1. Dr. Herm Fishbein Headmaster
Training In Transition The Hidden Curriculum of Soft Skills: Impact on Transition/ Employability (GETTING and KEEPING a Job)
Dr. Herm Fishbein
Headmaster
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2. Setting The Vision
The goal of Transition is to help Individuals with Disabilities find and hold jobs, contribute to community life, and develop and maintain relationships through individualized custom accommodations and supports
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3. Objectives
Review the current “landscape” for employment of individuals with disabilities in 2015
Understanding the difference/relationship between “Hard Skills” and “Soft Skills”
To identify types of soft skills and their relevance to employability (getting and keeping a job).
Soft Skills Development: Behavioral Strategies for Home, School and Community.
Takeaway Tips for Professionals and Providers
How to “keep your cool”, while things heat up!
Understanding “Wants” Vs. “Needs”.
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4. Unicorn Village Academy Asperger Strategy Center
Employment is a powerful thing. It provides a chance to reclaim pride and develop a sense of purpose.
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5. Measurable Outcome Strategies
To enable each individual to:
Function as independently as possible
Have satisfying social interactions
Prepare to live and work in the community
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Latest Grim Facts
Cornell research found that in 2011, 33.4% of working-age (21-64) people with disabilities were employed, compared with the 75.6% of people without disabilities.
Moreover, 27.8 %  of working-age Americans with disabilities lived in poverty, compared to 12.4% of those without disabilities.
Employers view soft skills as being as
important as learning the three “R’s”.
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Keeping Afloat in 2015
New Awareness
Increased Technology
Availability of Supports
Community Inclusion Movement
Employee Buy-In
Reduced Stigma
New Training Opportunities
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Who is Hiring?
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Getting Started
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10. What are Employers Looking for?
Universal Hiring Rule:
An employer will hire an applicant as long as s/he believes it will bring MORE PROFIT than cost to their business
Employers want:
Reliability/dependability
Availability/flexibility
Productivity/ Quality
Good Hygiene Skills
Social Skills
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Benefits to Employers
Reduced Recruiting Costs
Reduced Training Costs
Reduced Turnover
Increased Diversity
Improved Community Relations
Risk Reduction/ ADA compliance support
Tax credits/incentives
LOSING PEOPLE COSTS
$$$$$
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12. What they won’t tell you
Worry About Liability
They worry about Hidden Costs
They worry what customers think
They are often “uninformed”, have a history, or other negative experience
They worry about termination
Worry about Community concerns
Not all “enlightened”
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What are soft skills?
Soft Skills are the abilities you need to get a job, KEEP the job, and be a good employee
Work Ethic
Communication
Problem-solving
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19. SOFT SKILLS = PEOPLE SKILLS
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21. Soft Skills: What Are They?
Types of Soft Skills
Broad Area Skills (General)
Specific Skills (Localized)
Employers want employees who are able to work well with others. Employers feel that having good soft skills are just as important as having the skills to do the job. *
*Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP)
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22. Broad Area Skills Networking Enthusiasm Professionalism
Communication Skills: Speaking / Listening
Teamwork
Problem Solving & Critical Thinking
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23. Localized Skills Having a positive attitude
Being able to talk with/to others
Listening skills
Getting along with others
Managing your time on the job
Problem solving skills
Showing respect to others
Being a team player-working with others
Being confident-believing you CAN do the job
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24. Sample Skill Breakdown (cont.)
