American School for the Deaf Students Form Partnership with Elizabeth Park Conservancy

Students in the Employability Class at the American School for the Deaf (ASD) formed a work partnership with the Elizabeth Park Conservancy. They began their partnership in September and worked through November 2013. The students, with teacher Joan Hanna, arrived in the afternoons, Monday-Thursday, and assisted with various gardening jobs alongside Andrea Masisak, Manager of Grounds and Volunteers and Doug Clifford, Conservancy Gardener, Bob Prill, Conservancy Horticulturist and various Hartford city workers, including Jose a deaf city worker.

Students removed and planted bulbs, fertilized and turned over garden beds, and weeded the rose gardens. Students learned about different types of gardening tools. The Employability Class is in its first year of operation and Elizabeth Park Conservancy was their first partnership. The students and staff at the American School for the Deaf were very appreciative of this opportunity and look forward to further collaborations.

If you are interested in learning more about the work programs at ASD, please contact Keri Weston Thomas, Student Transition Services Coordinator by email, keri.westonthomas@asd-1817.org or 860.570.1860.