Dupage Policy Journal

Bolingbrook village leaders are doing their part to promote understanding, acceptance, and appreciation for all learning and ability difference with an official proclamation that declared March 14-28 Ability Awareness Week. 

Mayor Mary Alexander Basta read the proclamation during the March 14 Board of Trustees meeting. Basta talked about the Secondary Experience Transitionary Program (STEP) at Valley View Schools, which serves Bolingbrook's residents. 

"We are lucky enough to have alumni and then current students representing our program here," Jill Kocur, a STEP instructor, said while accepting the proclamation. "I just wanted to also highlight how lucky we are to be a part of the Bolingbrook community, because we do have a lot of businesses who are already showing that they are super inclusive of our students and of people of different abilities."

According to the program's website, STEP is an extension of special education that serves adults from the ages of 18-22. It's meant to encourage independent living skills and job experience for students, teaching them vital life skills to be able to be more independent, bringing them to different available jobs around the community, and helping them transition out of the school phase of life and into adulthood.

During the meeting, Basta celebrated those with disabilities in the community, recognizing that all individuals are different and those with disabilities have a right to be a part of the community just like everyone else. She said Bolingbrook is an inclusive community that was glad to have a program helping everyone be able to reach their full potential and be a vital part of their home. 

Several students and instructors from the STEP program attended the meeting to help accept the proclamation, bringing a banner with signatures of all the STEP students. Kocur thanked the mayor and board for the recognition and all the businesses in the community who had so readily accepted the students and welcomed them in to show students possible jobs and hiring several alumni of the STEP program. 

Several fast-food restaurants, grocery stores and small businesses were proud employers of alumni. The students also introduced themselves to the board, some speaking about how they felt included in the community and others about the jobs that they now held at various businesses.