Interpersonal Skills
Cooperate with others
Self-Advocate
Influence others
Use information wisely
Know WHAT to say, and to whom
Use IT skills
Know WHEN to say it!
Decision Making Skills
Use Math to solve problems and communicate
Develop rules for making informed decisions
Lean to plan and organize
Learn to use information appropriately
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25. Interpersonal Skills: Are your students / clients ready to take directions from, and work cooperatively with others?
The annual surveys of the National Association of Colleges and Employers consistently rates “Teamwork” among the highest ranked qualities employers seek.
In today’s world, this includes the ability to communicate and work with people from different religious, racial, ability, and ethnic groups.
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29. Soft Skills: Visualized
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Soft Skills Levels
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32. We are judged by our actions Not by our words
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Soft Skills A-Z
Able to Listen
Accept Feedback
Adaptable
Artistic Sense
Assertive
Attentive
Business Trend Awareness
Collaborating
Communication
Competitive
Confidant
Conflict Resolution
Cooperative
Courteous
Crisis Management
Critical Observer
Critical Thinker
Customer Service
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Deal Making
Deal with Difficult Situations
Deal with Office Politics
Deals with Difficult People
Decision Making
Dedicated
Delegation
Dependable
Design Sense
Desire to Learn
Disability Awareness
Dispute Resolution
Diversity Awareness
E –
Effective Communicator
Emotion Management
Emotional Intelligence
Empathetic
Energetic
Enthusiastic
Entrepreneurial Thinking
Ergonomic Sensitivity
Establish Interpersonal Relationships
Experience Dealing with Difficult Personalities
Experience
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Facilitating
Flexible
Follow Instructions
Follow Regulations
Follow Rules
Friendly
Functions Well Under Pressure
Giving Feedback
Good at Networking
Good at Storytelling
Good Attitude
H -  O
High Energy
Highly Organized
Highly Recommended
Honest
Independent
Influence/Persuasive
Innovator
Inspiring
Intercultural Competence
Interpersonal
Interviewing
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Knowledge Management
Leadership
Listening
Make Deadlines
Management
Managing Difficult Conversations
Managing Remote Teams
Managing Virtual Teams
Meeting Management
Mentoring
Motivated
Motivating
Negotiation Skills
Organization
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Patience
Perform Effectively in a Deadline Environment
Performance Management
Perseverance
Persistence
Persuasion
Physical Communication
Planning
Positive Work Ethic
Possess Business Ethics
Presentation
Problem-solver
Process Improvement
Proper Business Etiquette
Public Speaking
Punctual
Quick-witted
Read Body Language
Reliable
Research
Resilient
Resolving Issues
Respectful
Respectable
Results-oriented
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S - U
Safety Conscious
Scheduling
Self-awareness
Self-directed
Self-monitoring
Self-supervising
Selling Skills
Sense of Humor
Stay on Task
Strategic Planning
Stress Management
Successful Coach
Supervising
Take Criticism
Talent Management
Team Building
Team Player
Technology Savvy
Technology Trend Awareness
Thinks Outside the Box
Time Management
Tolerant of Change and Uncertainty
Train the Trainer
Trainable
Training
Troubleshooter
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V - Z
Value Education
Verbal Communication
Visual Communication
Well Groomed
Willing to Accept Feedback
Willingness to Learn
Work Well Under Pressure
Work-Life Balance
Writing Experience
Writing Reports and Proposals
Writing Skills
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40. Soft Skills: Holy Grail
Communication
Conflict Resolution
Critical Thinker
Customer Service
Emotional Intelligence
Entrepreneurial Thinking
Interpersonal
Leadership
Listening
Management
Organization
Persuasion
Problem-solver
Team Building
Team Player
Time Management
Writing Skills
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41. Relationship Building Skills
Vocational Skills
Communication Skills
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43. Transitional Work
The job needs to incorporate the worker’s skills, interests, and abilities
NOT
The worker needs to be molded to the job.

