4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102 Gautier, MS (228) Successful Transition to Employment Assuring successful transition from school to work for individuals with significant disabilities

4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102 Gautier, MS (228) Assuring successful transition for All If we really mean it… o We must embrace the value of an inclusive working lifestyle for all. o We must truly accept that all people can work, even if we do not know how to do it. o We must learn and implement the process to customize employment. Michael Callahan

4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102 Gautier, MS (228) Assuring successful transition for All If we really mean it… o We must utilize non-comparative strategies like Discovery in lieu of comparative assessment. o We must start early, as young at ten years of age. o We must assure that work experiences are individualized and customized, as necessary Michael Callahan

4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102 Gautier, MS (228) Assuring successful transition for All If we really mean it… o We must offer resolve the tension between the value of inclusion and the need for real work experiences. o We must consider the value of partial participation. o Teachers must be willing to move beyond the classroom to assure access to work experiences. Michael Callahan

4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102 Gautier, MS (228) Assuring successful transition for All If we really mean it… o We must have access to all possible funding and blend it to benefit the individual. o We must assist the individual to get access to assistive technology specific to job tasks. o We must reach “across the barrier” and include VR and adult services. Michael Callahan

4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102 Gautier, MS (228) Assuring successful transition for All And finally, if we really mean it… o We must work around complexities such as behavioral challenges, legal issues, and negative attitudes with solutions rather that exclusion. o We must welcome and include families, friends, community members –- everyone we can enlist so we do not have to go it alone. Michael Callahan

4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102 Gautier, MS (228) 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 Marc Gold & Associates©7

4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102 Gautier, MS (228) Caring for vulnerable animals Marc Gold & Associates©8 Volunteering at Humane Society

4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102 Gautier, MS (228) 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 Marc Gold & Associates©9

4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102 Gautier, MS (228) Learning specific tasks Marc Gold & Associates©10 Job Shadowing at airport fire and rescue unit

4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102 Gautier, MS (228) Service Learning Focus 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 Marc Gold & Associates©11

4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102 Gautier, MS (228) Editing the school yearbook Marc Gold & Associates©12 Service Learning

4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102 Gautier, MS (228) 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 Marc Gold & Associates©13

4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102 Gautier, MS (228) Watering at the Feed and Seed Marc Gold & Associates©14 General Work Experience

4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102 Gautier, MS (228) 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. Marc Gold & Associates©15

4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102 Gautier, MS (228) Filing for State Highway Department Marc Gold & Associates©16 Matched Work Experience

4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102 Gautier, MS (228) Filing records at county tax assessor Marc Gold & Associates©17 Matched Work Experience

4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102 Gautier, MS (228) 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. Marc Gold & Associates©18

4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102 Gautier, MS (228) Repairing changer in beverage company Marc Gold & Associates©19 Customized Work Experience

4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102 Gautier, MS (228) Marc Gold & Associates©20 Negotiated tasks in radio Station Customized Work Experience: Tasks from: Reception DJs Advertising Station manager