Ottawa Area ISD Celebrates 10 Years of Empowering Students with Special Needs

The Ability Centered Employment (ACE) program provides paid, part-time jobs to help students gain real-world skills and independence.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 9:07pm

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A brightly colored, high-contrast silkscreen print of a single, iconic work item like a hard hat or toolbox, repeated in a tight grid pattern to create a modern pop art representation of the ACE program's focus on job skills and independence for students with special needs.A vibrant, pop art-inspired celebration of the ACE program's decade-long success in empowering students with special needs through real-world job training and employment opportunities.Holland Today

The Ottawa Area Intermediate School District (OAISD) is celebrating the 10-year anniversary of its Ability Centered Employment (ACE) program, which partners with local businesses to provide students with special needs paid, part-time jobs to help them develop critical life and employment skills. The ACE program has grown from 8 students at one location to nearly 50 students employed at various businesses around the area, with over 330 participants since its inception in 2016.

Why it matters

The ACE program is instrumental in helping students with special needs become more independent and self-sufficient as they transition into adulthood. By gaining real-world work experience and developing key skills like time management, communication, and problem-solving, these students are better equipped to find fulfilling employment and live independently after graduating from the program.

The details

The ACE program is available to students enrolled in OAISD's Young Adult Services (YAS) program for students aged 18 to 26 with special needs. The paid, part-time positions allow students to gain valuable experience in areas like assembly, quality control, teamwork, and workplace expectations. ACE partners include Muskegon Area ISD, Community Mental Health Ottawa County, HealthWest, Michigan Rehabilitation Services, Preferred Employment & Living Supports, and Tiara Yachts. Students typically work at one location for a year before potentially transitioning to similar opportunities to explore different work environments and career interests, with some students even being hired directly by the facilities.

  • The ACE program was launched in 2016 with 8 students at what is now MillerKnoll.
  • Over the past 10 years, the program has expanded to serve nearly 50 students each school year.
  • Since its inception, approximately 330 people have participated in the ACE program.

The players

Shelby Bytwerk

Senior Director of Operations at MillerKnoll, one of the long-standing partners of the ACE program.

John Koerner

Director of Young Adult Services (YAS) for the Ottawa Area Intermediate School District (OAISD).

Mary Palumbo

Job Developer for the Ottawa Area Intermediate School District (OAISD).

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What they’re saying

“For ten years, our partnership with the ACE program has been one of the things I'm proud of at MillerKnoll's Michigan facilities. This isn't just a program we support from a distance — ACE participants show up every day as genuine contributors to our team, bringing energy, dedication, and a quality of presence that makes our workplace better. They build real skills, find their footing as team members, and grow their independence in an environment that's rooting for them. And honestly? Our team members grow right alongside them. That's what a true partnership looks like, and after a decade, we wouldn't have it any other way.”

— Shelby Bytwerk, Senior Director of Operations at MillerKnoll

“We currently have nearly 50 students employed at businesses around the area, and approximately 330 people have participated in the ACE program since it started a decade ago. These partnerships are so important to our work and most importantly to our students to help them reach their independence and self-advocacy goals that benefit them in the workplace and beyond.”

— John Koerner, Director of Young Adult Services (YAS) for OAISD

“These special partnerships support OAISD's programming goals of our students becoming as independent as possible in real-life settings. Through the ACE program, students have started part-time and grown to full-time positions that make them eligible for medical benefits, paid vacations, profit sharing, bonuses, and more. We are so thankful for all of our partners who make this life-changing program possible.”

— Mary Palumbo, Job Developer for OAISD

What’s next

OAISD plans to continue expanding the ACE program to serve more students with special needs in the coming years, with the goal of providing even more opportunities for independence and career development.

The takeaway

The ACE program's decade-long success demonstrates the power of community partnerships to empower students with special needs, helping them gain critical skills, find meaningful employment, and become more self-sufficient as they transition to adulthood. This model could serve as an inspiration for other school districts looking to create similar programs that support the unique needs of their students.