1 CAREER TECHNICAL INSTRUCTOR’S ROLE IN THE DISABILITY INITIATIVE June 29, 2007

2 Benefits of CTE Participation for Students with Disabilities Students in CTE are: Less likely to drop out More likely to be employed More likely to have paid competitive jobs, More likely to work full time after high school [Cobb et al. 1999; Colley and Jamison 1998]

3 Benefits of CTE Participation for Students with Disabilities Students with paid or unpaid work experience in high school had better employment outcomes-higher wages, more hours, more continuous employment Students with disabilities mainstreamed into regular CT and academic classrooms obtained paid competitive jobs and felt better prepared to keep their jobs

4 Benefits of CTE Participation for Students with Disabilities Qualitative studies suggest that integration of academic and CTT curricula promote meaningful engagement and inclusion of students with disabilities by increasing persistence, academic achievement and postsecondary engagement [ Excerpted from Ohio State University’s Center on Education and Training for Employment website : http;// ]

5 Who Can Job Corps Serve in Career Technical Education? No list of disabilities that makes a person ineligible for the program, consider the individual needs of each student No list of accommodations Job Corps will or will not provide Any student with a disability who can meet the requirements of a vocation (with or without reasonable accommodation) is eligible to participate

6 Accommodating Students with Disabilities in CTE Primary Considerations 1. Understand that good instructional practice assists all students in having better opportunities for success.

7 Accommodating Students with Disabilities in CTE Primary Considerations Acknowledge that providing reasonable accommodation removes barriers for students with disabilities so that they perform tasks to the level and quality expected for satisfactory task completion.

8 What is Reasonable Accommodation? A modification to: Job Work/academic environment Policy, program, or procedure Examples: Modifying a facility, work or training schedules Acquiring or modifying equipment or devices Adjusting or modifying examinations, training materials, or policies Providing readers or interpreters

9 Obstacles to Providing Reasonable Accommodation Do not know how Think it costs too much Feel uncomfortable asking a person with a disability about what they need Unfamiliar with available resources

10 Reasons Not To Accommodate Undue Hardship Any action that is: Unduly costly Extensive Disruptive Fundamental alteration of the nature or operation of the business/program Direct Threat Harm to: The student Other students Other individuals

11 Vocational Instructor’s Role in the Disability Initiative General Work with JAN, VR, and other resources to become familiar with possible accommodations for trade Participate on interdisciplinary team meetings when vocational accommodation is required Monitor students who are being provided vocational accommodation Develop collaborative relationship with career preparation staff to assist student in selecting trade and career transition staff to assist with placement of student

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13 Clearance for CTE The center physician will evaluate each student for general appropriateness to all CTT and sport activity. The health and wellness manager will notify the student's career preparation counselor if there are any limitations or concerns for safety to any trades or sport activity. If the CT instructor feels there is a specific concern regarding safety, the instructor will submit in writing the specific concern that has been demonstrated by the student and physician will reassess.

14 Eliminate Barriers to Teaching and Learning in CTE Fluctuate instructional methods by providing illustrations, mutiple examples, graphs, and handouts Give shorter tests and exams more frequently

15 Eliminate Barriers to Teaching and Learning in CTE Review or revisit some items of previously learned information on every worksheet or test of new content Put course content into alternate formats – online, audio, and/or videotape; provide study guides; and/or PowerPoint presentations of the content

16 Eliminate Barriers to Teaching and Learning in CTE Use small group discussions and cooperative learning strategies Permit alternative assignments for students to demonstrate subject knowledge Link new CT instructional concepts to previously learned concepts by using real-life examples

17 Eliminate Barriers to Teaching and Learning in CTE Provide reasonable accommodation as outlined in the Job Corps Accommodation plan Provide input to the CT Manager and/or the Disability Coordinator regarding a student’s accommodation needs within your training environment

18 Eliminate Barriers to Teaching and Learning in CTE Communicate regularly with students and observe their work methods often to assess the need for modification of instructional methods and to determine the effectiveness of approved accommodations [ Adapted from Virginia Commonwealth University Rehabilitation Research & Training Center on Workplace Supports and Job Retention Fact Sheet entitled “Ten Practical Universal Design Tips”, authored by Donald E. Finn, PH.D. and Colleen A. Thoma, Ph.D., Spring 2006].

19 Accommodations in CTE Scribes and readers Buddies Job and mobility coaches Assistive technology to help with studying (e.g., reading pen, computers with voice synthesis and optical character recognition) Organization guides

20 Accommodations in CTE “Hard trades” Modified hand tools One-to-one training after class, calculators, buddy systems, task restructuring, sign language interpreters Students with cognitive disabilities can often be accommodated in trades using the same accommodations used in academics

21 Situation:A painter is experiencing pain in his wrist and shoulder. Due to an amputation, he only has the use of his right arm. Solution:The employee is provided with ergo paint brushes, tools with longer grip handles to increase grip strength, and handle adapters. Real World Accommodation Solutions

22 Real World Accommodation Solutions (continued) Situation: An electrician who is hard of hearing needs to communicate more effectively with his boss. Solution: Before speaking, the supervisor ensures that he makes eye contact with the employee; the employee purchases a hearing aid.

23 Real World Accommodation Solutions Situation: A maintenance worker with rotator cuff syndrome has trouble reaching cleaning areas and moving cleaning supplies. Solution: The employer replaces the worker’s tools with long-handled, pneumatic, and lightweight tools and provides an electric cart.

24 Resources JAN Searchable Online Accommodation Resource (SOAR) VR Regional disability consultant Job Corps Online Disability Tutorial

25 JAN JAN, a service of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy, is an international, toll free, consulting service that provides anyone information about accommodations. Calls are answered by consultants who understand the functional limitations associated with disabilities and who have instant access to the most comprehensive and up-to- date information about accommodation methods, devices, and strategies ADA-WORK

26 SOAR Project of JAN. Online resource designed to let users explore various accommodation options for persons with disabilities in the work setting. Includes accommodation options for specific situations. If you do not see an option for your situation, contact JAN.

27 Example from SOAR Scenario: A carpentry student with a learning disability has trouble performing work-related calculations. Possible accommodations from search of SOAR database: Scratch paper to work out math problem Fractional, decimal, statistical scientific calculators Talking calculators Computer-assisted instruction software for math Large display screens for calculators and adding machines

28 Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Agency that assists individuals with disabilities to obtain and maintain employment. Basic vocational rehabilitation services include counseling and guidance, job assessments, education, occupational training coursework, books, tools, sign language interpreter services, adaptive equipment or prosthetics, and job placement, etc.

29 VR (continued) Job Corps and VR have a cooperative agreement that was updated in Highlights: Job Corps can refer applicants with disabilities to VR for an evaluation to determine their needs and the appropriateness of placement for training in the Job Corps program. VR and Job Corps will work together to resolve issues of accommodation for VR clients who want JC training.

30 Regional Disability Consultant Provides consultation and technical assistance Regions 1 and 4—Shannon Bentley Regions 2 and 3—Pat Jackson Region 5—Kim Jones and Michelle Day Region 6—Sylvia Domagalski

31 Job Corps Disability Tutorial An online tutorial has been developed containing information on how Job Corps staff can meet the needs of students with disabilities The site contains general disability information and disability-related information specific to Job Corps