[ Background Discussion ] >> Hi, everyone, me again.

We're going to go ahead and get started.

Thank you so much for being here with us today and giving us your Saturday afternoon.

I'm DeAnne Hamilton and I'm the General Manager of KBTC Public Television, and we are a service of Bates Technical College.

And I can't tell you how thrilled we all are -- all of us from KBTC -- to be here with you this afternoon.

This is one of the activities and events that we look forward to all year long and we're so happy that we get to continue this with you, and we want to really thank the Federal Way of Public Schools and the ETP program for working with us over these last many years in creating Ability Awareness.

KBTC believes in the power of public media.

It gives communities a voice, and PBS was founded to educate, inspire and connect us all, and today is a shining example of that.

And that's the reason why I'm so happy to say that KBTC is still here.

We may have been defunded, but we are still here, so thank you.

[ Applause ] And I've got to tell you, we plan to stick around, okay?

So we're going to keep working to make this transition.

[ Applause ] We have been so supported by the community, and we are looking forward to finding other ways that we can be worthy of that support.

And this is one of those programs that I think helps us, so that we can share these voices and these videos out with all of our community and, hopefully, across the country, because we think that this is one of those special, special programs that other communities could benefit from as well.

So thank you so much for -- again, your support, for working with us, for being here with us, and we'll keep fighting.

Just spread the word, okay?

We need to become a fully funded community station and organization, and it takes the community.

So just pass along the word, pass along these videos, and we'll tell you how you can do that before you leave today.

And I do want to thank, again, the Federal Way Public Schools, Best Starts for Kids King County, the KBTC Association, and the community partners who welcomed our scholars into their businesses for working, and we were able to actually get out there and shoot some video.

So we're really thrilled about that.

This is our fourth year.

Jane had to tell me it was the fourth year.

I thought it was the third year, but four years that we've been doing this, since 2021.

Pat yourselves on the back.

You guys have been here with us.

[ Applause ] This is a program that, you know, we've had, and it amplifies youth voices and that's how it got started.

We wanted to be able to bring youth voices to public media.

And so, we were given kind of a beginning grant and then it has grown to this, but it was to give an opportunity to hear voices that weren't always shared.

And for public media, for us, that meant kind of between in the teens and a little bit older, because we focus so much of our work on early childhood education.

So this was something very new for us four years ago, and look at us.

Here we are.

We are still here, and we are strong, and we have been awarded new funding so that we can keep this program going.

So you can't get rid of us yet, and we're going to include more scholars.

We're going to include scholars from the Deaf and Hard of Hearing program.

And so, we look forward to welcoming -- [ Applause ] We look forward to welcoming DHH scholars into Ability Awareness.

And now, it is my pleasure to introduce Jane Al-Tamini, and she has been one of our biggest advocates.

And I think she was one of the creators of this program, so it's nice to be able to welcome her.

Come on up, Jane.

[ Applause ] >> Thank you.

All right.

Thank you so much.

Like she was saying, it's four years.

DeAnne was pointing that out, four years that we've been doing this.

We started this off as a one-year grant, and I don't think at the time we had any idea that we would be able to continue this this far and that it would develop into this amazing project that it has.

It's been super exciting.

We love that the scholars have been able to really share their voice with the community through this project.

One exciting thing that's happening is we're going to actually be sharing our scholar voices even broader because we are going to be presenting the videos and kind of the process that we went through to create this at the Council for Exceptional Children.

Now, I've got to get the title right, Division of Career Development and Transition International Conference, in a couple weeks in Denver.

So we're super excited to be able to do that, where we're going to be presenting these videos and talking about the partnership that created them on a larger scale.

So we're super excited about that.

Cannot do this without the support of all the people at KBTC and within the district.

I want to acknowledge that we have Marla Newton, our Deputy Superintendent here.

[ Applause ] So Dr.

Pfeiffer, our Superintendent, really wanted to be here but she is at the Federal Way, takes the Federal Way event today, and she said that she would have rather been here but she had to go there.

So we really want to thank her.

