Work Experiences for Transitioning Youth The progression and distinction of experiences that lead to employment Michael Callahan Marc Gold & Associates Employment for All November 12, 2010

TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © 2010 All Rights Reserved 2 Transition Webinar Strand: Work Experiences for Youth Role of Work Experiences in Guiding Careers Archive available Understanding the Types of Work Experiences November 12 Selecting the "Right" Work Experiences with Youth December 6 Using Discovery vs Evaluation to Learn from Work Experiences January 20 Getting the Most out of Summer Transition Activities February 10

TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © 2010 All Rights Reserved 3 Purpose of Work Experience Provide a foundation for the expectation of employment for all students Provide an array of experiences from which specific interests might emerge Provide increasing insight into necessary conditions for success and discrete contributions Provide information to guide curricular content in classrooms

TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © 2010 All Rights Reserved 4 A Useful Resource “Finding a Career Direction - A guide to Job Shadowing and Work Experiences” was developed as a result of the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) National Youth Transition Demonstration. It contains legalities, logistical considerations, definitions, etc. Free download available: Mississippi Model Youth Transition Innovation Website (MYTI.org) Mississippi Model Youth Transition Innovation Website

TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © 2010 All Rights Reserved 5 Types of Work Experiences & Paid Employment in Schools 1. Volunteering 2. Job Shadowing 3. Service Learning/Internships 4. General Work Experience 5. Matched Work Experience 6. Customized Work Experience

TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © 2010 All Rights Reserved 6 Age/Activities 10 –13: Exploring the role of work in life, Volunteering 14–16: Job Shadowing, General work experience, Volunteering, Service learning 17–20: Less Job Shadowing, Fewer General Work Experience, Matched Work Experiences 18+/ 21+: Matched & Customized Work Experience Age*AgeActivity Exploring the role of work in life, Volunteering Job Shadowing, General work experience, Volunteering, Service learning Less Job Shadowing, Fewer General Work Experience, Matched Work Experiences Matched & Customized Work Experience * Including post secondary ed.

TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © 2010 All Rights Reserved 7 Unpaid work experiences should be used sparingly and individually for adults with disabilities. School and transition provides the best context for unpaid work experience. Since discovery is a primary rationale for these experiences, the job seeker’s life should be the primary context. Only in unique circumstances should unpaid work experiences be used for adults. What about Adults?

TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © 2010 All Rights Reserved 8 When to Use Unpaid Work Experiences with Adults When discovery indicates that a particular focus for experience is warranted When the job seeker or family insist that a work experience be developed When an employer indicates that an unpaid experience would enhance the likelihood for a job When specific information/benefit would be gained for a job seeker’s interest area

TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © 2010 All Rights Reserved 9 The “Why” of unpaid experiences for students To build an understanding of the routine and general expectations of work To provide a lens for translating and developing work skills To affirm or explore an area(s) of potential interest To determine the conditions that might be necessary for success Discovery:

TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © 2010 All Rights Reserved 10 Volunteering Volunteering involves encouraging and supporting students to participate in existing school and community services that offer support to others in the community. Volunteering should start for students as young as ten (or younger) and may continue throughout the school experience. Outcomes for volunteering include participation and inclusion in community and school activities, general task performance and general responsibilities and work skills.

TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © 2010 All Rights Reserved 11 Focus for Volunteering Try to connect with student’s interests Activity should be seen as one in which others volunteer Target specific tasks with volunteer leader Provide supports, as necessary Notice interactions, interests (or lack), specific skills, pace, focus, endurance

TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © 2010 All Rights Reserved 12 Presenting at Tech Expo Volunteering at community exposition

TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © 2010 All Rights Reserved 13 Caring for Vulnerable Animals Volunteering at Humane Society

TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © 2010 All Rights Reserved 14 Job Shadowing Job shadowing involves short term observations of various types of job tasks and employment settings in the community. Job shadowing can start with students as young as ten years old and throughout the school experience, as needed. The time spent on shadowing experiences range from an hour or two for younger students to as much as two days for older adolescents. Students should not perform work tasks during shadowing.

TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © 2010 All Rights Reserved 15 Focus for Job Shadowing Primarily concentrates on student’s interests Start with discovery and target direction for possible jobs to shadow based on student’s interests Assist student to identify discrete tasks performed during shadowing Timeframe per job shadow – up to three hours

TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © 2010 All Rights Reserved 16 Job Shadowing at airport fire and rescue unit Learning Specific Tasks

TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © 2010 All Rights Reserved 17 Job shadowing at county courthouse Focusing on Correctness

TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © 2010 All Rights Reserved 18 Service Learning/Internships Service Learning involves assisting students with disabilities to participate in the array of contributive activities that are typical for students who seek to purposefully build a resume for access to secondary education. Similar to volunteering, service learning mirrors the existing activities used by students, often with connections through the school.

TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © 2010 All Rights Reserved 19 Utilizes features of typical service learning activities and can involve inclusion with other students Examples: school clubs such as Jr. Achievement, DECA; Candy-Stripers; 4-H; advanced scouting Time frame: episodically, throughout school year Service Learning Focus

TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © 2010 All Rights Reserved 20 General Work Experiences General Work Experiences involve having students perform specific job duties in school and in workplaces the community without pay. These experiences start at about age 14 and may continue until 16, or older as needed. General work experiences give students a broad sense of the types of employment in their community. General experiences should be for up to two days per week for up to six weeks and regulated by DOL guidelines.

TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © 2010 All Rights Reserved 21 Editing the Yearbook Service Learning

TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © 2010 All Rights Reserved 22 General Work Experience Focus Often utilizes an array of pre-developed community sites that represents the variety of local economy Students may rotate through on a set timeframe – two or three months max. Facilitators should focus on conditions, interests, and skills Time frame: 1 or 2 days per week, 2 -3 hours per day

TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © 2010 All Rights Reserved 23 General Work Experience Watering at the Feed & Seed

TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © 2010 All Rights Reserved 24 General Work Experience Delivering Mail in School

TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © 2010 All Rights Reserved 25 Matched Work Experiences Matched Work Experiences refer to unpaid work experiences in community workplaces that are matched to the student’s interests regarding employment. These matched experiences serve to clarify and affirm interests and also serve to identify the conditions necessary for success and provide an opportunity for specific skill development and exploration. Time and duration must be consistent with DOL guidelines.

TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © 2010 All Rights Reserved 26 Focus for Matched Work Experiences Experience is defined by matching for interests and focusing on conditions and potential contributions Developed uniquely for each student Needs supervision or facilitation by educator in order to identify discrete findings Timeframe: 2 – 4 months; 6 – 8 hrs. wk.

TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © 2010 All Rights Reserved 27 Filing for State Highway Department Matched Work Experience

TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © 2010 All Rights Reserved 28 Filing Records at County Tax Assessor Matched Work Experience

TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © 2010 All Rights Reserved 29 Customer Contacts at Pest Control Company Matched Work Experience

TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © 2010 All Rights Reserved 30 Customized Work Experiences Customized work experiences refer to unpaid work experiences in community workplaces that are matched in terms of the student’s interests and for which either the conditions for success or the tasks offered to the employer are negotiated. These experiences are suitable for older students for whom additional information is needed prior to paid employment. DOL guidelines must be followed for use.

TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © 2010 All Rights Reserved 31 Focus for Customized Work Experiences Based on a customized plan Consider paid job before developing Developed uniquely for each student Developed using negotiation with host businesses Focus on issues beyond conditions, interests and contributions such as pace, flexibility, endurance, etc.

TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © 2010 All Rights Reserved 32 Customized Work Experience Repairing Changer in Beverage Company

TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © 2010 All Rights Reserved 33 Customized Work Experience Inventory Control in Library

TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © 2010 All Rights Reserved 34 Negotiated Tasks in Radio Station Customized Work Experience: Tasks from: Reception DJs Advertising Station manager

TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © 2010 All Rights Reserved 35 Comments & Questions

TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © 2010 All Rights Reserved 36 Contact Information Michael Callahan Marc Gold & Associates - Employment for All 4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102, Gautier, MS (228)

TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © 2010 All Rights Reserved 37 THANK YOU!

TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © 2010 All Rights Reserved 38 TACE Center: Region IV Toll-free: (866) [voice/tty] Fax: (404) Web: TACEsoutheast.org My TACE Portal: TACEsoutheast.org/myportal

TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © 2010 All Rights Reserved 39 Education Credits CRCC Credit - (2.0) Approved by Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC) By Friday, November 23, 2010, participants must score 80% or better on a online Post Test and submit an online CRCC Request Form via the MyTACE Portal. CEU Credit - (0.2) Approved by the University College at Syracuse University By Friday, November 23, 2010, participants must submit an online CEU Request Form via the MyTACE Portal. My TACE Portal: TACEsoutheast.org/myportalTACEsoutheast.org/myportal **For CRCC credit, you must reside in the 8 U.S. Southeast states served by the TACE Region IV [AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN]. If beyond TACE Region IV, you may apply for CEU credit.

TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © 2010 All Rights Reserved 40 TACE Talks Transition (TTT) Monthly concise information on best practices to transition counselors available for their own pace learning; – sign-up and start your subscription via the Transition -List Transition -List

TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © 2010 All Rights Reserved 41 Upcoming Webinar on Transition Selecting the "Right" Work Experiences with Youth Monday: December 6, 2010 Ellen Condo Transition Projects Director Rural Institute on Disabilities, University of Montana

TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © 2010 All Rights Reserved 42 Disclaimer This presentation was developed by the TACE Center: Region IV ©2010 with funds from the U.S. Department of Education, Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) under the priority of Technical Assistance and Continuing Education Projects (TACE) – Grant #H264A However, the contents of this presentation do not necessarily represent the policy of the RSA and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government [34 CFR (b)].

TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © 2010 All Rights Reserved 43 Copyright Information This work is the property of the Marc Gold & Associates Permission is granted for this material to be shared for non-commercial, educational purposes, provided that this copyright statement appears on the reproduced materials and notice is given that the copying is by permission of the authors. To disseminate otherwise or to republish requires written permission from the authors.