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New York State DCDT Conference March 27, 2014 Curtis Richards

Work-based Learning: Resources for Working with Students with Disabilities. New York State DCDT Conference March 27, 2014 Curtis Richards Institute for Educational Leadership, Center for Workforce Development. 1. Session Agenda. What is Work-based Learning?

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New York State DCDT Conference March 27, 2014 Curtis Richards

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  1. Work-based Learning: Resources for Working withStudents with Disabilities New York State DCDT Conference March 27, 2014 Curtis Richards Institute for Educational Leadership, Center for Workforce Development 1

  2. Session Agenda • What is Work-based Learning? • Why Work-based Learning Matters? • Innovative Strategies and Resources 2

  3. Who We Are & What We Do Institute for Educational Leadership (IEL)’s Center for Workforce Development National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth (NCWD/Youth) • Funded by Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), U.S. Department of Labor • National TA Center assists state & local workforce development systems to integrate youth with disabilities into their service strategies • Partners: IEL; Institute on Community Integration, University of Minnesota; Boston University; PACER Center; TransCen, Inc.

  4. What is Work-based Learning (WBL)? • A supervised experience sponsored by an education or training organization that links knowledge gained at the worksite with a planned program of study. Experiences range in intensity, structure & scope. • Types: worksite visits, job shadowing, paid & unpaid internships, service/volunteer work, structured on-the-job training, formal apprenticeship or employment, entrepreneurship

  5. Career Development Process- Three Components • Self-Exploration • Career Exploration • Career Planning & Management

  6. Guideposts for Success Five Essential Components for All Youth: • School-Based Preparatory Experiences • Career Prep & Work-Based Learning • Youth Development & Leadership • Connecting Activities • Family Involvement & Supports http://www.ncwd-youth.info/guideposts

  7. Career Development StrategiesGuidepost Area 2 All Youth Need: • Self-exploration activities to learn about their skills, interests & career options • Career exploration activities including site visits, guest speakers, job shadowing; includes learning about education/ training entry requirements & earning potential/benefits • Opportunities to practice through work experiences i.e. internships, community service work, part-time jobs • Soft skills training to gain job-seeking & workplace basic skills

  8. Career Development StrategiesGuidepost Area 2 In addition, youth with disabilities need: • To understand benefits planning • To learn to communicate their disability-related work support and accommodation needs • To learn to find, formally request, & secure supports and accommodations

  9. About NY State’s Career Development and Occupational Studies Commencement Credential • As of July 2013, new optional credential for students with disabilities to document preparation for entry-level employment • Must successful complete in Gr. 9-12 not less than equivalent of 2 units of study in CTE course(s) and/or work-based learning experiences (Requires minimum of 54 hours of documented school supervised WBL) • Work-based learning experiences include, but are not limited to, job shadowing, community service, volunteering, service learning, senior project(s) and/or school based enterprise(s)

  10. Purpose of WBL - Helping Youth Build & Practice Competencies Design opportunities to build youth competencies including: • Career readiness skills – soft skills & technical skills appropriate to own career goals • Understanding oneself -how own skills, attributes, values, &interests match up with different career options • Awareness of various career options • Understanding required credentials/skills/experiences and career pathways to pursue careers of interests • Job seeking skills • Ownership for own career development – actively explores options, set goals, and creates career plans

  11. Strategies & Tools You Can Use Engaging Youth in Work Experiences: An Innovative Strategies Practice Brief: http://www.ncwd-youth.info/innovative-strategies/practice-briefs/engaging-youth-in-work-experiences • Features strategies from 10 successful programs nationwide • Describes how they implement strategies and what tools they use

  12. Innovative Strategies – Common Practices of Successful Programs • Provide youth with soft skills training and guidance • Train youth in technical skills, or hard skills, as needed for specific work experience setting • Devote significant time to developing and maintaining relationships with employers • Clearly communicate what is expected of employers, youth, and families upfront • Carefully match youth to opportunities based on individual interests and skills • Provide on-going support to youth and employers throughout the work experience

  13. Innovative Strategies Designing Internship Opportunities • Linking Employment, Abilities and Potential, OH • 10-week summer internship: various jobs at VA Medical Center and other work sites matching individual youth’s interests • Internship Learning Contract clarifies expectations for all • Worksite Progress Report, supervisor shares feedback • Palm Bay High School/High Tech, FL • Students obtain internships through various connections: program mentors, Chamber of Commerce, parents • Internship Agreement defines intern duties, expectations • Supervisor provides feedback via Student Evaluation form