I also want to really acknowledge -- she's not here today because she's had a family emergency -- but Kim Heuser, who is our SLP, who has been instrumental, absolutely instrumental, in this process.

[ Applause ] It's been her work with the scholars that has really led to the outcomes that we've had, along with Peter, our producer, who has just done some great things, and Jeff, our photographer, who's done absolutely wonderful things.

And then, Steve, the illustrator, who has given us these.

I think that's just kind of stepped up our videos to have those fun little quirky video illustrations in there, but thank you everyone.

I hope you enjoy the videos, and I'm just looking forward to the next group of videos the next few years.

Thank you.

[ Applause ] >> Thank you, Janie, and yes, I want to share the names of some of the partners, the community partners, that we have.

They'll appear on the screen here in a few minutes, but Jimmy Mac's, Cafe D'Arte Coffee Roaster, Vince's Italian Restaurant, Church of the Nazarene, and I'm going to say Kilo Middle School.

Kilo?

I knew I was going to say the wrong one.

Okay, Kilo Middle School Clothing Bank, and these are the places where we were able to get into and get video where our scholars are working.

So you know how important these jobs are and the experiences that the scholars get for having that, so we really thank the community partners.

And we are happy that we were able to capture that because that helps this project move forward and become that much more rich in the story that we're telling.

And now, I'm going to stop talking because you all came here to see some video, and we're going to show those videos.

Please hold your applause until we've seen all three, okay, because they're going to run one after the other.

Thank you.

>> The reasons I like to be part of my community.

>> I just love to make friends.

I love to see my friends.

Like, I go to the community center, and I like to see my friends through the inclusion program.

>> I like to learn new things every day, and I don't want to work and stay home all by myself.

>> It's not good to spend all of our time alone.

>> It's nice to work with other people because it's nice to talk to them.

>> You can ask them how their weekend is.

You can ask them, like, hey what are you going to have for lunch today, or what are you going to do after work?

Yeah, I learn, like, new things about them, like what they like to do, what their hobbies are.

[ Music ] >> I like, you know, working with my friends because it makes it interesting.

I can learn more about the person.

>> Other people good.

Awesome.

[ Music ] >> Being around friends makes us happy.

Like, you don't want to spend too much time by yourself.

>> It's nice to work with other people in the group.

>> I feel happy.

>> Over there.

Great job.

Hang it on the rack.

>> Usually, it's my family members that encourages me to keep going, like my dad and my sisters.

They tell me to just keep going; you've got this.

>> It makes me feel safe to be part of a community.

>> Being part of a community makes me feel accepted.

[ Music ] [ Background Discussion ] [ Music ] >> The reasons I like working.

>> I like to work.

Sort clothes, 12 -- 12M.

>>12M, yep.

>> I work at Jimmie Mac's.

I like to wipe the menus.

>> I like to wipe the tables.

[ Music ] >> Clean menus.

Clean chairs.

Clean tables.

[ Music ] >> I'm excited to make my own money.

>> When I get my paycheck, I put it in the bank.

>> The reason we get jobs is so that we can pay taxes, bills, and buy food for families that you have in the house with you.

>> I would like to spend my paycheck on helping people who are really sick.

There's a way of trying to help those people who really need it.

>> If I had some money for my paycheck I would buy a house for my parents.

>> I would buy a phone or some clothes with my own money.

[ Music ] >> I should spend my paycheck carefully.

>> I should spend my money on more important things first, like paying bills for the house.

>> I like to buy clothes with my paycheck.

I can do it myself.

[ Music ] >> Working makes me feel good.

[ Music ] >> Having a job is important, so we have something to do with our day.

[ Music ] >> If I do a good job at my work, I feel proud.

>> It makes me feel really happy if I do a really good job at work.

>> The ways I take of myself, I work.

[ Music ] >> In order to take care of myself, I'll get up every morning to take a shower.

>> Wash my hair, brush my teeth.

>> I brush my teeth every day.

>> Brush your teeth, yeah.

>> And I put on deodorant.

Yeah, and I also take a shower too.

Those things help me look professional.

[ Music ] >> Also, I have to eat breakfast before I go to work every day.

>> When I go to work, I should be prepared to do a good job.

