Poor economy hurting special ed students

An interesting Associated Press article about how rising joblessness and a sour economy are affecting job opportunities for special education students during high school to gain skills and training. Students in occupational diploma programs typically have a cognitive or physical impairment. An excerpt:

The occupational diploma programs emerged in recent years across some Southern states -- Alabama and Mississippi included -- to help young people with disabilities enter the work force through paid jobs while they complete high school. Hundreds have used the programs to acquire the skills employers demand, often landing permanent jobs after graduating. Yet this isn't a normal economy, and the work force is shrinking daily.

Tommy McWhorter, who owns a Piggly Wiggly supermarket in east Alabama's Chambers County, has employed three occupational diploma candidates on average each of the past eight years. He didn't take any students this year as his staff shriveled from 22 to 15 workers. When minimum wage went up, and gas went up, and plastic went up ... everything hit us at one time," he said. "We had to take cuts, and in retail the first cut is naturally payroll."