1. MG&A Marc Gold & Associates Discovery: Finding the Direction to Facilitate Successful Employment The touchstone of customization: “Who is this person?”

2. MG&A Marc Gold & Associates 4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102, Gautier, MS 39553 (228) 497-6999 We need to discover Discovery: to gain insight or knowledge of something previously unseen or unknown; to notice or realize; to make known, reveal, disclose

3. MG&A Marc Gold & Associates 4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102, Gautier, MS 39553 (228) 497-6999 What we usually know about the people we try to assist We need to know it all The Iceberg Analogy of Discovery

4. MG&A Marc Gold & Associates 4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102, Gautier, MS 39553 (228) 497-6999 The role of discovery Discovery provides, in a non-traditional, common-sense form, the information needed to determine the strengths, needs, and interests of any person with complex life issues. This is accomplished by simply addressing the question, “Who is this person?”

5. MG&A Marc Gold & Associates 4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102, Gautier, MS 39553 (228) 497-6999 Discovery and Customization These are compatible concepts that are used sequentially to facilitate employment for students who might otherwise not achieve employment. Discovery provides the foundation information for individuals that is then used to customize a position with an employer.

6. MG&A Marc Gold & Associates 4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102, Gautier, MS 39553 (228) 497-6999 To Test or Not to Test… In the 1970’s Marc Gold admonished the disability field to “Train, Don’t Test”. Today, Customized Employment extends that admonition to “Discover, Don’t Test”.

7. MG&A Marc Gold & Associates 4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102, Gautier, MS 39553 (228) 497-6999 Discovery and Traditional Assessment Discovery seeks to identify already-existing information rather than developing information solely for the purposes of evaluation. Identifying a direction for employment is based on information obtained from the person's entire life and not from an instance of performance.

8. MG&A Marc Gold & Associates 4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102, Gautier, MS 39553 (228) 497-6999 Discovery and Traditional Assessment The discovery process focuses more on ecological validity than predictive validity. It is more important that the direction to employment makes sense in relation to a person's life than to attempt to predict success based on test performance. The information of discovery is used only as a guide for matching and customization and may not used to systematically exclude a person from employment.

9. MG&A Marc Gold & Associates 4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102, Gautier, MS 39553 (228) 497-6999 Discovery and Traditional Assessment The use of discovery frees the individual from the necessity of taking standardized or norm- referenced tests to prove their readiness. Readiness to begin work is assumed for all applicants. The profile strategy seeks to empower and involve applicants, their families and friends rather than to exclude them. Natural, common sense approaches to employment are given priority over strategies which rely solely on professional judgment and service.

10. MG&A Marc Gold & Associates 4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102, Gautier, MS 39553 (228) 497-6999 Need for Discovery Discovery is often assumed, we think “what we see is what they’ve got.” Information on an individual is often disjointed, different people have different parts of the “puzzle.”

11. MG&A Marc Gold & Associates 4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102, Gautier, MS 39553 (228) 497-6999 Need for Discovery Complexity is like a fog, obscuring the best of who people are. Discovery shows us the impact of life complexity on work. When we discover rather than test, a useful description of a person starts to emerge. It shows possibilities and leads to things a person is motivated to do rather than to fears, negativity and deficits.

12. MG&A Marc Gold & Associates 4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102, Gautier, MS 39553 (228) 497-6999 Discovery is… A process that involves getting to know people, or helping them get to know themselves, before we help them plan Spending time with applicants, instead of testing or evaluating them, as a means of finding out who they are The best way to find out the best that people have to offer A common-sense strategy to determine complexities and preferences

13. MG&A Marc Gold & Associates 4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102, Gautier, MS 39553 (228) 497-6999 Discovery is… A way to identify the unique contributions offered by those who might not compete as well as others Enhanced when we get to know people in settings where they are most who they are Not a plan, but the foundation of employment planning, that seeks to customize outcomes Compatible with self-determination and customer choice

14. MG&A Marc Gold & Associates 4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102, Gautier, MS 39553 (228) 497-6999 Beyond Asking Asking works for some of the people some of the time. What about for others? Different people ask and get different answers. The same person can ask at different times and get different answers. Too often, people simply do not have an accurate, thoughtful sound bite with which to answer such a question as important as “What do you want to do?”.

