1. VR Service Models for Individuals with ASD 1 The Autism Society of North Carolina Effectively supporting employees with autism spectrum disorders. The Autism Society of North Carolina Effectively supporting employees with autism spectrum disorders. January 26, 2012 Funded by NIDRR, US Department of Education, PR# Funded by NIDRR, US Department of Education, PR# H133A080007 © 2012 by SEDL A Webcast Sponsored by SEDL

2. VR Service Models for Individuals with ASD ASNC Mission Our mission is to provide supports and promote opportunities that enhance the lives of individuals within the autism spectrum and their families. 2

3. VR Service Models for Individuals with ASD Our History…  Founded in 1970  Focus of ASNC  Historical Events 3

4. VR Service Models for Individuals with ASD Overview of Agency- Advocacy Parent Advocates- ASNC has 16 parent advocates that cover all 100 counties. Chapters- 50 chapters and support groups throughout the state where you can connect locally with other parents and families. Public Policy- work with the General Assembly and other elected officials to inform and influence decisions impacting the autism community. Annual Board approved legislative agenda. 4

5. VR Service Models for Individuals with ASD Overview of Agency- Training and Education Clinical Training- provide evidenced based practices training to other professionals, school systems, first responders, CDSA’s among others. Last year we trained nearly 2,000 individuals. Parent Workshops- provide parent trainings to family members, professionals and the public. Annual conference with 500 attendees. Public Awareness- Sporting events, media (social, print and TV), website, newsletter, email updates, local community events. Bookstore- We operate the world’s largest autism-specific bookstore with over 600 titles. 5

6. VR Service Models for Individuals with ASD Overview of Agency- Direct Services Direct services is a priority due to a high level of expressed need, the current high quality of services that we provide, and past success in providing direct services. Supporting Points- While there are many other Medicaid and fee-for-service providers, very few focus specifically on the autism community. High quality services were ranked as a need. 6

7. VR Service Models for Individuals with ASD Guiding Principles Collaboration Individualization Person-Centeredness Least Restrictive Positive Intervention 7

8. VR Service Models for Individuals with ASD How we support Direct Services Camp Royall- Summer camp program and year round programming. Served 350 individuals last summer and 650 through year round programming. Community Based Services- (Small businesses, Residential, Day and Community) funded through State and Federal (Medicaid) funding streams-- CAP-MR/DD, IPRS and VR. 8

9. VR Service Models for Individuals with ASD Program Effectiveness ASNC Supported Employment Values Presumption of Employment: A conviction that everyone, regardless of the level or the type of disability, has the capability and right to a job. Competitive Employment: A conviction that employment occurs within the local labor market in regular community businesses. 9

10. VR Service Models for Individuals with ASD 10 Control: A conviction that when people with disabilities choose and regulate their own employment supports and services, career satisfaction will result. Commensurate Wages & Benefits: A conviction that people with disabilities should earn wages and benefits equal to that of coworkers performing the same or similar jobs.

11. VR Service Models for Individuals with ASD 11 Focus on Capacity & Capabilities: A conviction that people with disabilities should be viewed in terms of their abilities, strengths, and interests rater than their disabilities. Importance of Relationships: A conviction that community relationships both at, and away from, work leads to mutual respect and acceptance.

12. VR Service Models for Individuals with ASD 12 Power of Support: A conviction that people with disabilities need to determine their personal goals and receive assistance in assembling the supports necessary to achieve their ambitions. System Change: A conviction that traditional systems must be changed to ensure customer control which is vital to the integrity of supported employment

13. VR Service Models for Individuals with ASD 13 Importance of Community: A conviction that people need to be connected to formal and informal networks of a community for acceptance, growth and development.

14. VR Service Models for Individuals with ASD Individual Placement Models of Competitive Employment Enclave An enclave can be defined as a group of individuals, usually three to eight, who work together in a group with assistance of permanent full-time job coach. 14

15. VR Service Models for Individuals with ASD Mobile Work Crew A mobile work crew usually includes between three to eight employees with significant disabilities and one or two supervisors and moves regularly from one business to another. 15

16. VR Service Models for Individuals with ASD 16 Dispersed Group or Cluster Option Wage earnings are commensurate with co-workers performing the same/similar duties. This model of supported employment is characterized by the business hiring all of the individuals who work in different positions but in close proximity to the job coach.

17. VR Service Models for Individuals with ASD 17 Entrepreneurial Model People with significant disabilities are joining their friends and families to own and operate their own businesses.

18. VR Service Models for Individuals with ASD 18 Individual Placement Model The Individual Placement Model matches an individual’s interests, skills, and available supports with a job that will provide an ideal mixture of these qualities.

19. VR Service Models for Individuals with ASD Interventions and Strategies Use of Best Practice Assessment Tool: TTAP Match Skills, Interests, and Abilities with Job. Make the Job Rewarding. Locate Natural Supports within the Job. Pick the Right Supervisor and Environment. Ensure Availability of Transportation.

20. VR Service Models for Individuals with ASD 20 Employment Specialist Roles: Intake, JD, Placement, Intensive Training Intake: Obtain an “Authorization” from VR per service (R-2’s) along with an IPE (Individual Plan of Employment). Review the referral packet from VR and interview the individual, individual’s supports, and the VR Counselor. Start and keep documentation on interviews and progress on the “Job Development” JD.

21. VR Service Models for Individuals with ASD 21 Job Development (JD) Conduct a CBA (Community Based Assessment) within potential sites and/or job matches, if CBA is requested from VR. Update and create the TTAP Cumulative Record of Skills (CRS) to discover interventions and supports needed within potential tasks. JOB SEARCH [See Interventions and Strategies] Practice interviews. Schedule interviews at appropriate sites. Chart sites visited/contacted and update VR. Ensure jobs match skills, needs, and interests.

22. VR Service Models for Individuals with ASD 22 Job Placement Job Placement Recommendation and Request: Provide “Job Offer” to VR Counselor. Attach specific goals and tasks that will need to be trained on during Intensive Training (IT). Submit to VR Counselor (requires APPROVAL). Once this occurs, job is secured, move to phase three, Intensive Training (IT).

23. VR Service Models for Individuals with ASD 23 Intensive Training (IT) Once position is acquired and prior to work, conduct Job Site Analysis on skill requirements and task sequences. Organize job tasks and target problem areas. On the Job: Refer to helpful hints, observe, speak to managers if needed, participate in orientation, use non clinical language, ask coworkers the “Tricks of the Trade”, dress like others, learn work place culture. Always learn 100% of job tasks, culture, assess supervisors and co-workers.

24. VR Service Models for Individuals with ASD 24 Intensive Training (IT) Task Analyze “Job Duties” and “Soft Skills”. Create “Master Goal List” that clearly defines duties, skills needed, and methods of accomplishment. Put specifics onto the Daily Accomplishment Chart (Data Sheet). *YOU ARE a consultant: Encourage supervisor to understand ASD, act as a skilled-trainer, and develop coworkers as additional supports*

25. VR Service Models for Individuals with ASD 25 Stabilization Process Communicate with VR Counselor (ALWAYS!). Once 100% of skills are known and shown per the DAC… Obtain Long Term Supports (LTS) as needed (Medicaid or State(Province) Services). Once the LTS are initiated, “Stabilization” occurs 90-days after VR supports are withdrawn (and just LTS are provided).

26. VR Service Models for Individuals with ASD Challenges Transportation: Required prior to Job Search. Interests: Job must ALWAYS match interests and the rewards of working must ALSO tie into interests. “Work is Play and Play is Work” with individuals with ASD. Support and Understanding: Supervisor and Co- workers must exhibit support and understanding of one another and individuals with ASD. Consistency in Supervisor and Expectations: Changes in schedule, changes in supervision, and changes in expectations result in a multitude of issues with individuals with ASD. 26

27. VR Service Models for Individuals with ASD Challenges Support of Home and Natural Supports: All people need outside support to survive the stressors of work (someone to talk to that doesn’t work at the site, someone to help with transportation in a pinch, etc) SOFT SKILLS: Almost 100% of the positions lost were a result of issues occurring 1) Prior to Work, 2) During Break Time, or 3) After Work. The job skills are important to accomplish to get a job, the soft skills are important to understand and navigate around to maintain a job. 27

28. VR Service Models for Individuals with ASD Success Stories 87% of individuals ASNC supports through VR services obtain a job within 12 months of service request. Matthew R: Was unable to locate a job over a span of 2 years through supports at other agencies. ASNC supported Matthew in locating a work environment that matched Matthew’s skills and support needs within 2 months. Matthew works at the site still, going on close to 3 years now. 70 Individuals ASNC supports throughout the state of North Carolina are employed at the present moment. 28

29. VR Service Models for Individuals with ASD Future Goals To ensure the State of North Carolina adopts an Employment First policy guiding all publically delivered services: “Employment in the general workforce is the first and preferred outcome in the provision of publicly funded services for all working age citizens with disabilities, regardless of level of disability, in a job of their choosing with supports and accommodations provided as necessary to achieve and maintain employment” (North Carolina Alliance for Full Participation, 2011) 29

30. VR Service Models for Individuals with ASD Questions and Answers 30

31. VR Service Models for Individuals with ASD Contact Information Autism Society of North Carolina 505 Oberlin Road, Suite 230 Raleigh, NC 27605 (919) 743-0204 x1208 Denise Ferguson- dferguson@autismsociety-nc.orgdferguson@autismsociety-nc.org Tracey Sheriff- tsheriff@autismsociety-nc.orgtsheriff@autismsociety-nc.org Jennifer Mahan- jmahan@autismsociety-nc.orgjmahan@autismsociety-nc.org David Ingram- dingram@autismsociety-nc.orgdingram@autismsociety-nc.org 31