Transitioning into a World of Employment

1. Presented by: Bridget Kopet Karen Samperi Michele Smith Karin McMahon Transitioning into a World of Employment

2. Successful Transition Planning • Ability Beyond’s Transition Program • Disability Mentoring Day (DMD) • Take your Legislator to work What we are going to cover today

3. Person-centered planning and age appropriate transition assessments…early and on-going…identify strengths, skills, interests 2. Stakeholder consensus, collaboration, commitment to post-school outcome of employment 3. Student self-determination and self- advocacy 4. Family and support system engagement 5. Presume employability (ask how rather than if) 10 Critical Components of Successful School to Work Transition

4. 6. Individualized transition goals for employment 7. Opportunity to work on “soft skills” for and in the workplace 8. Community based work experiences: exploration, assessment, internships, summer jobs 9. Paid employment experience during school (real job/real pay) 10. Identifying and connecting with future state agencies for employment supports / utilizing “ braided” funding” 10 Critical Components of Successful School to Work Transition

5. Ability Beyond’s History with Transition Services: • DDS Employment First Statement • Employment First is defined as employment being the first and preferred outcome, regardless of level of disability. Everyone no matter where they are receiving services (Day, Transition, Individualized Day, etc) will be working on an employment focused goal. • Competitive work for competitive wages • Natural support & staff support • 7 years ago we explored a Project Search Model • Created a steering committee to establish the program • Modified created a 1 year program-called ATLAS program OurHistory

6. Rollout of DDS 3 year transition model- Up to 3 years to find employment! • Challenges: • Do not select individuals for program – identified based on DDS LON • Individuals see others in day program and want to do all fun activities • Rolling enrollment • Continues to evolve to meet the changes and challenges associated with the new model • Successfully meeting these challenges DDS Transition Services

7. What is included in our Transition Program? • Internships- Real Unpaid Work Internships, utilizing The Department of Labor’s Definition • Course curriculum/work readiness- classroom based activities • Career Exploration/Industry Tours- exploring the entire world of work • Health and Wellness- Rounding out the whole person Our Transition Program

8. Tips to remember about Internships! • It is best to find employers who can offer multiple internship rotations within their one location • Make sure you have: • A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) • Certificate of Insurance and Liability • Before we start: • Shadow their employees • Complete a Task Analysis • Your Internships should be designed to: • Build transferrable work skills • Provide an opportunity for real work experiences Internships

9. Course Curriculum and Work Readiness • Teaching Strategies: • Classroom Instruction • Hands on Activities • Library of Worksheets • Role Playing • Skills: • Team building • Workplace safety • Technology • Social and communication skills • Money Management • Interview skills • Job seeking skills • Personal Care and Hygiene • Travel Training Course Curriculum and Work Readiness

10. What types of jobs exist out there? • It is important to include research and learning on specific industries • Some ideas are: • Industry Research Form • 5 fun facts • Industry Tours- onsite tours at various businesses to allow for real life exposure (plus a nice lead to a potential internship site with an employer) • Small group Discussion • Industry Tour review • Thank you card Career Exploration within Different Industries

11. Making sure we are considering the entire person beyond employment is important! • Include time to teach healthy living, stress management and relaxation • Some examples we include are: • Exercise Classes at local gyms and community centers • Zumba • Tae Kwon Do • Yogaand mindfulness • Walking group Health and Wellness

12. A Typical Week

13. Morning Meeting Motivation

14. Employment! • Once the Team agrees Competitive Employment is the next step: • Connect with Employment Specialist- Our Career Development Department • Complete a Career Plan • Create resume- created in Transition Program • Job Seeking and Exploration Begins • Interviews • Get Hired- YAY!!!! Next Steps

15. Disability Mentoring Day: DMD • National effort to promote career development for students and job seekers. • 3rd Wednesday of October (National Disability Employment Month) started in 1990 by AAPD (American Association of People with Disabilities) • Allows exposure and exploration to job seekers to jobs in their community- allowing them to see what it takes to work in different industries- food service-retail-automotive-hospitality-clerical- health care etc. • Build stronger relationships between Ability Beyond, local high schools and local businesses • Give literature on Agency to all participants to bring home to parents/guardians • Ability Beyond is in its 10th year- started small -one local school and 25 individuals within our employment programs- one day –grew to 9 schools- 150 individuals. We made it a 3 day event! Disability Mentoring Day!

16. Let’s Get Started! • Planning: • Develop a Committee- there's lots of work to be done • Lock in businesses early- all industry types- small groups with school or Ability staff – ask for interactive- hands on tours • Notify schools -early in Spring • Send out Save the Date cards in Spring • Invite Local Dignitaries to kick off the Event- invite local press-media • Opening Ceremony-guest speakers –successful employee- satisfied employer • Look for local civics groups to underwrite light breakfast- reduce costs • Collaborated with Career Development for mini- sessions- resume writing –interviewing skills-job development techniques • Collaborate with Police and Fire Department to strengthen relationships • Transportation coordination Disability Mentoring Day Continued

17. Reminders! • Take pictures-videos- get photo releases- give press release • Get testimonials from businesses • Be organized-have all schedules printed out for schools- have master calendar • Have agency staff on hand to ask questions at all businesses • Give certificates to all participants at closing- give certificates to all businesses and schools • Use businesses to use for Industry tours For Transition program • Send out Open House schedule to all schools and families/guardians- every quarter –tour of programs. Disability Mentoring Day

18. What is Take Your Legislator to Work Day? The objective is to raise awareness about the benefits of hiring individuals with disabilities and the belief that employment and careers should be the expected and preferred outcomes of all publicly funded services for individuals with disabilities, i.e. Employment First. Essentially, we want to show our state legislators “Real Jobs with Real Wages!” The goal of Take Your Legislator to Work Day is to ask employees with disabilities to invite their legislator(s) to visit their workplace to show first-hand the power of community-integrated employment for people with disabilities. TheTake Your Legislator to Work Day provides a powerful opportunity to showcase the skills and talents of people with disabilities in the workplace. Take Your Legislator to Work Day!

19. Next Steps! • Ask early to get on their calendars- ask for 1 ½ hour of their time. • Don’t tour during peak hours of operation (minimal disruption) • Introduce to the managers- co-workers • Tour place of business • Explain and show job responsibilities and tasks • Awareness of Equal Pay for All! • Explain how important the job is to each individual • Vital part of their community • Shows Pride in their job!! • Take pictures Take Your Legislator to Work Day!

20. What is the Positive Impact? • Individuals with Disabilities contribute to your Community. • Individuals with Disabilities contribute to the Economy and local Workforce. • Hiring Individuals with Disabilities is a Great Idea, it is necessary, and it is important! • Funding Programs that support Individuals with Disabilities is essential Take Your Legislator to Work Day!

21. Contact us: Michele.Smith@abilitybeyond.org Bridget.Kopet@abilitybeyond.org Karen.Samperi@abilitybeyond.org KMC4LA@aol.com

22. QUESTIONS ?