The transition from high schooler to adult can be tough. Doing it while also managing a disability is even tougher, especially if the student doesn’t have the resources needed to transition from high school to adult life.

That’s where Erica Allen Supported Employment and the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services step in. EASE and ADRS offer a variety of services to help students with disabilities learn how to budget, interview for a job, network with professionals and more.

On Friday, they teamed with Athens State University to host a Transition Mentoring Day for students from nine area high schools. The event, which took place from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the Athens State campus, allowed students with disabilities to rotate through 50-minute classroom or career fair sessions.

“We’ve had all these kids in class, but this is a way for them to come out and utilize their skills, practice the things we’ve worked on, talk with employers and work on their handshake, eye contact and social skills or confidence,” said Jocelyn Allen, who works with EASE.

Allen said the organization “works with the whole spectrum” of disabilities in its program, from anxiety or depression to multiple sclerosis or Down’s syndrome. Friday’s event included two classes, an overview of life as an Athens State student, a financial simulation called Reality Check and a career fair for students.

Reality Check allowed students to simulate life at age 25. Volunteers from the Athens High School Student Government Association helped other students budget for car payments, clothing, savings, groceries, a home, entertainment and other expenses.

“This allows students to experience what it is like to pay bills for one month and budget salaries,” according to a press release about the event. “The sessions includes lessons on net pay, gross pay and taxes.”

Another classroom focused on disability awareness, educating students on the struggles faced by others with disabilities. Canes and blindfolds were used to simulate low-vision and blindness, while flippers and gloves were used to simulate multiple sclerosis. Deaf services counselors discussed life in the Deaf community and various methods of communication.

A third showed students how to ace an interview. Examples of good and bad interviews were given, and students practiced handshakes and eye contact with one another.

“The eventual goal of something like this is to get these kids in competitive employment, to get them working,” Allen said.

To further that goal, a career fair featuring local employers and postsecondary schools was set up in Athens State’s physical education building. Students got to practice their new networking skills as they met with representatives from BBVA Compass, Walmart, Whole Foods, Paul Mitchell, Athens-Limestone County 911, Alabama A&M University and others.

About 200 juniors and seniors attended the event.