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Youth Spotlight
Each month, the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services (OKDRS) celebrates an awesome student making big moves! This month, Kevin Randall caught up with Reis, a super energetic and enthusiastic School Work Study participant. They chatted about fun hobbies, future career goals, and more. Here’s their conversation!
Meet Reis
What are your interests and hobbies?
I enjoy competing in the Special Olympics, where I participate in swimming, basketball, and bowling.
What activity do you enjoy the most during the winter?
I enjoy playing basketball and swimming during the winter. I also participate in the Make Promise Happen (MPH) program, which is part of the Central Oklahoma Camp & Conference Center. They provide quality camping experiences for people with intellectual and physical disabilities, as well as for community organizations, church groups, and a variety of other nonprofit organizations.
What is your preferred Fall drink?
My favorite drinks are soda pop, especially root beer, and root beer floats. Also at the Down Syndrome Association of Central Oklahoma (DSACO), we meet at local restaurants to enjoy meals with other self-advocates as food critics.
If I were to provide you with $50,000 to create a positive impact in your community, how would you use it to bring about meaningful change?
I would provide funding for youth to attend summer camp. I would also arrange transportation with a bus for people with disabilities to attend a training program that teaches work and life skills.
Could you share your experience with the School Work Study Program?
I enjoy shredding paper, cleaning items, and making drinks like tea and lemonade. I like delivering these drinks to the teaching staff at my school. The staff place orders through our School Work Study store, and we fill their orders and deliver the drinks to them daily. I also work in the cafeteria, where I help clean and stack tables.
What is something you learned from the School Work Study Program?
I have learned many things, such as cleaning, barista work (making teas and lemonade), vacuuming, navigation skills by traveling around the school to make deliveries to staff, and self-confidence through my work.
What advice would you give to other young individuals who are interested in applying for the School Work Study Program?
I encourage my friends and other students to sign up for the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) while in high school so they can add the School Work Study program to their DRS service plan (IPE).
What is your dream career?
I would like to work at my local Not Your Average Joe’s so I can become a barista.
Can you share one challenge you’ve faced due to your disability and how you managed to overcome it?
Learning new skills is challenging, but I have overcome those challenges through repetition and perseverance.
What advice do you have for young people who want to make a positive impact in their communities or the world at large?
To learn new things, gain more skills, improve in their current work tasks, and stay committed.
What is the most significant goal or dream you wish to achieve in your lifetime?
I want to continue working after high school and be an active member of my community.
What would you like the world to know about you?
I enjoy watching YouTube videos. I’m funny and love doing funny things.
Is there anyone specific you’d like to give a shoutout to?
I want to give a shout-out to my mom and dad. I also want to give a shoutout to my teacher, Mrs. Speegle.