  14. Innovative Strategies Designing Internship Opportunities • Linking Learning to Life, NH • Training Interns & Partnering for Success (TIPS) - use internship training plan to focus experience on learning soft skills • Youth & employer revisit plan throughout internship to rate youth’s performance & record progress • Use testimonial videos, flyers, PSAs, success stories to recruit employer partners • Project Search, Cincinnati, OH • Year-long unpaid internship with job rotations at hospital • Daily on-site job coaching before and after work • Worksite mentors

  15. Innovative Strategies Worksite Visits and Job Shadowing • Transitional Age Youth Program, Long Beach, CA • Worksite visit for Career Cruising: Airport visit = 27 jobs • Five-Day Checklist Extravaganza: Week-long job rotation • Bay Cove Academy, Brookline, MA • Job shadowing includes career scavenger hunt activity • Reach out to employers that match students’ career interests • North Carolina Department of Public Instruction • Prepares employers to host job shadowing by providing employer toolkit including suggested schedule and other action steps

  16. Innovative Strategies Entrepreneurial Work Experiences • Hope Haven, Inc., Iowa • Career and Self Exploration (CASE) class at West Sioux High School includes student-run business: Coffee Shop • Students work in coffee shop before morning classes, earn class credit for work experience • Tech Now Oklahoma High School/High Tech • Youth learn to create and sell own products using multimedia technology skills • Learn business concepts and skills (finance, marketing)

  17. Innovative Strategies Preparing Youth through Soft Skills Training • First Jobs Academy, ME • All youth must complete 4 weeks (6 hr/week) of pre-employment life skills & job retention training (Curricula available online) • Training on Communication, Critical Thinking & Problem-Solving, Professionalism, Teamwork & Collaboration; Employer partners assist in delivering training • Open Meadow Alternative School, OR • Several weeks of training hosted by employer partner • Training in professional work culture, career planning, competitive interviewing strategies, self marketing techniques, and networking skills

  18. Soft Skills Training Resources • ODEP’s Skills to Pay the Bills: Mastering Soft Skills for Workplace Success curriculum, http://www.dol.gov/odep/topics/youth/softskills/ Resources for Families: • Helping Youth Develop Soft Skills for Job Success: Tips for Parents and Families InfoBrief, http://www.ncwd-youth.info/information-brief-28 • Soft Skills Podcast series, http://www.ncwd-youth.info/podcast/helping-youth-develop-soft-skills-for-job-success

  19. Guideposts for Employer Success • Demand Side • Supply Side • Available online at: • http://www.ncwd-youth.info/guideposts/employers 19

  20. Engaging Employers Strategies that Work • Communicate Benefits to Employers • New source for reliable loyal employees • New ideas & skills • Professional development for existing staff • Chance to meet & “try out” youth prior to hiring • New partnerships • Services for current employees • Increased capacity of organization • Increased reputation in community • Tax benefits • Fun! Feels good! (Office morale) 20

  21. Engaging Employers Strategies that Work • Value of References • Employer to Employer: reference letter, list of references, name to call • Colleague to Colleague: anyone else I should talk to? • Within an Industry: associations, unions, chamber of commerce • Within an Organization: human resources, diversity/EEOC group 21

  22. Engaging EmployersStrategies that Work • Use Employer Friendly Language • Awareness of particular industry’s needs • Program feature vs. benefit • Know benefits for employer (recruitment, tax credits, skilled & reliable employees,…) • Documentation of quality skills development • Streamline referrals & pre-screen applicants • Create an employer brochure or flyer 22

  23. Engaging EmployersDisability & Diversity Awareness • Provide disability-specific information & supports • Identify & address access/accommodations needs (How they will help youth perform vs. legal reqs.) • Ongoing post-placement follow-up (visits, modeling) • Prepare & support youth (disclosure, reas. accom.) • Disability & Diversity-awareness training • Ask what further support and information the employer would like 23

  24. Strategies that Work – Provide Guidance to Employers • How to Prepare & Support Youth On-Site • Involve youth-friendly staff • Identify youth’s interests, goals, and expectations • Provide clear information about your expectations • Recognize move from school to work (new rules) • Share your own experiences & career pathway • Select hands-on, varied, and interactive tasks • Allow exploration and failure (expect it!) • Connect to resources & training • Have fun! 24

