EASTON — Superintendent Lisha Cabral and Principal Kelly Cavanaugh are pleased to share that two Oliver Ames High School Transition Program students have obtained internship positions with the Bristol Probate and Family Court through the Autism Higher Education Foundations (AHEF) Paralegal Assistant Training (PLAT) Program.
Bristol Probate and Family Court is one of 25 courts that has partnered with the AHEF PLAT program to serve more than 100 students, including Oliver Ames High School Transition Program students MikeOrsingerand Lukas Soares.
Orsinger interned from November 2022 through March. Soares began his work as an intern in April and is currently interning. Since then, Orsinger and Soares have been given the opportunity to learn a variety of skills, including in communication, confidentiality, office supply vocabulary and paralegal assisting. Students begin the program learning the basic skills, which increase in degrees of complexity as they demonstrate success and independence.
“I am learning how to work in an office,” Soares said. “So far, I have learned how to shred and file, and I look forward to interning for the rest of the school year.”
As Soares continues interning, he will assist with data entry and other office responsibilities as needed by the court.
Orsingersaid, “I think my favorite part of the PLAT Program was getting some office work experience, as well as getting to know how things work at a courthouse. I also liked how friendly the workers were, and how kindly they treated each other.”
The PLAT Program was launched by the Autism Higher Education Foundation in collaboration with the Massachusetts Probate and Family Courts in 2016. Since then, the PLAT program has partnered with numerous school districts across Massachusetts to provide young adults with autism and other neurodivergent students with paralegal assistant vocational training and exposure to professional environments, preparing them for the workforce post-educational services.
“I am thrilled that Easton Public Schools partnered with the Autism Higher Education Foundation to participate in the Paralegal Assistant Training program this school year,” said Special Education teacher Colleen Rose. “The PLAT Program has been such a valuable experience for Mike and Lukas.”
Orsinger and Soares will be attending the EXCEL (Extraordinary Expectations Career – Education – Life) Partnership program at Bridgewater State University next year.
“I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity for our students,” said Principal Cavanaugh. “Their hard work and dedication to their internship positions has been truly inspiring.”
To learn more about the AHEF PLAT program, click here.
