Soft Skills for Transition and Employability: The Hidden Curriculum

1. Training In Transition 2015 The Hidden Curriculum of Soft Skills:Impact on Transition/ Employability(GETTING and KEEPING a Job) Dr. Herm Fishbein Headmaster 10/29/2019 Unicorn Village Academy Asperger Strategy Center Asperger Strategy Center 1

2. Setting The Vision • The goal of Transition is to help Individuals with Disabilities find and hold jobs, contribute tocommunitylife, and develop and maintain relationshipsthrough individualized custom accommodations and supports 10/29/2019 Unicorn Village Academy Asperger Strategy Center Asperger Strategy Center 2

3. Objectives • Review the current “landscape” for employment of individuals with disabilities in 2015 • Understanding the difference/relationship between “Hard Skills” and “Soft Skills” • To identify types of soft skills and their relevance to employability (getting and keeping a job). • Soft Skills Development: Behavioral Strategies for Home, School and Community. • Takeaway Tips for Professionals and Providers • How to “keep your cool”, while things heat up! • Understanding “Wants” Vs. “Needs”. 10/29/2019 Unicorn Village Academy Asperger Strategy Center Asperger Strategy Center 3

4. Employment is a powerful thing. It provides a chance to reclaim pride and develop a sense of purpose. Unicorn Village Academy Asperger Strategy Center

5. Measurable Outcome Strategies To enable each individual to: Function as independently as possible Have satisfying social interactions Prepare to live and work in the community 10/29/2019 Unicorn Village Academy Asperger Strategy Center RLA: Preparation for Life 5

6. Latest Grim Facts • Cornell research found that in 2011, 33.4% of working-age (21-64) people with disabilities were employed, compared with the 75.6% of people without disabilities. • Moreover, 27.8 %  of working-age Americans with disabilities lived in poverty, compared to 12.4% of those without disabilities. • Employers view soft skills as being as important as learning the three “R’s”. Unicorn Village Academy Asperger Strategy Center

7. New Awareness Increased Technology Availability of Supports Community Inclusion Movement Employee Buy-In Reduced Stigma New Training Opportunities Keeping Afloat in 2015 Unicorn Village Academy Asperger Strategy Center

8. Who is Hiring? Unicorn Village Academy Asperger Strategy Center

9. Getting Started Unicorn Village Academy Asperger Strategy Center

10. Universal Hiring Rule: An employer will hire an applicant as long as s/he believes it will bring MORE PROFIT than cost to their business Employers want: Reliability/dependability Availability/flexibility Productivity/ Quality Good Hygiene Skills Social Skills What are Employers Looking for? Unicorn Village Academy Asperger Strategy Center

11. Reduced Recruiting Costs Reduced Training Costs Reduced Turnover Increased Diversity Improved Community Relations Risk Reduction/ ADA compliance support Tax credits/incentives LOSING PEOPLE COSTS $$$$$ Benefits to Employers Unicorn Village Academy Asperger Strategy Center

12. What they won’t tell you • Worry About Liability • They worry about Hidden Costs • They worry what customers think • They are often “uninformed”, have a history, or other negative experience • They worry about termination • Worry about Community concerns • Not all “enlightened” Unicorn Village Academy Asperger Strategy Center

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18. Soft Skills are the abilities you need to get a job, KEEP the job, and be a good employee Work Ethic Communication Problem-solving What are soft skills? Unicorn Village Academy Asperger Strategy Center

19. SOFT SKILLS = PEOPLE SKILLS Unicorn Village Academy Asperger Strategy Center

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21. Soft Skills: What Are They? • Types of Soft Skills • Broad Area Skills (General) • Specific Skills (Localized) Employers want employees who are able to work well with others. Employers feel that having good soft skills are just as important as having the skills to do the job. * *Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) 10/29/2019 Unicorn Village Academy Asperger Strategy Center Asperger Strategy Center 21

22. Broad Area Skills • Networking • Enthusiasm • Professionalism • Communication Skills: Speaking / Listening • Teamwork • Problem Solving & Critical Thinking 10/29/2019 Unicorn Village Academy Asperger Strategy Center Asperger Strategy Center 22

23. Localized Skills • Having a positive attitude • Being able to talk with/to others • Listening skills • Getting along with others • Managing your time on the job • Problem solving skills • Showing respect to others • Being a team player-working with others • Being confident-believing you CAN do the job 10/29/2019 Unicorn Village Academy Asperger Strategy Center Asperger Strategy Center 23

24. Interpersonal Skills Cooperate with others Self-Advocate Influence others Use information wisely Know WHAT to say, and to whom Use IT skills Know WHEN to say it! Decision Making Skills Use Math to solve problems and communicate Develop rules for making informed decisions Lean to plan and organize Learn to use information appropriately Sample Skill Breakdown (cont.) Unicorn Village Academy Asperger Strategy Center

25. Interpersonal Skills:Are your students / clients ready to takedirections from, and work cooperatively with others? The annual surveys of the National Association of Colleges and Employers consistently rates “Teamwork” among the highest ranked qualities employers seek. In today’s world, this includes the ability to communicate and work with people from different religious, racial, ability, and ethnic groups. 10/29/2019 Unicorn Village Academy Asperger Strategy Center Asperger Strategy Center 25

