May 5, 2011 (CHICAGO) (WLS) -- A Chicago public high school has started a unique partnership with a local chain of grocery stores. It is giving students with disabilities onsite job training and independent living skills.

This is an ideal solution for students who need to prepare for life after high school.

At Southside Occupational Academy, the Jewel Lab was just installed in one of their classrooms.

"We have five classes going through with about 10 students in each class, so right now we have 50 students," said Joshua Long.

Long is the school's principal. They have 200 students, from ages 16 to 22, with developmental disabilities.

"At our school we provide beginning vocational training and then we bring them into a setting like this, they can get hands-on training," Long said. "And during their final year of school they actually go out to a Jewel grocery store and they get a work-study placement with assistance of one of our teachers.

More at the source: ABC Local