>> Good morning, and welcome.

I'm DeAnne Hamilton, and I am the executive director and general manager of KBTC Public Television, your PBS station.

So thank you all for being here this morning.

One more housekeeping.

Please silence your phone so that they don't interrupt these fabulous videos that we're going to be watching.

So you can do it as we get closer to the program itself.

But again, thank you for joining us here.

We're on the campus of Bates Technical College.

KBTC is a service of Bates Technical College, and this is what we call the Advanced Technology Building.

It is a green certified building.

So feel free to kind of wander and take a look at it.

It's a beautiful building, and usually it's full of students.

But since we're on the weekend, we get to have it all to ourselves.

So we're really happy to be here for this next installment of three new videos that have been created by 18 scholars in the Federal Way Public Schools Employment Transition Program.

Give yourselves applause.

[ Applause ] We have been excited and looking forward to this day all summer so that we can share these videos with you.

And we know that a lot of work goes into creating them, and we really do appreciate all the work that goes into it.

But before we get into the program, I'd like to take a moment to acknowledge our KBTC Association board members.

I know one that's sitting over here.

This is Savannah.

And I'd also like -- thank you.

[ Applause ] And any special guests that we have from the Federal Way Public Schools, please wave, stand up.

Well, you're all special.

So raise your hands and celebrate yourselves.

But thank you for being here.

I'd also like to give a shout out and a special thank you to Best Starts for Kids King County for their generous support.

That's what has made this program and project possible.

So we thank BSK, is what we call them.

We started this program with Federal Way Public Schools in 2021.

Seems like a long time ago, doesn't it?

And this was a way for us to provide a platform for youth voices in media and voices that don't always get heard.

So this is a really special program for us.

And we are thrilled to be in our third year working together with Federal Way Public Schools.

The educators, staff, families, and especially the scholars have been incredible to work with, and we can't wait to show you the videos they've created.

And at this time, I'd like to introduce Jane Al-Tamimi and ask her to come up.

And Jane has been an advocate for this program, Ability Awareness program, from the very beginning.

And we're grateful for your leadership and support.

So, Jane, come on over and hold this up.

I keep forgetting it.

Hold it up so we can hear you [applause].

>> Thank you so much.

Wow, this is amazing that we have been here for -- this is our third year.

It's amazing.

Thank you all for being here.

This program has just been something that has just grown and developed.

I don't think when we initially -- when Isabella and I initially were having conversations about this, I don't think we even dreamed that it would come to this kind of this fruition.

But so excited.

I'd like to welcome all of the scholars, all of the families here.

We couldn't do it obviously without the scholars.

And having the families' support is amazing as well.

So thank you all for being here and for doing what you do.

I'd also like to thank the staff at ETP.

So the teachers and everyone else there, and especially Kim Houser, our speech language pathologist, who has been instrumental in the making of these videos.

She's worked very closely with the KBTC team to be able to have this all come to fruition.

And then also district support.

And today we've got Marla Newton, who is our deputy superintendent here.

And we really appreciate her being here.

And Toni Cheever, our executive director of Student Special Services.

So we really appreciate the district's support as well.

I also just want to say I appreciate so much the work that Peter and his team have done in the program, how well they've worked with the students, how much they've supported us, and supported our scholars.

I just love the ideas that we've been talking about, and we're always having these little conversations about, but we could also do this, we could also do this.

So keep thinking about ways that hopefully we can continue doing this wonderful work and continuing this partnership.

It's such a great thing.

All right, well, thank you, everyone.

And I'll pass it back to DeAnne.

[ Applause ] >> Thank you, Jane.

And yeah, it has been a wonderful pleasure over these three years.

Okay, I'm learning here.

I'm looking at Phil Kane, he's back there.

He's my director of Creative Services.

And he keeps telling me to hold up the mic.

I am not an in front of the camera kind of person, or behind a mic kind of person, so that's -- just bear with me.

But every great production has a team working together behind the scenes.

And you can see some of our production folks doing work today.

And we are thrilled to have Peter Rand and Steve here with us today.