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29. Soft Skills: Visualized Unicorn Village Academy Asperger Strategy Center

30. Soft Skills Levels Unicorn Village Academy Asperger Strategy Center

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32. We are judged by our actionsNot by our words Unicorn Village Academy Asperger Strategy Center

33. Soft Skills A-Z • Able to Listen • Accept Feedback • Adaptable • Artistic Sense • Assertive • Attentive • Business Trend Awareness • Collaborating • Communication • Competitive • Confidant • Conflict Resolution • Cooperative • Courteous • Crisis Management • Critical Observer • Critical Thinker • Customer Service Unicorn Village Academy Asperger Strategy Center

34. Deal Making • Deal with Difficult Situations • Deal with Office Politics • Deals with Difficult People • Decision Making • Dedicated • Delegation • Dependable • Design Sense • Desire to Learn • Disability Awareness • Dispute Resolution • Diversity Awareness • E – • Effective Communicator • Emotion Management • Emotional Intelligence • Empathetic • Energetic • Enthusiastic • Entrepreneurial Thinking • Ergonomic Sensitivity • Establish Interpersonal Relationships • Experience Dealing with Difficult Personalities • Experience Unicorn Village Academy Asperger Strategy Center

35. Facilitating • Flexible • Follow Instructions • Follow Regulations • Follow Rules • Friendly • Functions Well Under Pressure • Giving Feedback • Good at Networking • Good at Storytelling • Good Attitude • H -  O • High Energy • Highly Organized • Highly Recommended • Honest • Independent • Influence/Persuasive • Innovator • Inspiring • Intercultural Competence • Interpersonal • Interviewing Unicorn Village Academy Asperger Strategy Center

36. Knowledge Management • Leadership • Listening • Make Deadlines • Management • Managing Difficult Conversations • Managing Remote Teams • Managing Virtual Teams • Meeting Management • Mentoring • Motivated • Motivating • Negotiation Skills • Organization Unicorn Village Academy Asperger Strategy Center

37. Patience • Perform Effectively in a Deadline Environment • Performance Management • Perseverance • Persistence • Persuasion • Physical Communication • Planning • Positive Work Ethic • Possess Business Ethics • Presentation • Problem-solver • Process Improvement • Proper Business Etiquette • Public Speaking • Punctual • Quick-witted • Read Body Language • Reliable • Research • Resilient • Resolving Issues • Respectful • Respectable • Results-oriented Unicorn Village Academy Asperger Strategy Center

38. S - U • Safety Conscious • Scheduling • Self-awareness • Self-directed • Self-monitoring • Self-supervising • Selling Skills • Sense of Humor • Stay on Task • Strategic Planning • Stress Management • Successful Coach • Supervising • Take Criticism • Talent Management • Team Building • Team Player • Technology Savvy • Technology Trend Awareness • Thinks Outside the Box • Time Management • Tolerant of Change and Uncertainty • Train the Trainer • Trainable • Training • Troubleshooter Unicorn Village Academy Asperger Strategy Center

39. V - Z • Value Education • Verbal Communication • Visual Communication • Well Groomed • Willing to Accept Feedback • Willingness to Learn • Work Well Under Pressure • Work-Life Balance • Writing Experience • Writing Reports and Proposals • Writing Skills Unicorn Village Academy Asperger Strategy Center

40. Soft Skills: Holy Grail • Communication • Conflict Resolution • Critical Thinker • Customer Service • Emotional Intelligence • Entrepreneurial Thinking • Interpersonal • Leadership • Listening • Management • Organization • Persuasion • Problem-solver • Team Building • Team Player • Time Management • Writing Skills Unicorn Village Academy Asperger Strategy Center

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43. Transitional Work • The job needs to incorporate the worker’s skills, interests, and abilities NOT The worker needs to be molded to the job.

44. Co-Morbidity Factors 10/29/2019 RLA: Preparation for Life 44

45. Career Exploration Self Awareness Research Internships Volunteer Need to gather good information Analysis through Assessment (+) (-) Ongoing nature of career development and assessment Side by side comparison of self, skills, and abilities to requirements for career of interest. Decision Making Make final career decision with plan to address wants vs. abilities; Review (+) & (-) Self Awareness Preparation

46. Environment Observations Interviews Task Analysis Training Analysis Community Resource Survey Community Maps Individual Observations Background Information Interviews Psychometric Testing Work Samples Work Tasks Transferable Skill Assessment Screening Congruence Behavioral Observation Assistive Technology Situational Assessment Vocational Profiling Follow-up Generalized Skill Assessment SOCIAL SKILLS SENSORY ISSUES COMMUNICATION SKILLS REDUCE STRESS & ANXIETY

47. Facilitating Transition • Determine Career Goals • Assess current interests, abilities, daily living and Life Skills • Share assessment to validate results • Identify potential barriers and supports needed • Determine what is negotiable and non-negotiable • Develop a Plan to Achieve Goals Asperger Strategy Center

48. A Good Evaluation: • Tailored for the consumer • Ongoing • Progress towards Outcomes • Driven by the Labor Market • Includes assessment of functional and employability • IS COLLABORATIVE Asperger Strategy Center

49. Soft Skills Review Unicorn Village Academy Asperger Strategy Center

50. Resume Writing/ A Creative Art Unicorn Village Academy Asperger Strategy Center