SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - A Transitions Service Fair held March 24 at Sir John Franklin High School aimed to provide students with special needs with information on services available to help them move on to the next stage of their lives.

Donna Williston, left, and her daughter Megan Williston attend the Transitions Service Fair last Wednesday at Sir John Franklin High School. - Adrian Lysenko/NNSL photo

"We want to make sure people know what's out there," said Mimi Kennedy, director of the Yellowknife Association for Community Living. "We often find as kids transition, every family has to do all the legwork and research and making connections individually. This brings the opportunities to them."

Twenty different organizations set up tables and kiosks to present information on what services they offer people with special needs and their families.

Megan Williston, a Grade 12 student at Sir John Franklin High School, came for fun and to find a job. She wants to work at the Summer Cafe because a lot of her friends will be working there in the summer.

"It's good support for summer employment," said Donna Williston, Megan's mother.

Michelle Gillis of the NWT Council of Persons with Disabilities said the council can assist students with finding rental apartments and jobs.

"We're here to point them in the right direction," said Michelle Gillis of the NWT Council of Persons with Disabilities. "We want to help make the transition into adulthood so they can become more independent."

Al Reid of EmployAbility said his organization not only helps people disabilities find work but also provides job coaching. Some of the employers it works with include Wal-Mart, First Air and Stanton Territorial Hospital.

Yellowknife Association for Community Living's Skills Training and Community Inclusion service helps people with higher needs or for those whose transition period between school and work is longer.

"We act as a bridge between graduating high school and the other side," said Fleurette Spreen, co-ordinator of skills training and community inclusion. "Some people go to college and some need a stepping stone."

The organization works with employers such as TruValue hardware, Subway, and the Summer Cafe at the Abe Miller building -- a summer restaurant that helps students build their work skills.