It was Peter's creative vision that brought Ability Awareness to life three years ago, alongside with an incredible illustrator, Steve, whose artwork adds so much to these stories, which you'll see in a moment.

And of course a big thank you to our very talented producers, Jamie Whitman and Jeff Axtman.

Jeff is sitting over there behind the screen.

So Peter and Steve are going to come up and they're going to share some of their thoughts on working on this project with the scholars and creating these wonderful pieces.

Come on up.

[ Applause ] >> Take our time.

>> Yes, take your time.

>> Thank you, everyone.

It's really wonderful to be here.

Three years ago, we sort of embarked on trying to create a project that was fun and engaging and gave as many people an opportunity to participate as we could.

And I think we came up with something really creative.

And I think it took everybody in this room offering what they could to make the projects we've been able to develop the last three years.

So it's just been a real treat to work with all the students in the room and all the staff and KBTC.

And I've been involved in film and video for about 20 or 25 years, and I think this might be one of my favorite projects I've ever gotten the opportunity to be involved in.

Yeah, just to be able to work with folks is something I'm extremely proud of and just really happy to be here today.

And I look forward to being able to work with everybody more in the future.

So thank you.

Thank you to KBTC.

Thank you to ETP.

And most importantly, thank you to all the students in the room here today who were the most instrumental in creating the videos we're about to see today.

Yeah.

>> I'm just going to piggyback and keep it simple.

And just I want to thank you all for being here.

I feel so honored to be a part of Ability Awareness.

And it just is the best part of my year every year, something to look forward to, and work really hard on too.

But it's a really special project that I look forward to every year now.

So thank you all for everything you do.

Yeah, that's it.

[ Applause ] >> Thank you, Peter, and thank you, Steve, for your creative genius.

We absolutely love it.

Okay, you all came to see some video, right?

All right, so let's get this going.

And we're going to run the first.

So let's play What's a Problem.

>> What is a problem?

>> A problem is something that makes us upset.

>> A problem is when something goes wrong.

>> In life, you're always going to have problems.

>> Some problems are big.

>> Some problems are small.

>> I guess I can give you a small problem, like when I was in my grandma's house and I lost my phone.

>> I lost something I drew that's very cool, and I couldn't stop thinking about going home and looking for it later.

That's a small problem.

>> If you spill your drink or your food, it's a small problem.

>> Someone makes me mad.

>> [Assistive Device] Little.

>> It's okay to be upset.

>> If it's a small problem, I should have a small reaction.

>> I can fix small problems myself.

>> I feel good if I solve my problem.

>> If I solve a problem, I feel excited.

>> Some problems are big.

>> Like a very bad storm outside, [thunder cracks] or a tornado or earthquake [tornado siren rings]!

>> If I break a bone.

>> Big problem.

>> If I smell smoke in the house [smoke alarm beeping].

>> [Assistive Device] Big.

>> Surgery is a big problem.

>> Woh, woh, woh [disappointed trumpet music].

>> Somebody steals my wallet, that's a big problem.

>> It's okay to cry or yell if my problem is big.

>> It is always okay to ask for help if you have a big problem.

>> My boss can help me with a big problem at work.

>> If I have a problem, I can go to our teacher.

>> I can ask Dad for help.

>> I can ask my job coach for help.

>> Ability Awareness is a KBTC production, made possible in partnership with scholars from the Employment Transition Program in the Federal Way Public Schools, and with funding from Best Starts for Kids, a King County initiative.

To learn more about the Ability Awareness program, please visit KBTC.org/AbilityAwareness.

>> How about another round of applause?

[ Applause ] Those are really, really wonderful.

And, you know, it's information we can all benefit from.

So thank you very much, scholars, for your insights.

Our next video is What is a Job, where the scholars discuss the difference between jobs and hobbies.

>> What is a job?

>> A job is work we get paid for.

>> A job is different than a hobby.

>> So a job is when you go to work and earn money, and a hobby is something you like to do.

>> I don't get paid to do hobbies.

>> My hobby is drawing.

>> My hobby is bowling [bowling pins crash].

>> My hobby is to do TikTok [Tik Tok jingle].

>> I love singing and I love drawing.

>> I really like making music.