15. MG&A Marc Gold & Associates 4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102, Gautier, MS 39553 (228) 497-6999 Rule of Thumb for Asking It’s more important to look at what people do than it is to simply follow what they say. Of course, we always listen, but it’s necessary to get well beyond listening to verbal answers, into people’s lives.

16. MG&A Marc Gold & Associates 4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102, Gautier, MS 39553 (228) 497-6999 Discovery allows us to determine who the applicant is, their complexities, and potential contributions to employers. Discovery Process Responsibilities Challenges Transportation Complexities Hobbies Skills Interest Areas

17. MG&A Marc Gold & Associates 4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102, Gautier, MS 39553 (228) 497-6999 Approaches to Discovery Discovery can either be: 1. Facilitated by someone else, typically an employment professional Who is he?

18. MG&A Marc Gold & Associates 4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102, Gautier, MS 39553 (228) 497-6999 Approaches to Discovery 2. Part of a group experience These guys will help me discover myself It’s a two way street

19. MG&A Marc Gold & Associates 4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102, Gautier, MS 39553 (228) 497-6999 Approaches to Discovery 3. Accomplished through “self-discovery” Individuals can “paint” their own picture of who they are. Who am I?

20. MG&A Marc Gold & Associates 4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102, Gautier, MS 39553 (228) 497-6999 The tools of Facilitated Discovery The tools of facilitated discovery can be intuitive and informal, but they are also the time-honored tools of qualitative researchers: interview and conversation, observation and time together, review of existing information and organization of newly discovered information.

21. MG&A Marc Gold & Associates 4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102, Gautier, MS 39553 (228) 497-6999 Strategies for Facilitated Discovery Conversation Interview Time together Observation Participation with the applicant in activities both familiar and novel Finally, Review of records

22. MG&A Marc Gold & Associates 4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102, Gautier, MS 39553 (228) 497-6999 Additional Strategies for Facilitated Discovery When above strategies are not sufficient: Structured situational assessments or discrepancy analyses Targeted evaluations to answer specific questions

23. MG&A Marc Gold & Associates 4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102, Gautier, MS 39553 (228) 497-6999 The “Who” of Discovery The person of concern Their family and loved ones Close and trusted friends Neighbors with good relationships Professionals who care Counselors Teachers Doctors Service providers

24. MG&A Marc Gold & Associates 4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102, Gautier, MS 39553 (228) 497-6999 The “Where” of Discovery Home: Discovery starts where relationships start – at home Neighborhood Local Community Places where the person is “most who they are” School One-stop center Outdoors/Recreation

25. MG&A Marc Gold & Associates 4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102, Gautier, MS 39553 (228) 497-6999 Let’s Experience Discovery: Ask your partner: 1) What is something about you that most people don’t know? 2) Where/when are you at your best? 3) Where/when are you at your worst? 4) Other than spouse/parents/partner/ kids, who knows you best? 5) What makes it worth – other than your work – getting out of bed in the morning?

26. MG&A Marc Gold & Associates 4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102, Gautier, MS 39553 (228) 497-6999 Meet Andrew in High School Andy was a typical young person with a disability

27. MG&A Marc Gold & Associates 4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102, Gautier, MS 39553 (228) 497-6999 The School’s view of Andy At eighteen years old, he was still viewed as a young child who was not “ready” to enter into a life as an employed adult

28. MG&A Marc Gold & Associates 4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102, Gautier, MS 39553 (228) 497-6999 Testing results… “able to remain focused for approx. 30 minutes “he would say ‘too hard and cease work’ Reading Comp: 1.6 grade level SRA non-verbal reasoning test: 4 th percentile Minn. Clerical test: 1 st percentile, timed & un- timed WREST: “very poor range in all areas Productivity rate 6% On work samples: “accuracy improved very slowly with practice and constant one- one supervision”

29. MG&A Marc Gold & Associates 4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102, Gautier, MS 39553 (228) 497-6999 The negative impression of testing “Relative to all work samples administered, it appeared that Mr. Cosel’s performance was best when tasks involved no more than one or two steps.” “Due to Mr. Cosel’s very low level of productivity and his need for constant supervision, traditional employment is not feasible at this time. Training and education which enables him to practice simple manual skills such as packaging and sorting should be explored in the future.”

