4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102 Gautier, MS (228) Marc Gold & Associates©1 Employment for Persons with Autism: The Benefits of the Customized Process Assuring that employment works for all persons with autism (PowerPoint can be downloaded at marcgold.com)

4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102 Gautier, MS (228) Customized Employment Essentially, CE provides a set of services prior to employment that are designed to tailor the employment relationship in ways that meet both job seeker and employer needs/benefits. CE attempts to avoid the barriers created by job descriptions by unbundling demands through voluntary negotiations with employers. Marc Gold & Associates©2

4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102 Gautier, MS (228) Marc Gold & Associates©3 Customized Employment According to US/DOL: Customized employment means individualizing the employment relationship between employees and employers in ways that meet the needs of both. It is based on an individualized determination of the strengths, needs, and interests of the person with a disability, and is also designed to meet the specific needs of the employer.

4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102 Gautier, MS (228) Marc Gold & Associates©4 Unbundling demand Employers have typically met needs by bundling demands into job descriptions. Job seekers with complex lives often don’t have the “whole package” to offer. Customized Employment allows employers to “unbundle” demand and to take advantage of discrete competencies.

4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102 Gautier, MS (228) Marc Gold & Associates©5 Areas of Employer Benefit Unmet Workplace Needs: This area focuses on tasks that need to get done but are not getting done in the way the employer would like. It also can include tasks that have not been performed but need to be. Tasks better performed by others: This area focuses on aspects of jobs that might better be performed by others at a lower pay grade. This option can directly save money for employers. Specific benefit to enhance business: This area focuses on workplace needs for additional productivity in specific tasks. It must be matched with job seeker’s specific competencies.

4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102 Gautier, MS (228) Marc Gold & Associates©6 Customized Process Discovery Capturing discovery through profiles Customized, person-centered planning Portfolio/visual resume development Job development and negotiation Here, CE dovetails with Supported Employment Job site analysis, accommodations, support

4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102 Gautier, MS (228) The Critical Role of Discovery for Persons with Autism Avoids traditional comparative assessment Identifies Conditions for Success Follows Personal Interests Translates Potential Contributions to be offered to employers Details Challenges that need to be matched, negotiated and/or disclosed Marc Gold & Associates©7

4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102 Gautier, MS (228) The focus of discovery Conditions for Success Interests toward an aspect of the Labor Market Potential Contributions to Employers

4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102 Gautier, MS (228) Marc Gold & Associates9 Characteristics of an Ideal Job Conditions are characteristics of any job developed for the individual. Conditions refer to issues such as days of work, pay, benefits, location of the job, inside/outside work, time of day, hours per week, etc. While it is possible to have too many conditions, these are extremely important considerations in customizing a job. Target go/no go conditions for priority consideration.

4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102 Gautier, MS (228) Marc Gold & Associates10 Characteristics of an Ideal Job Interests are characteristics of an ideal job that gives direction toward a certain area of work interest. These should be stated in the broadest possible manner, allowable by the applicant. Interests might include: working around boats, office work or working in a retail setting. Do not confuse work preferences with preferentially-stated conditions. Avoid using job titles.

4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102 Gautier, MS (228) Marc Gold & Associates11 Characteristics of an Ideal Job Contributions refer to the individual’s characteristics that will be offered to employers. These might include: Personality characteristics Skills Credentials Experiences Recommendations

4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102 Gautier, MS (228) Accounting for Challenges Challenges refer to all the issues, often related to disability, that need to be dealt with in order to make employment successful. Areas to be matched Areas to be negotiated Routines, idiosyncrasies, habits Challenges related to impact of disability Issues to be disclosed to employers Other (transportation, financial, etc.) Marc Gold & Associates©12

4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102 Gautier, MS (228) Marc Gold & Associates13 Translating Skills > Tasks Current Skills of Life refer to any performance activity that the individual currently performs without support or with support, as described in notes. Potential Work Tasks refer to current skills of life, translated into employer language, that the person can reasonably be expected to perform at work, with training, supports and accommodations as necessary.

4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102 Gautier, MS (228) Marc Gold & Associates©14 James had four jobs and quit all four until discovery identified critical issues for success.

4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102 Gautier, MS (228) Marc Gold & Associates©15 Categories of SE Customized Employment Single source jobs : Job descriptions based on tasks derived from a single traditional job Multiple source jobs: Job descriptions based on tasks derived from a variety of jobs Created Jobs: Job descriptions based on heretofore unmet needs of a work setting Contract Businesses: Carved, negotiated or created job descriptions performed under a contract Micro-enterprises: Small businesses based on the unmet needs of a local market

4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102 Gautier, MS (228) Marc Gold & Associates©16 Single Source job: Electric power company video editing

4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102 Gautier, MS (228) Multiple Source Job: Health care provider Scanning Light data entry Targeted research

4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102 Gautier, MS (228) Created Source Job: Tax Assessor's office

4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102 Gautier, MS (228) Marc Gold & Associates©19 Multiple Source job: Local radio station Tasks from: Reception DJs Advertising Station manager

4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102 Gautier, MS (228) Single Source Job: Bottling Company Marc Gold & Associates©20

4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102 Gautier, MS (228) Multiple Source Job: Large hospital Marc Gold & Associates©21 The first phase of the Employment Project, the discovery phase, made us see our son, Efrain, through a different set of eyes. What we had seen as negative traits turned out to be positive attributes. He was allowed the opportunity to take risks with dignity by being matched to a job he could be successful at. Efrain’s Parents

4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102 Gautier, MS (228) Multiple Source Job: Pest Control Company Marc Gold & Associates©22