  25. Strategies that Work – Say Thanks • Provide Thanks & Recognition Early & Often • Food – breakfasts, luncheons • Awards – ceremonies, plaque • Publicity – internal & external • Benefits – access to special events, tax benefits • Letters – from youth, program, program seal • Outcomes – invite to graduations, events 25

  26. Employer Engagement Resources • Work-based Learning Jumpstart – Employer Audience,http://www.ncwd-youth.info/work-based-learning/employer • Strategies for Youth Workforce Programs to Become Employer-Friendly Intermediaries, http://www.ncwd-youth.info/information-brief-12 26

  27. Your Questions & Strategies • Any questions? • Strategies from the Group: • Where have you found employers? • How did you get your foot in the door? • How do you keep your relationships strong? • Other tips, strategies, resources to share? 27

  28. Engaging Families Make Sure They Are Informed • Provide details about work-based learning opportunities – expectations for all involved and support available • Discuss relationship between benefits planning & work Share Ways They Can Support Youth • Take active role in career exploration and planning • Help youth practice soft skills/work skills at home • Use family and social networks to find employer partners • Discuss with youth whether, when and how to disclose disability and ask for a reasonable accommodations Opportunities to Get Engaged

  29. Disclosure and Accommodations • Disclosure—youth should decide when and how much to tell others, and understand how their disability affects their capacity to learn and/or perform effectively; they should also be “aware”… • Accommodations—youth should be empowered to determine what environmental adjustments, supports, and services they need in order to access, participate and excel in school, at work, and in the community. 29

  30. Family Engagement Resources • Soft Skills Info Brief (See earlier slide on Soft Skills) • Helping Youth Build Work Skills for Job Success: Tips for Parents and Families Info Brief, http://www.ncwd-youth.info/information-brief-34 • Tapping into the Power of Families: How Families of Youth with Disabilities Can Assist in Job Search and Retention, http://www.ncwd-youth.info/infobrief/tapping-into-the-power-of-families • The Guideposts for Success: A Framework for Families Preparing Youth for Adulthood Info Brief, http://www.ncwd-youth.info/family-guideposts-information-brief

  31. Disability Disclosure Resources • The 411 on Disability Disclosure: A Workbook for Youth with Disabilities, http://www.ncwd-youth.info/411-on-disability-disclosure • The 411 on Disability Disclosure: A Workbook for Families, Educators, Youth Service Professionals, and Adult Allies Who Care About Youth with Disabilities, http://www.ncwd-youth.info/411-on-disability-disclosure-for-adults • Cyber Disclosure for Youth with Disabilities, http://www.ncwd-youth.info/cyber-disclosure • Disability Disclosure Videos, http://www.ncwd-youth.info/videos

  32. Accommodations Resources • The Job Accommodation Network (JAN), http://askjan.org/ • JAN’s Searchable Online Accommodation Resource, http://askjan.org/soar/ • Entering the World of Work: What Youth with Mental Health Needs Should Know About Accommodations, ODEP, http://www.dol.gov/odep/pubs/fact/transitioning.htm

  33. More WBL Resources Work-based Learning Jumpstart: http://www.ncwd-youth.info/work-based-learning Ch. 3 in High School High Tech Program Guide: http://www.ncwd-youth.info/hsht/program-guide Guide to Internships for Students with Disabilities: http://ncld-youth.info/Downloads/intern-guide-final.pdf Individualized Learning Plans How-to Guide, Section on Work-based Learning: http://www.ncwd-youth.info/ilp/how-to-guide

  34. More Career Development Resources • Using Career Interest Inventories to Inform Career Planning, Innovative Strategies Practice Brief, http://www.ncwd-youth.info/innovative-strategies/practice-briefs/using-career-interest-inventories-to-inform-career-planning • Career Exploration in Action, Innovative Strategies Practice Briefhttp://www.ncwd-youth.info/innovative-strategies/practice-briefs/career-exploration-in-action

  35. Partner Resources • NSTTAC Youth to Work Coalition, http://www.nsttac.org/ytw/home • TransCen, Inc., http://www.transcen.org/ • PACER Center, http://www.pacer.org/ • Institute on Community Integration, University of Minnesota, http://ici.umn.edu/

  36. For More Information • National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth: www.ncwd-youth.info • Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy: www.dol.gov/odep • Contact: Curtis Richards, RichardsC@iel.orgPh. (202) 822-8405 Ext. 163 36

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