30. MG&A Marc Gold & Associates 4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102, Gautier, MS 39553 (228) 497-6999 Beyond the Evaluation In order to find an optimistic path towards employment, in light of poor test performance and low expectations, it was necessary to get to know Andy much more deeply than who he seemed to be those who knew him professionally.

31. MG&A Marc Gold & Associates 4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102, Gautier, MS 39553 (228) 497-6999 New dimensions of his personality, skills and interests His pastime activities gave us insight into skills that the tests did not identify

32. MG&A Marc Gold & Associates 4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102, Gautier, MS 39553 (228) 497-6999 Andy’s hobbies and interests gave perspective to his overall character From Computers To musical interests…

33. MG&A Marc Gold & Associates 4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102, Gautier, MS 39553 (228) 497-6999 Getting personal From bathing… To toileting accommodations

34. MG&A Marc Gold & Associates 4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102, Gautier, MS 39553 (228) 497-6999 Family and friends

35. MG&A Marc Gold & Associates 4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102, Gautier, MS 39553 (228) 497-6999 Support from his service dog

36. MG&A Marc Gold & Associates 4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102, Gautier, MS 39553 (228) 497-6999 Employment experiences Delivering cash receipts Assisting warehouse personnel

37. MG&A Marc Gold & Associates 4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102, Gautier, MS 39553 (228) 497-6999 Importance of Discovery Facilitated Discovery provided a clear, alternative picture of Andy. It provided sufficient information and direction to develop a plan for customized job development. Andy started work at teaching hospital at SUNY Stoney Brook on Long Island after job development by his family.

38. MG&A Marc Gold & Associates 4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102, Gautier, MS 39553 (228) 497-6999 Andy was responsible for delivery of data processing information to 82 departs. within the hospital

39. MG&A Marc Gold & Associates 4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102, Gautier, MS 39553 (228) 497-6999 Still working… Although Andy is still working today, ten years later, if he loses his job or wants another he will still need customized strategies and supports to become re- employed. Here is what a customized representation strategy might look like…

40. MG&A Marc Gold & Associates 4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102, Gautier, MS 39553 (228) 497-6999 Discovery strategies… The individual’s home: 1. Set a time to visit the individual’s home with parents and family available. 2. Before or after the meeting, drive throughout the immediate neighborhood for a radius of about 1/4 to ½ mile noting relevant dimensions. 3. Meet with the individual and his/her parents or representatives at their home. The meeting should last approximately 1½ hours. Permission should be obtained. 4. Return to the individual’s home for additional information, unstructured conversation, observation and interviews.

41. MG&A Marc Gold & Associates 4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102, Gautier, MS 39553 (228) 497-6999 Discovery strategies… Interviews with family, staff and others: 1. Interview selected staff who have provided the person of concern with instruction and support. 2. Contact advocates, neighbors and close friends of the student to gain information concerning the student’s social life, skills, preferences and connections. 3. Have both structured and informal conversations with the student, as appropriate, to determine their perspectives.

42. MG&A Marc Gold & Associates 4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102, Gautier, MS 39553 (228) 497-6999 Discovery strategies… 1. Focus on the student of concern for observation as he/she participants in routine aspects of classroom activities. 2. Hold a group sharing experience with student peers that generates positive comments 3. Implement a “unit” approach for Phase 1 students in the classroom 4. Enlist the assistance of fellow teachers, school staff and administrators to offer perspective on student. Discovery in school

43. MG&A Marc Gold & Associates 4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Ste. 102, Gautier, MS 39553 (228) 497-6999 Discovery strategies… Observations and participation in the neighborhood and community: 1. Observe the person in a sample of the activities – school, home & community -- that comprise the majority of his/her day. 2. Accompany the person on planned community activities, both familiar and novel.