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Eliminating Jersey Shore Syndrome – Bringing a Dose of Reality to Career Goals. presented by Joe Strechay jstrechay@afb.net & Scott Truax struax@afb.net. What is the purpose of this session?. WE need to get everyone on board the realistic career goal TRAIN!
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Eliminating Jersey Shore Syndrome – Bringing a Dose of Reality to Career Goals presented by Joe Strechay jstrechay@afb.net & Scott Truax struax@afb.net
What is the purpose of this session? • WE need to get everyone on board the realistic career goal TRAIN! • Time to wake our students/clients up and give them a big glass of REALITY
S1: Professionals’ Survey • Unrealistic Career Goals for Teens with Visual Impairments • Launched: November 6, 2010 (Nationwide) • Informal National Survey
S2: Family Survey • Unrealistic Career Goals for Teens with Visual Impairments • Launched: May 20, 2012 • Informal, Online, National Survey
S1: Who are you? (Professional role or relationship to the teen or teens) • Teacher of the Visually Impaired 64.4% 38 • Orientation & Mobility Instructor 16.9% 10 • Rehabilitation Professional3.4% 2 • Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor 1.7% 1 • Parent / Family Member 0.0% 0 • Other13.6% 8
S2: Who are you? • Father: 8 percent • Mother: 82 percent • Grandparent: 3 percent • Other Family Member: 3 percent • Guardian: 3 percent
S1. Estimate the amount of time that you spend with an individual student/client on exploring and developing career goals with in a year? • One Day5.1% • Multiple Days (more than one day, but less than a week) 20.3% • One Week 11.9% • Multiple Weeks (more than one week, but less than a month) 25.4% • One Month 1.7% • More than a Month 35.6%
S2. Estimate the amount of time that you spend discussing careers and career goals with in a year? • Never 24 percent • One Day12 percent • Multiple Days (more than one day, but less than a week) 26 percent • One Week 0 percent • Multiple Weeks (more than one week, but less than a month) 15 percent • One Month 6 percent • More than a Month 17 percent
S1. Estimate what percentage of your students/clients have unrealistic career goals? (career goals that do not match their educational track, skills, or ability level) • 5 percent 13.8% • 10 percent 5.2% • 20 percent 15.5% • 30 percent 27.6% • 40 percent 5.2% • 50 percent or More 32.8% • One non-response
S1. Provide an example of an unrealistic career goal that a student/client with a visual impairment has expressed? • Professional Athlete (basketball, football, etc..) But, have never participated in competitive sports • D.J. / Rapper / Singer / Actor / Musician (many reasons) • Sportscaster (doesn’t communicate well) • Lawyer (not on an appropriate educational track / lacking scores)
S1. Provide an example of an unrealistic career goal that a student/client with a visual impairment has expressed? • Gun Smith (never used or held a gun / parents support this idea) • Hunting Guide (never hunted) • Runway Model (no vision) • Blood Splat Analyst (watches too much CSI) • Animal Psychic (What is spot saying? - Not bad!) • Marine (soldier on the front lines) • Nurse (lacking the academics)
S1. What are some tools that you use to promote realistic career goals with your students/clients? • Interest Inventories / Assessment • APH Transition Tote & Karen Wolffe’s Trans. Checklist • AFB CareerConnect • College campuses & Disability Centers • O-Net Online
S1. What are some tools that you use to promote realistic career goals with your students/clients? • Discussion • Work with their families early • Introduce them to as many jobs & related jobs as possible • “Success Stories” • Mentors • www.bridges.com Bridges • Occupational Outlook Handbook
More… • Job shadowing • Interviews • Work experiences • Observations • Volunteering • Work Experience
S1. What is one tip or piece of advice that you would want to give to others about promoting realistic career goals? (Tip, advice, or best practice) • Introduce them to mentors • Explore career characteristics / Requirements • Guide them, don’t tell them! • Work with their parents early on • Job shadowing • Network with people in that field • Be honest and upfront • Don’t say, “can’t” because they hear that all of the time • Experiences • “Don’t kill their dreams!”
S2. Do you feel that you have access to the career exploration resources that you need? • Yes: 35 percent • No: 26 percent • Unsure: 38 percent
S2. What resources are you using to help with career exploration? Common answers: • School or School for the Blind • VR • Internet • Discussion
Interesting… • My child is 13, so we are not worrying about that yet. • School: majority of answers • VR: second most common
S1. Estimate what percentage of your students that you believe will reach their career goal? • 10 percent 13.6% • 30 percent 28.8% • 50 percent 32.2% • 70 percent 16.9% • 90 percent 8.5% • 100 percent 0.0%
Goal Setting, Mapping, & Career Goals ERASE low expectation and aim for achievable goals • Exploring interests, values, and abilities • Researching goals • Are the goals Achievable • Set objectives • Execute and Evaluate Progress!
Mapping Out Career Goals • Map out the future • It can & will change • Set objectives and work to achieve them • It is important to always have goals & objectives • Inform others • Be accountable
Promoting TRUE Independence Who helps with accommodations on the job or in school? • Problem solving • Accommodating for themselves as much as possible • Learn to put in the extra time
AFB CareerConnect • Mentors • Virtual Work Sites • Explore Careers: Career Clusters • Job Seeker’s Toolkit (Free) • For teens & adults • Self-Awareness • Career Exploration Tools • Pre-Interview Skills & Tools • Interview & Follow-Up
FamilyConnect • Families can make Connections • Programs, Services, and Events • Read content by age range
VisionAware • NEW! • Relevant information persons dealing with vision loss • All areas of life • Blogs • Content covering from young adults to seniors
AccessWorld • AccessWorld App is free! • Product evaluations • Mainstream and assistive technology • Cell phones • Home appliances & personal medical equipment
Resources • AFB CareerConnect - free • Job Seeker’s Toolkit - free • Career Clusters (AFB CareerConnect) • AccessWorld – free • APH Transition Tote (Fall ‘12) • Mentoring! Mentors with vision loss & sighted • Internships – as many as possible
Other Resources • USAJOBS.com – Federal Jobs • GettingHired.com • NIB & NIB CareersWithVision • DisabledPerson, Inc. • VR • Career Centers • Job Fairs • Knocking on doors! • Networking
Other Resources • Volunteering • Hadley School for the Blind: offers employment course, business writing, AT Courses, & Self Employment) • ODEP
Contact Information Joe Strechay CareerConnect Program Manager jstrechay@afb.net & Scott Truax FamilyConnect Program Manager struax@afb.net