How to Empower Youth For Employment & Adult Life

This presentation identifies ways to empower young adults with skills necessary to be successful in employment and transition plan for their next steps. It gives practical strategies to help young adults learn about their interests and preferences, as well as how to prepare them for employment. It highlights the work at the Program for Employment Preparedness (PEP), a public post-secondary program in Arlington County, Virginia serving disabled students, and Alex, a student participant, presents his perspective.

Christina Eagle is the Program for Employment Preparedness (PEP) Coordinator in Arlington Public Schools. She began her career as the first student to ever graduate from Marymount University with an undergraduate degree in special education. In 2008 she earned her Masters degree in Special Education with an Emphasis in Adapted Curriculum, and in 2018 she earned a second Masters in Special Education Transition Education from George Washington University. She has been teaching for the past 16 years. Christina has taught preschool, elementary, high school, and post-secondary levels. She is particularly passionate about transition education, advocating for work-based learning, and empowering students with self-determination skills. Having students discover and use their talents to better the world is her most important goal and greatest accomplishment.