NATCHEZ &8212; Chandler Warren and Rosekita Johnson have a fundamental disagreement about money.

Chandler is of the frugal mindset, Rosekita, not so much.

&8220;My dad says my wallet is fat,&8221; Chandler said. Fat with his earnings from his part-time job at Dairy Queen. Fat because he saves.

Across town at McDonald&8217;s, Rosekita is earning her keep too, but she spends it just as fast as she makes it, her parents said.

&8220;I get my check and go to the bank,&8221; Rosekita said. &8220;I spend it on Chinese food, clothes and CDs. And I buy my mom some clothes.&8221;

Neither set of parents worries too much about what their children do with the money, they are too busy beaming with pride over the jobs.

Chandler and Rosekita are classmates in the special education class at Natchez High School and they are employed through a partnership with the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services.

&8220;I&8217;m very proud of her,&8221; Rosekita&8217;s mom Dianne Johnson said. &8220;I never thought this day would come.&8221;

Rosekita, 18, has been on the job at the U.S. 61 South McDonald&8217;s since April. Chandler, 20, has been working since June.

Both work alongside job trainers, but that&8217;s just temporary. The students have caught on quickly, said Sherry Hughes, a Department of Rehabilitation Services counselor.

Trainers are allowed to stay with workers for 18 months, but Chandler and Rosekita likely won&8217;t need them that long, Hughes said.

The students still attend NHS in the mornings &8212; they can until age 21 &8212; and go to work in the afternoons. Duties are similar, cleaning up and greeting customers, and both enjoy getting a snack from the restaurant after work is over.

Hughes works alongside Vocational Training Instructor Cindy Collinsworth to place interested special education students in the workforce program. In Natchez, disabled employees have worked at Natchez Market, Pizza Hut, Naff&8217;s Audio Video, the Isle of Capri, Wal-Mart, Burger King, Ryan&8217;s, Wendy&8217;s and Belk.

October is Disability Awareness Month.