1. Providing Technical Support in Job Skills Development through an ASD Job Club
Valerie Smith, MS, Jennifer Ward, Kaitlyn Richardson, MPP, Suzannah Iadarola, PhD, BCBA-D and Susan Hetherington, PhD Strong Center for Developmental Disabilities, University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities
The Rochester Regional Center for Autism Spectrum Disorder (RRCASD) is one of seven university-affiliated programs across New York State that strives to identify and implement evidence-based practices and high-quality resources surrounding ASD.
Job Club Structure:
Meetings:
Bi-weekly
Hour length
Visual supports
Structured schedule
Behavioral Skills Training
Community Partnerships:
Job Fairs
Workshops
Collaboration with Monroe county employment initiatives
Employer relations
Skill Assessment:
Pre self-assessment
Caregiver & counselor feedback
Online member portal
Post assessment
Community Needs Assessment Results:
Need for increased support for individuals with ASD who are not found eligible for the state’s intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD) agency’s services, but would benefit from support that is more robust than what the state Vocational Rehabilitation agency is able to provide.
Need for individualized skills training specific to the diagnostic criteria of ASD.
Behavioral Skills Training:
Modeling
Rehearsal
Feedback
Generalization
Instruction
Job Club Participants:
Adults 18+ years old with ASD who:
Are unemployed or underemployed
Have completed school or are completing school within the next year
Have a desire to work competitively in the community
Are ready and willing to take steps toward getting a job
May or may not be receiving state agency supports
Target Job Skills:
Goal setting
Job discovery
Resumes
Cover letters
Applications
Interviewing
/phone etiquette
Time management
Self-advocacy
Disclosure
Financial literacy
Social communication
This pilot provides a network for social and technical support to promote the development of skills necessary for finding and maintaining employment. In collaboration with regional transition programs, the Job Club offers a model for individualized skills training to ultimately promote workplace inclusion.
Contact: Valerie Smith, MS:
Supported by the NYS Education Department