Twenty-two-year-old Kristine Samuel has joie de vivre. This enthusiastic young woman has found her niche in the classroom and loves to aid kindergartners with math and reading, art projects and homework. This week, she began schooling to become certified in her field so she can secure her career path.

She is one of dozens of young adults with developmental disabilities who are ready, willing and definitely able to join the workforce in Brooklyn and Queens.

Like Samuel, many of these adults are graduates or current students in a supported employment program, part of the Laboure Special Education Program, located at Bishop Ford H.S., Park Slope. For over a decade, the program has offered developmentally disabled young people, ages 15-21, academic and vocational training so they can find part-time employment, volunteer work or pursue further skill development.

The goal is to help moderate to high functioning students like Samuel become self-fulfilled, active, independent members of society.

Helping young men and women reach that goal is a daily joy and labor of love for Ann Marie Prideaux, vocation coordinator for the Laboure Program, and Maureen Scaramell, job developer and speech provider.

“This program does so much for our students’ self-esteem. After years of hearing, ‘You’re not able to do that,’ they go out and get a job and it makes them feel great,” said Prideaux, now in her eighth year at the Bishop Ford site.

“They’re excited to get up and go to work because they have a purpose,” Scaramell added.

This duo along with a team of supervisors, educators and assistants prepare students from the time they enter the high school program at age 15 for life after graduation at age 21.

Named for St. Catherine Laboure, a French Daughter of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul who lived in the 19th century and faced many challenges in her own life, the Laboure Program offers students a broad curriculum.

Academics, integrated exercises and hands-on activities combined with vocational and practical workplace skills instill in the young adult students a sense of self-worth and dignity, an increased social awareness and survival skills.

When students are ready, Scaramell assists them in preparing resumes and interviewing for local positions one to two days a week during school hours.

“We try to focus on what they do well and what they enjoy,” said Prideaux, who often finds suitable positions in office, classroom or food service settings.

The support aspect of the employment program ensures that Laboure supervisors stay in constant contact with students and employers. Scaramell or Prideaux accompany students to their first days of work to provide support, ensure safe conditions and learn the students’ job descriptions. Responsibilities usually include clerical and mailroom duties, inventory and cleaning, food preparation and cleanup and classroom assistance.

They communicate to the student-employees what their responsibilities are; provide ongoing, on-site supervision; job coaching for any new tasks and intervention, if necessary. They also practice traveling with the students.

This is the best year so far, according to William Slow, associate superintendent for special education.

Currently, 27 of the 45 young men and women in the program have jobs in the Park Slope/Windsor Terrace area. Seven will graduate this June.

Students have had successful volunteer experiences at both religious institutions and secular businesses, including Mercy Home; St. Saviour, Holy Name of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary elementary schools; Bishop Boardman Apartments; Bishop Ford H.S.; Brooklyn Diocesan Offices; Element Hair Salon; El Pequeno Artist; Navin Brothers Food Service; Burger King and Gap.

Steven Stancil, 21, who graduates in June, recently began volunteering at the Public Library in Windsor Terrace with the potential to become a paid part-timer. Prideaux is hopeful for Stancil, who, she says, excelled at taking inventory and stocking shelves as a volunteer at a local 99-cent store and “has a great eye for detail.”

Danny Dory, 22, also known as ‘the mayor,’ is another success story. Humorous and a great conversationalist, as well as a fastidious worker, he’s well loved at the Brooklyn diocesan offices in Park Slope, where he cleaned tables two afternoons a week in the dining hall last year. He also volunteered as an usher at Park Slope’s Pavilion Theatre.

This month, he began a part-time, paid position as an usher at the theatres at Brooklyn College.

Graduates who are not able to find work initially can go on to volunteer or receive further vocational training at various agencies, such as The Guild for Exceptional Children, YAI/National Institute for People with Disabilities and the New York State Education Department’s Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID).

“When people think of developmental disabilities, they think of people who aren’t capable and that’s not true at all,” said Scaramell. Some businesses “are apprehensive because of the view some people have of our kids. These kids are really capable and personable.”

Just look at Kristine Samuel, who’s spent the last six months working once weekly as an assistant in Jen Becker’s kindergarten class, part of the Laboure Program based at SS. Simon and Jude, Gravesend. As a student, she volunteered twice weekly for two years in Holy Name of Jesus School’s kindergarten class.

“Very trustworthy and professional” were the words Becker used to describe Samuel’s performance in the classroom. “She is also a really sweet, kind, helpful person.”

Becker and her class recently threw a big party for Samuel, who started a six-month VESID job training and placement program to become a certified teacher’s aide on March 17.

“I love working with the young ones,” she said via telephone last week. “They make my day so happy. They make my spirit rise.”

Samuel said her parents are “very proud” of her accomplishments and so is she.

Employers interested in hiring volunteer or part-time employees from the Laboure Program may call Maureen Scaramell at 718-943-6003.