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Education department gives presentation
at Florida Federation Council for Exceptional Children

LAKELAND, Fla. (Oct. 28, 2002) - Professors and students from Florida Southern College's education department and teachers and students from the Polk County Schools' Transitional Class at FSC gave a presentation at the Florida Federation Council for Exceptional Children. The annual conference was held Oct. 18 in St. Petersburg. 

The presentation highlighted an innovative collaboration between Florida Southern College and the Polk County Schools in which students with developmental disabilities receive job training, academic support, and social skills training on the college campus with age-appropriate peers. Now entering its second year, the transition class is one of only a handful of similar programs across the country.

Originators of the concept were represented by Jack Kosik and Margaret McNutt from Noah's Ark of Central Florida. Polk County presenters included instructors Charlene Schultz and Carol Bierschenk and transitional students, Katie Miller, Arthur Perkins, and Ben Taves. FSC special education professors, Drs. Kathleen Milburn and David Wood, and special education majors, senior Jennifer Stuart and junior Kathleen Dubois, spoke from the education department's perspective.

Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) is the largest organization of parents, students, and professionals dedicated to increasing educational opportunities of students with disabilities. FSC has an active student chapter affiliated with national CEC. Noah's Ark of Central Florida is an organization working to enhance employment opportunities and quality of life for individuals with disabilities.


About Florida Southern College
Florida Southern is a four-year, private, co-educational liberal arts college affiliated with the United Methodist Church. The college offers more than 40 undergraduate majors and a master of business administration degree accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Located in Lakeland, Fla., the college is home to the largest, single-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture in the world. 

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