>> [Assistive Device] My favorite things are horses, dogs, and babies.

>> [Assistive Device] I draw Godzilla [Godzilla roaring].

>> [Assistive Device] I like to watch videos.

>> I like to watch TV show.

>> I like to travel [airplane roaring].

>> A hobby you can do on your spare time, while a job is a task that you have to do for a boss or a work site.

>> Not all jobs are fun.

>> Like doing laundry [chuckles].

>> I don't like yard work.

>> Cleaning the bathroom.

>> No way!

>> We should enjoy our job, but we might not enjoy it every day.

>> Sometimes I like my job, sometimes no.

>> Sometimes we have a bad day.

>> If I'm having a bad day, I can take a break.

>> I can ask the manager for help.

>> If I'm having a hard time at work, I can take a day off.

>> If I don't like my role, I can change roles.

>> I can look for other job.

>> Ability Awareness is a KBTC production, made possible in partnership with scholars from the Employment Transition Program and the Federal Way Public Schools, and with funding from Best Starts for Kids, a King County Initiative.

To learn more about the Ability Awareness program, please visit KBTC.org/AbilityAwareness.

[ Applause ] >> Another great one.

And finally, we'll hear from the scholars about relationships in More Than Friends, where they explore what it means to like someone romantically.

>> More than friends.

>> What does it mean to be more than friends?

>> Romantic with others and treating each other well.

>> They want to go out.

>> They want to see you more.

>> People you can trust more.

>> Being boyfriend-girlfriend.

>> If I want someone to be my boyfriend or girlfriend, I think about them more.

>> What should you do if you like someone more than a friend?

>> Just let them know how you feel and see how they responded to you.

>> If I want to date somebody, I should be honest with them.

>> You should ask them!

You should ask, "Hey, can you be my girlfriend?"

And if they don't want to, you say, "Okay, that's okay.

We can be friends if you want."

>> It's okay to feel bad if no one doesn't want to be your boyfriend or girlfriend.

>> I shouldn't be mad at them.

>> It's okay to be sad.

>> Everyone has feelings and that's okay.

>> I don't need to have a boyfriend or a girlfriend to be happy.

>> What sorts of things can you do with your boyfriend or girlfriend?

>> Dinner.

>> I can go to a park.

>> I would take a date to Comic-Con.

>> If I want to take someone on a date, I can take them to a concert.

>> I can take a date to the mountains.

>> Where can you meet people who you want to date?

>> I can meet someone at a party.

>> People can join a gym to meet people.

>> I can meet people on social media.

>> It's not always safe to meet people online!

>> They can be a different person from who they are.

>> I don't want to share my address because that's dangerous.

>> I don't want to go to their house because that's dangerous.

>> Ability Awareness is a KBTC Production made possible in partnership with scholars from the Employment Transition Program in the Federal Way Public Schools, and with funding from Best Starts for Kids, a King County initiative.

To learn more about the Ability Awareness program, please visit kbtc.org/AbilityAwareness.

[ Applause ] >> What an amazing collection of videos.

Thank you to our scholars for sharing your thoughts and experiences.

And I'll let you know, they select the topics, we don't do that for them.

So they get to talk about what they want to talk about.

Before we continue, of course we have homework for you to do, right?

Please take a few moments to fill out the feedback forms that are on the tables.

And there's one for educators, one for scholars, and one for families, so please select the one that best fits you.

Because, you know, your input really helps us make this even better.

So share your thoughts and, you know, we'll figure out how to incorporate what you share with us.

And while you're doing that, i'm going to ask Savannah O'Malley, one of our KBTC Association board members, to come up.

And she's a huge supporter of this project, Ability Awareness, and she's going to have a few words to say.

Come on up, Savannah.

>> Thank you so much for sharing your feedback.

All of the information that you provide really helps us with this amazing project.

It's truly inspiring to see the dedication and all the hard work the scholars put into this project.

For those of you who don't know me, I'm Savannah O'Malley, and I'm a KBTC Association board member and proud supporter of the Ability Awareness project.

On a personal note, I am also the mother to a little guy with a disability.

So when I see young people like you all putting yourself out there, it takes guts to do that, to be on camera and to share your opinions and your thoughts.