44. RLA: Preparation for Life
Co-Morbidity Factors
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45. Self Awareness Self Awareness Preparation Career Exploration
Research Internships Volunteer
Need to gather good information
Analysis through Assessment (+) (-)
Ongoing nature of career development and assessment
Side by side comparison of self, skills, and abilities to requirements for career of interest.
Decision Making
Make final career decision with plan to address wants vs. abilities; Review (+) & (-)
Self Awareness
Preparation

46. Individual Environment Congruence Observations Observations Interviews
Environment
Observations
Interviews
Task Analysis
Training Analysis
Community
Resource Survey
Community Maps
Individual
Observations
Background Information
Interviews
Psychometric Testing
Work Samples
Work Tasks
Transferable Skill Assessment
Screening
Congruence
Behavioral Observation
Assistive Technology
Situational Assessment
Vocational Profiling
Follow-up
Generalized Skill Assessment
SOCIAL SKILLS
SENSORY ISSUES
COMMUNICATION SKILLS
REDUCE STRESS & ANXIETY

47. Facilitating Transition
Determine Career Goals
Assess current interests, abilities, daily living and Life Skills
Share assessment to validate results
Identify potential barriers and supports needed
Determine what is negotiable and non-negotiable
Develop a Plan to Achieve Goals
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48. Asperger Strategy Center
A Good Evaluation:
Tailored for the consumer
Ongoing
Progress towards Outcomes
Driven by the Labor Market
Includes assessment of functional and employability
IS COLLABORATIVE
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Soft Skills Review
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50. Resume Writing/ A Creative Art
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Resume Buzz
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52. What Is Job Development?
Job Development is the art of identifying, recruiting, and maintaining relationships with businesses and other organizations, that will result in viable integrated employment opportunities for potential candidates

53. Life Skills Areas Assessed
Communication
Daily Living
Work/Study Skills
Home Life
Self Care
Social Relationships
Housing and Money Management
Career Planning
Work Life
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Preparation
The job needs to incorporate the workers skills and abilities
NOT
The worker needs to be molded to the job skills
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55. Job Development: New Strategies for New Times
With Employer
Coach dress: Business Attire
Discuss job specifics
No Jargon, e.g. “fade”, reinforce”, “pragmatics”
Clearly define ancillaries
Assess what employer is looking for
What is available onsite to assist the employee
Be Professional!

56. Develop a Support Plan Help with training or talking with employer
Explain the office culture
Consult with co-workers and supervisors
Be a problem solving resource
Advise new strategies as new work opportunities evolve
Rely on and expand existing supports
Help employee obtain all relevant training opportunities
(formal and informal)

57. Other Issues
Theory of Mind: Recognize other people’s feelings and emotions and act appropriately
Executive Functioning: Ability to plan and organize; utilize feedback, suppress stimuli, respond appropriately
Leads to Self-Help Difficulties
Recognizing and coping with emotions
Stress/Anxiety
Communication (especially listening) skills
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58. What We Need Feel Safe Feel Valued Social Acceptance Career Options
Reduced stress and anxiety
Be Happy
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59. Reinforce job related phrases!
“How May I help you?”
“Please wait while I find the answer to your Question”
Learn a new “business word” of the day
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60. Job Coaching Tips: Utilizing Natural SupportsDO
Speak in language that is understood by others
Fit in the flow of the business
Provide social support
Look for others to become the “natural support”
Dress for success
Work your way out of the job!
DON’T
Use jargon
Take the school environment with you
Provide care taking support
Think that the coach is the natural support
Forget to develop social connections
Forget to Fade your support!
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61. More on Natural Supports:
Helps develop a sense of belonging
Leads to increased employer investment and co-worker support
Person is seen as an INDIVIDUAL rather than as a project
Reduces stigma and intrusiveness
Teach employee to ask for help/ ask questions
Consider employee learning style
Select correct prompts /fade as needed
Establish clear milestones
Communicate!!
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62. Beyond School: Soft Skill Development Options
Where/How do I get soft skills?
Mentorship Programs
Join a dramatics/theatre/music club
Volunteer
Take classes of interest
Continuing Ed. Or Community lectures
Visit a career center
Do role playing
Modeling
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Resources
Cornell Career Services
Youth Information, Training and Resource Center
Social Skills: Finding Friends and Persuading People
Tool kit for soft skills development [worksheets]
Unicorn Village Academy
Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP)
Source for information about employment of youth with disabilities
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