What opportunities await you at the fair?

KC DiversAbility College and Career Fair: Success Story

Gerald Mitchell loves pizza. Especially pepperoni pizza. 

Last year when Gerald came to the KC DiversAbility College and Career Fair with his family, he connected with Easterseals Midwest who told him one of their summer job programs included a placement at Pizza Ranch. It was a match made in heaven,

For 6 weeks last summer, Gerald worked at Pizza Ranch. He had a work coach to support him and make sure he understood the expectations and his role. Not only did he learn valuable work skills, he also got his first bank card, and learned about how to use an atm and budget his money. 

This year, Gerald is a senior at Ewing Marion Kauffman School. His family is coming to the fair this year with new urgency as his parents try to visualize what his post-high school life will look like. 

His mother Michelle says last year at the fair she was a little overwhelmed “in a good way.” She wishes she had known about a lot of the resources much earlier. 

”If I had known all of this was available when he was younger, my journey would have been easier,” she said. “A lot of the resources at the fair were available before age 18, some of the camps and services and programming, it wasn't just 18 and up. So families need to know these options are out there. If you know about these resources, you can figure out what works for you.” 

This year she says she will be laser-focused on exploring the post-high school options and career opportunities for her son. 

Are you registered yet to attend the fair?

Registration is required for all attendees: