1. The Role of Work Experiences in Guiding Careers Richard Luecking, Ed.D. TransCen, Inc. October 27, 2010

2. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2010 All Rights Reserved 2 WORK IS GOOD!

3. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2010 All Rights Reserved 3 Presumption of Employability The culmination of publicly supported education can and should be adult employment for all youth, regardless of disability, need for support and accommodation, or economic circumstance.

4. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2010 All Rights Reserved 4 Optimum Transition Service Includes: Youth empowerment Family involvement and supports Academic preparation paired with work experience WORK! Connections to ancillary and post-secondary services

5. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2010 All Rights Reserved 5 Work experience in secondary school 1 # #1 Factor predicting post school career success…

6. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2010 All Rights Reserved 6 What we know… Work experience is valuable for all categories of youth with disabilities Youth with any category of disability can perform work that is valuable to employers

7. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2010 All Rights Reserved 7 Through work experiences youth learn… How to work Where to work The best ways to be supported and accommodated at work To produce at work to the satisfaction of current and future employers

8. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2010 All Rights Reserved 8 Types of Work Experience Career exploration Visits to work places to learn about jobs and skills needed to perform them Job shadowing Time spent accompanying an employee at a workplace

9. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2010 All Rights Reserved 9 Types of Work Experience Work sampling Spending time in the workplace “sampling” job tasks Service learning Structured hands-on volunteer service

10. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2010 All Rights Reserved 10 Types of Work Experience Internships Formal arrangements, paid or unpaid, for youth to perform assigned work tasks over extended time period Apprenticeships Formal, sanctioned work experiences to learn occupational trade

11. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2010 All Rights Reserved 11 Types of Work Experience Paid employment The “gold standard” – wage paid directly to youth, youth performs a standardized job in a company or customized work assignments

12. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2010 All Rights Reserved 12 Functions of Work Experience TypeFunction Career explorationInitial exposure to jobs and careers Job shadowingObservation of work environment, exposure to jobs and careers Work sampling“trying out” job tasks, exposure to jobs and careers, identification of support needs and workplace preferences

13. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2010 All Rights Reserved 13 Functions of Work Experience TypeFunction Service learningLearning follow-through, taking directions, community service Internships, work co-opsIntensive career/job preparation, in-depth exposure to a job and workplace ApprenticeshipsBuilding occupational skills related to trade certification

14. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2010 All Rights Reserved 14 Functions of Work Experience TypeFunction Paid employmentBuilding a resume Continuing to build work skills, and “soft” skills Identifying workplace preferences and vocational preferences Earning money

15. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2010 All Rights Reserved 15 Sequence of Work Experience Start early  Middle school: career exploration, job shadowing  Early secondary school: introduce work sampling  Later secondary school: continue work sampling, introduce paid employment  Last year in secondary school and beyond: internships, apprenticeships, paid employment

16. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2010 All Rights Reserved 16 Implications for Practice Facilitate more work-based learning for all students with disabilities Base these experiences on a youth directed process Staff/teacher professional development

17. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2010 All Rights Reserved 17 Implications for Practice Support families to support work experiences Interagency collaboration prior to school exit to build on and sustain work-based learning

18. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2010 All Rights Reserved 18 Practical Examples

19. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2010 All Rights Reserved 19 Practical Examples

20. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2010 All Rights Reserved 20 Practical Examples

21. Maximizing Transition Outcomes collaborations for employment

22. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2010 All Rights Reserved 22 What Does it Take? Blending and braiding resources Identifying points of success for all elements of the collaborating systems Flexible applications of governing regulations of collaborating systems

23. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2010 All Rights Reserved 23 Schools need… Special education law compliance Collaboration to begin joint service BEFORE school exit … COLLABORATIONS

24. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2010 All Rights Reserved 24 Rehabilitation closures Employment goals met Bang for the buck! COLLABORATIONS

25. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2010 All Rights Reserved 25 Advance referrals – well before school exit Opportunity to get to know youth before school exit COLLABORATIONS

26. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2010 All Rights Reserved 26 What do Youth and Families Need? Opportunities for self-directed transition plans Individualized, person centered service Responsive support JOBS!!!

27. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2010 All Rights Reserved 27 The Ideal… Youth are jointly served by school system and adult employment agencies BEFORE school exit.

28. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2010 All Rights Reserved 28 The Result… Seamless transition from students to employed adults

29. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2010 All Rights Reserved 29 Resource A practical guide, developed to help educators, transition specialists, and employment specialists facilitate individualized, person-centered work experiences and jobs for high school students and young adults with a wide range of disabilities. Available from TransCen, Inc. www.transcen.org www.transcen.org

30. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2010 All Rights Reserved 30 WORK IS GOOD!

31. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2010 All Rights Reserved 31 QUESTIONS? Richard Luecking, Ed.D. TransCen, Inc. rluecking@transcen.org

32. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2010 All Rights Reserved 32 THANK YOU!

33. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2010 All Rights Reserved 33 TACE Center: Region IV Toll-free: (866) 518-7750 [voice/tty] Fax: (404) 541-9002 Web: TACEsoutheast.org My TACE Portal: TACEsoutheast.org/myportal Email: tacesoutheast@law.syr.edu

34. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2010 All Rights Reserved 34 Education Credits CRCC Credit - (2.0) Approved by Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC) By Friday, November 5, 2010, participants must score 80% or better on a online Post Test and submit an online CRCC Request Form via the MyTACE Portal. My TACE Portal: TACEsoutheast.org/myportalTACEsoutheast.org/myportal **For CRCC credit, you must reside in the 8 U.S. Southeast states served by the TACE Region IV [AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN]. If beyond TACE Region IV, you may apply for CEU credit.

35. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2010 All Rights Reserved 35 Copyright Information This work is the property of the TACE Center: Region IV. Permission is granted for this material to be shared for non-commercial, educational purposes, provided that this copyright statement appears on the reproduced materials and notice is given that the copying is by permission of the authors. To disseminate otherwise or to republish requires written permission from the authors.

36. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2010 All Rights Reserved 36 Disclaimer This presentation was developed by the TACE Center: Region IV ©2010 with funds from the U.S. Department of Education, Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) under the priority of Technical Assistance and Continuing Education Projects (TACE) – Grant #H264A080021. However, the contents of this presentation do not necessarily represent the policy of the RSA and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government [34 CFR 75.620 (b)].