Resource fair in Door County helps kids with disabilities transition to adulthood
STURGEON BAY, Wis. (WFRV) – It’s the Door County resource fair where organizers are seeing the ability in disability.
For Tiffany Leist, it’s a chance to show off an organization that has meant so much to her over the years.
“It has made my life so much easier,” Leist said.
Leist is a member of Turning Point Door County, an organization that provides programming for people with disabilities. She is an adult living with cerebral palsy.
The purpose of the event is to help people with disabilities who are graduating high school transition into adult life. Leist graduated high school a while ago but said the resources and organizations provided at the fair have helped her out so much.
“And I think it really helps other people to come out and see this and see what works for you,” Leist added.
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Organizers said there were 24 vendors at the event. The organizations provide resources related to everything from job placement to further education opportunities to finance management. They also held workshops for parents on things like health insurance options.
“That you’re not alone and so many parents have come to us and gotten the help that they need,” said Mary Ann Salmon who is a disability benefit specialist for Aging & Disability Resource Center of Door County.
Brittany Buth is one of the many parents of high school students with disabilities who stopped by the resource fair on Thursday afternoon.
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“We’ve always been a little bit worried about where she’s going to take life later on because she has some slight intellectual disabilities,” said Buth. “It’s really great that we have all these community resources that can help you transition into adulthood now.”
Organizers said they hope all the resources they provide at the fair can take some stress off all these families, making their lives a bit easier just like it did for Tiffany.
The event was at the Cherry Point Mall in Sturgeon Bay and they had 24 vendors participate.