[ Music ] >> I take care of myself by eating healthy, by drinking water, by getting sleep.

>> I need to go to bed on time.

>> I should get at least eight hours of sleep.

>> Sometimes I need help.

>> I need help.

>> If I need help at work, I can ask somebody.

>> If I need help, I can ask my job coach.

>> I ask my sister, Kayley.

>> What does one say?

[ Music ] >> Get what you need to do.

>> Sometimes I need to take a break.

>> If I'm having a hard time at work, I can ask my boss if I can have a couple of minutes.

>> It's okay to take a break.

>> You can tell your boss or your employees that you need a break.

That's what I do.

I ask for a break.

>> Here we go.

[ Inaudible Speech ] >> If I don't take care of myself, I could be tired and cranky at work.

>> If I don't take care of myself, I won't do the best at my work.

[ Music ] >> Some days are hard.

Don't quit if they're hard.

Keep going.

You've got this.

I believe in you.

[ Music ] [ Applause ] >> It is special, huh?

Let's have another round of applause.

[ Applause ] I really want to thank the scholars for sharing their voices and their thoughts with us to make this possible.

I'd also like to acknowledge our creative team because we've got a real creative team, Peter, Steve, Jeff, and Jamie, please -- [ Applause ] This really came out of some brainstorming that happened with Isabella and with Jane, so thank you two for your creativity.

There are some surveys on your tables that we'd like for you to fill out before you leave, and you can leave them on the table and we will pick them up.

We do thank you for your ideas because it helps us grow the program and the project.

So any thoughts that you may have that you want to share after having seen the videos, we would really appreciate your feedback, so thank you for that.

I'd like to ask Jane to come back up because we would like to recognize our scholars.

[ Background Discussion ] >> All right.

We had several scholars that participated in our videos this year.

Quite a few of you are here.

So if you hear your name, I'm just going to have you wave so everybody can see who you are, okay?

The people at KVTC have some really special things for you.

So they've got some really nice things, kind of presents for you.

Okay, so, Andrew S., give us a big wave, Andrew.

There he is.

[ Applause ] Andrew G. I don't think I saw him.

I don't think he's here.

Okay.

Braden, is Braden here?

I don't think I saw him.

Okay, Denzel.

No?

Okay, Dustin.

We had a lot of scholars participate, so they're not all here.

Edgar.

I didn't see him either.

Grace.

Harry's here.

I know I saw him.

[ Applause ] Janelle.

There she is.

[ Applause ] Jasmine, I don't think she's here.

Javier isn't here.

Louis?

How about Mark?

I don't think Mark is here either.

I didn't see him.

Maria.

There she is.

[ Applause ] Okay.

Matthew, I didn't see him either.

Okay.

Joe.

I don't think he's here.

Rico, I didn't see either.

Sam's here.

[ Applause ] All right.

Is Terrence here?

I don't think I saw Terrence, and Vivian?

No?

Okay, and then, we have some scholars here that were not part of the program in the past but will have the opportunity to be part of the program this coming year if they are interested.

So families, be on the lookout a little bit later this school year for information on how your scholars can participate in this program.

All right.

Thank you.

[ Applause ] Thank you.

Congratulations, scholars, and thank you so much for all of your hard work.

We are winding down, but thank you for your feedback that you're going to give us in your surveys, if you haven't already.

We are going to invite the scholars down to do our group picture.

We do this every year, so we're going to have you come down for the picture.

I want to remind you again, don't forget to watch these videos online.

There's a QR code that's up on the wall as you go out that you can take a picture of with your phone, however you guys do that kind of stuff.

You know, it's a QR code.

But anyway, it will lead you to our link so that you can link to all the videos, and you can share those videos out.

As I said earlier, please share about the work that you're doing and about KBTC Public Television.

As we finish, you know, again, give us your thoughts on your surveys.

I want to thank the very terrific team of KBTC.

Please all raise your hands.

[ Applause ] I really appreciate the work that you do to make people feel welcome, and we're going to see you all next year, so come on down, scholars.

[ Applause ] [ Background Discussion ] [ Applause ]