LOWNDES CO – Lowndes High School hosted the Community Resource Fair for families with special needs children to receive support services.

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Lowndes High School successfully hosted its inaugural Community Resource Fair, designed to connect families of children with special needs to valuable resources and support services. Organized by LHS Life Skills Teacher Olivia Fletcher, the expo-style event featured over 30 local and state organizations and businesses dedicated to enhancing the lives of individuals with disabilities.

“Our goal was to bridge the gap between our students’ families and our community,” says Fletcher. 

With experience teaching life skills at the elementary, middle, and now high school levels, Fletcher finds each setting unique. However, she particularly enjoys working with high school students because of the focus on vocational skills and life after graduation. The students engage in various jobs throughout the week, providing them with practical experience while fulfilling needs within the school community. They are especially known for their cooking and services at the Crimson Cafe, where teachers can purchase special lunches without leaving campus.

Fletcher and her students grocery shop and prepare meals such as chicken salad, subs, and pimento cheese, with some students serving while others manage the business aspects, including taking payments and fulfilling deliveries. “I love being able to see what they can do and how well they will fit into society,” says Fletcher. The class often motivates themselves with the chant, “We can do hard things!”

Despite their vocational capabilities, transitioning into the community after graduation can present challenges. This need inspired Fletcher to create a one-stop-shop resource fair. Initially intended for LHS students, Fletcher, along with colleagues Olivia Wilder and Kim Stewart, soon recognized that the need for resources extended beyond their school.

“When we started calling businesses in the summer, we quickly realized that there were many more resources than we even realized, and wanted this to benefit anyone in our community who needed it,” Fletcher said. 

The fair featured various representatives from health, wellness, adaptive equipment, and therapeutic industries, providing essential information and valuable connections to parents and caregivers of individuals with disabilities. It addressed many concerns families face as their children transition to adulthood. 

The event not only benefited families but also allowed organizations and families facing the same challenges to network and share insights. Fletcher, Stewart, and Wilder were quick to ask the families of their students for feedback.

With the success of this year’s event, the team is already looking ahead to next year. 

“It felt good to be able to give the families information that they may not know is out there,” Fletcher shared. “When you are a special education teacher, you have to have a bond with your families.” Even after students graduate, Fletcher maintains contact with parents, creating a true family atmosphere within the community.

As the Community Resource Fair came to a close, it was evident that this event has laid the groundwork for future collaboration and support for families of children with special needs in the Lowndes County community. Fletcher looks forward to making the fair an annual tradition, further solidifying the strong bonds between families and the resources available to them.