program’s students.

Every year, the program educates more than 160 developmentally disabled students who live within the Huntington Beach Union High School District.

The focus is on community-based education, with teachers taking the students around town ? learning to use public transportation, shopping at the grocery store, going to the post office, etc. ? to prepare them for life outside Edison. The program’s dozen vans are almost 20 years old.

“This is community-based instruction,” said teacher Susan Cataldo. “We learn to use money in a functional manner, go out to the store and compare prices, have them wait in line. There is a whole series of steps to make a simple purchase that we help them learn.”

Each van can cost up to $10,000 at auction, and the program hopes to raise at least $40,000 to purchase at least four.

“We really do need more vans,” said teacher Tamiko Yamaga. “Our students could not take out the van today because it was being used.”

“We want to improve the quality of their lives through having them become independent and make their own choices,” Cataldo said.

Because of the students’ involvement in the outside community, the vans are of utmost importance. A walk into any given classroom is evidence of this, as many are empty because the students have gone out to mingle with residents. Students participate in over 1,600 trips every year to receive job or consumer skills training.

“A huge component of our program is getting students off campus and out of the classroom,” said department co-chair Ann Clark.

The older students go out into the community and get jobs. They are paid through a program called Project Workability.

Almost every student will have a paid job or will be connected with an adult program when they graduate.

“Hoag [Memorial Hospital Presbyterian] just hired three of our students, and they’re now on the Hoag payroll,” Clark said. “Hoag has always hired about two or three students, and four of our former students already work there.”

Huntington Beach-based company BrewBakers often hires students.

Not every student will be able to hold a paying job, Clark said. The program serves students at every level ? from those who are the same level cognitively as a 2-year-old to those who are at junior high level, Clark said.

“The kids are happy ? they come in and they want to be here, they like being here,” Cataldo said. “It may sound hokey, but it’s true, I think I make a difference with these kids and it makes me feel good.”hbi.04-edison-sac-CPhotoInfoG41QJ4GU20060504iypchencKENT TREPTOW / INDEPENDENT(LA)Students and teachers in the Special Abilities Cluster make preparations Wednesday for a fundraiser at Edison High School. From left are student Ivan, 19, teacher Rashelle Koon, student Houng, 20, instructional aide Alyson Vreeland and student Roberto, 19. The event on Friday is trying to raise funds to buy new vans to transport the students throughout the community.