1. Customized Employment Teleconference Series Approaches for Assessing Applicants for Customized Employment

2. 2 Customized Employment In Customized employment we begin with the premise that everyone can work. The customized approach considers both the needs of the individual with a disability AND the employer.

3. 3 Customized… Job Descriptions are based on employee contributions that mesh with employer need. Disclose information about disability and need for accommodations for the purpose of negotiation.

4. 4 Customized job responsibilities Job responsibilities are based upon individual’s strengths, needs and interests and is designed to meet the specific needs of an employer.

5. 5 Traditional Assessments Measured readiness in unfamiliar and often times artificial environments, Compared production and performance of people with disabilities to others, or to standardized norms, Typically highlight deficits of people with significant disabilities.

7. Assessing the impact of disability allows us to better match people and tasks.

8. 8 Customized Employment May include employment developed through job carving, self-employment, or other job restructuring activities that result in job responsibilities being customized and individually negotiated to fit the needs of an individual.

9. 9 If we are going to market an individual’s contributions and design jobs which emphasize skills and abilities, or create self- employment which maximizes a person’s participation, then the questions we need answered in assessment are:

10. 10 Assessment necessary for Customized Employment Individual’s strengths, interests and contributions, Impact of disability to identify conditions of employment, plan for supports and negotiate on their behalf with the employer, And explain how they get things done, Strategies, supports or environments where they are at their best.

11. 11 Carley graduated from Polson High school in 2002. Her contributions include: Outgoing and friendly Takes pride in her work Able to memorize the layout of large stores Meticulous about returning items Strives to be independent Quite capable of asking for assistance

12. 12 Carley’s skills, interests and contributions matched a need that WAL-Mart had for a Returns Technician.

13. Discovery The process of gathering information about a person for the purpose of job development

14. Discovery “who is the person?” Vocational Profile: A tool to Capture information Employment Portfolio Negotiate a Job Develop a Training /support Plan Employment Planning Meeting “what will they Do for work?”

15. Carley cooks meals for herself and for her little sister for whom she baby sits.