It makes me so proud, and it helps me.

You are truly paving the way for the next generation like my son.

So thank you for that.

So we would like to honor all the scholars with a little award.

And so I'm going to say each scholar's name.

And if you just want to raise your hand, we will bring the award to you.

The first one is for Jacqueline.

Is Jacqueline here?

Oh, and let's applause each scholar, yes.

[ Applause ] Jalyn.

Jalyn's in the back.

[ Applause ] Jaiden.

Jaiden.

[ Applause ] Is Jaiden here?

No?

Shane.

[ Applause ] And Sam.

[ Applause ] Braiden.

[ Applause ] Josh.

[ Applause ] June.

[ Applause ] Gibson.

[ Applause ] Janelle.

[ Applause ] >> Andrew G. [ Applause ] Ulric.

[ Applause ] Hibo.

[ Applause ] Timothy.

[ Applause ] Andrew S. [ Applause ] Javier.

[ Applause ] Matthew.

[ Applause ] And Caroline.

[ Applause ] And one last applause for all the scholars and their hard work.

[ Applause ] >> Thank you, Savannah.

And thank you, scholars.

How about another round?

[ Applause ] Great work.

Great pieces.

And again, thank you Peter and Steve.

Those are wonderful, wonderful pieces.

So we appreciate all the work that goes into it.

Now, everyone can share and watch these again.

I think there's something with a QR code on your table, so you could take a shot of that.

Or you could also go to KBTC.org, and you can see this series and you can see the previous series.

Because we have everything on our website, so please.

They're all wonderful and fabulous, and it just gets better and better and better, you know, each year that we do this.

So share it with your friends.

Share it, you know, with family.

We're real proud of them, and I'm really proud of all the scholars.

And i know all of you are as well.

So this is something that you can share with everybody.

And we're going to thank you for that feedback that I know you're working on.

So I know it's hard to multitask.

We want you to clap for everybody, but we also need that feedback.

So please do that.

And now i would like to have the scholars and family members come up to the front.

We want to take a group picture, and we also want to have a shout out of thank you, gratitude.

So Phil, raise your hand.

Phil is going to do the video [applause].

And we have a photographer who's going to take the pictures.

So we'll do that.

And we want you to continue to share your thoughts with us.

So after we get the group photo and after we do the video, i know, a lot of instruction, right -- fill out this survey, come up here and do this.

But we want you to continue to share your thoughts, because Phil is going to be coming around with a camera, just kind of roving.

So if you're feeling like you want to say something on camera, he'll have the camera so that you can do that.

And we will be capturing this.

And all of this will eventually end up on our website.

So you'll get a chance to see yourselves again and again and again.

So before you come up, please help me thank this incredible team at KBTC under the leadership of Sherri Stanton back there.

And Isabela Reed is around here.

But we've got a fabulous staff of people and volunteers who are here with us today.

So thank them, please.

[ Applause ] And thanks again to our wonderful partners, Federal Way Public Schools.

We love you and we hope to continue this project.

So cross fingers and positive thoughts that we're able to raise the funding so that we can continue the project.

And we're not letting Steve and Peter out of here.

We've got our hooks in you.

We want you to continue to be creative.

There's still plenty of refreshments over there, so continue to help yourself.

Take some home with you if you like.

And again, I'd like to thank everyone involved with this project.

And team KBTC, you're fabulous and wonderful!

Love you all!

Okay, group video and then video and then the roving camera.

Come on up.

Don't be shy.

Family.

Scholars.

Friends.

Come on up.

>> Up here.

Do it up here.

>> You want this, Phil?

Hold it up to your mouth.

>> Hi, everybody.

We're bringing y'all up here to get a group photo.

And then once we're done with the group photo, we'll get to shoot a little bit of video with you on camera saying thank you into the camera.

But that'll be after we do the photo.

So we'll do that first.

And Maria will be directing the photo.

And while you're all gathering and getting set up for the photo, don't forget you're able to take home the fidgets that are on your desks.

They're great on your desk or on the table.

They turn over, they make nice lava lamp type colors.

You can stare at them for hours at a time.

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