SPED Success: Connecting Families and Futures

PARK CITY, Utah (AP) — The Park City School District hosted its annual Special Education Transition Fair on April 3. 2025, at Treasure Mountain Junior High. The open house was designed for individuals with disabilities and their family members, offering a welcoming space where families enjoyed pizza, community building, and valuable connections.

Agency representatives shared information, answered questions, and provided resources to support post-graduation transitions, focusing on independent living, employment, and continued education.

Organized by Laura Glass, Special Education Coordinator for Park City School District, the fair brought together numerous local and regional agencies from the Park City area. The participating organizations offered insights into job training, independent living skills, and therapeutic support.

“All the agencies are super excited to work with us, and they're excited to have that bridge into our school district, and they're very supportive of our community. So I'm very thankful,” said Glass.

The event was supported by 18 agencies from the local and regional community. Notable participants included Utah Special Olympics, ScenicView Academy, Utah Independent Living Center, Vocational Rehab, Peace House, Adaptive Coalition of Park City, and other local organizations. One of the absolute highlights of the event was the adorable therapy dogs from Intermountain Therapy Animals! They brought so much joy, offering comfort with wagging tails and creating a warm, welcoming environment.

"The turnout this year has been amazing, and it means the world to me that so many people can come together and support our kiddos," said Glass. "We had several Spanish interpreters here to help, and I loved seeing how many English and Spanish-speaking families were able to attend."

According to Glass, the gathering served as an essential community-building experience, bringing together families of students ranging from elementary age to post-high school.

'It's more than just a resource fair, it's a chance for families to build connections and find support,' Glass said. 'Seeing students of all ages here, from elementary to post-high school, and watching families come together has been really inspiring.'

This event, along with many other SPED programs, is supported by the Park City Education Foundation as they fund educator ideas to inspire all students to reach their academic and lifelong potential.