Transcript Document 7436594

NAVIGATING THE ROAD TO
WORK:
Making the
Connections Between
Youth with Disabilities
& Employment
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National Collaborative on
Workforce and
Disability for Youth
(NCWD/Youth)
www.ncwdyouth.info
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COLLABORATIVE PARTNERS
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Center for Workforce
Development, the
Institute for Educational
Leadership
Disability Studies &
Services Center, the
Academy for Educational
Development
National Conference of
State Legislatures
National Youth
Employment Coalition
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National Association of
Workforce Boards
National Center on
Secondary Education &
Transition, the University
of Minnesota
TransCen, Inc.
InfoUse
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
SYSTEM
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Common definition still evolving
Broad array of entities at national, state & local levels
Diverse responsibilities for planning, funding,
administering, and operating programs
Assist people with and without disabilities
Obtain education, training, job placement & support
services
See “Making the Connections” Handout
Improving Educational and
Employment Outcomes for Youth
Need to focus on strategic and
coordinated use of resources
currently available within a state’s
education and workforce
development systems
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NCWD/YOUTH GOALS
1) Improve State & Local Policy
2) Strengthen Workforce
Development Service Delivery
3) Improve Knowledge, Skills &
Abilities of Direct Service Worker
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KNOWN CONSTRAINTS
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Leadership needed at all levels, including youth
Staff attitudes and knowledge
Data collection and data sharing
Fiscal issues
Income eligibility
Performance measures
Marketing and outreach to employers
Communication among partners and
confidentiality issues
Accessibility and assistive technology
Technical Assistance
CONDITIONS TO PROMOTE
INCREASED ACCESS
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Customer-focused values
Commitment to persons with special needs
within a universal system
Clear direction from the top
Staff competence and retention
Organized collaboration among partners
NCWD/YOUTH WORK
ORGANIZED AROUND:
A. Ultimate consumers
1.Youth and Families
2. Employers
B. Professionals
3. Front line direct service providers
4. Administrators of programs
5 State and local policy makers
6. Federal program managers
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What Youth Need
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Knowledge Built on Evidence-Based Research
• 25+ years of Research & Demonstrations
Youth with disabilities need same as ALL youth
• Attention in individual cases to additional &
specialized supports
All Youth Need….
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Access to high-quality standards-based education,
regardless of setting;
Information about career options;
Exposure to world of work;
Opportunities to develop social, civic, & leadership
skills;
Strong connections to caring adults;
Access to safe places to interact with peers; and,
Support services to become independent adults.
DESIGN FEATURES FOR
EFFECTIVE SERVICES
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Preparatory experiences
Connecting activities
Work-based experiences
Leadership development
activities
PREPARATORY
EXPERIENCES
Exposure to
• Career assessment
• Opportunity awareness
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Work Readiness Skills
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Guest speakers
Informational interviews
Soft Skills Training
Computer Competency
Job Search Skills
WORK-BASED EXPERIENCES
Activities that lead to on-the-job
experiences
• Site visits and tours
• Job shadowing
• Internships - paid and unpaid
• Entrepreneurship education
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CONNECTING ACTIVITIES
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Sometimes tutoring
Mentoring
Assistive Technology
Transportation
Exposure to post high school services and
training
• Workforce preparation
• Post secondary education
Benefits & Financial Planning
YOUTH DEVELOPMENT &
LEADERSHIP
Activities that assist the youth to
become self-sufficient and a
productive member of society
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Personal leadership
Providing supportive adults
Leadership opportunities
What Do Employers Need?
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Workers with specific, industry-related skills
and so-called “soft skills”
Awareness of and access to recruitment
resources, as well as effective processes for
screening applicants
A reasonable return on their investment of time
and resources expended in developing and
recruiting their workforce.
What Do Employers Need?
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Three primary factors emerge from studies addressing
reasons employers become involved with any youth
work preparation program.
There is the immediate need for the company to fill
positions.
Particular industry-specific issues (such as worker
shortages or specific technical skills requirements) cause
some employers to embrace youth programs.
Many companies feel particularly compelled to bring
youth, with and without disabilities, into their workplaces
to demonstrate corporate good citizenship and
responsiveness to community needs.
What Do Employers Need?
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Employers also need support to host youth in the
workplace.
The factors employers identified as contributing to
successful experiences with ywd included:
1) Competent, convenient, and targeted assistance
in getting youth referrals;
2) Matching youth skills and interests to the job
tasks;
3) Support in training and monitoring the youth
while at the worksite; and
4) providing either formal or informal disability
awareness and training for the youth’s coworkers.
Intermediaries
An entity that “convenes leadership and
brokers relationships with multiple partners
across multiple funding streams; brings
together workforce development systems,
vocational rehabilitation providers,
businesses, labor unions, educational
institutions, social service organizations, faith
based organizations, transportation entities,
health providers, and other Federal, State,
and community resources which youth with
disabilities need to transition to employment
successfully.”
Why Focus on Intermediaries?
To reverse the relentlessly disappointing
educational and employment outcomes of
ywd requires strategic and coordinated use
of available resources
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Three key goals of workforce
intermediaries
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To bring workers into the American
mainstream. Success for these organizations
means that workers are employed in jobs that
offer the promise of financial stability.
To increase business efficiency and
productivity. Organizations are equally
concerned with serving employers’ needs and
helping businesses become increasingly
productive. They realize that business and
worker success are interdependent.
Three key goals of workforce
intermediaries (Cont)
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To enhance regional competitiveness. These
groups understand that the health of regional
economies affects the ability to advance workers
and strengthen business.
Common characteristics of
workforce intermediaries
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Reduce turnover and increase economic
mobility for workers by assuring continued
support and opportunities to upgrade skills;
Achieve results with innovative approaches
and solutions to workforce problems;
Improve outcomes for firms and their
workers by catalyzing improvements in public
systems and business employment practices.
NAVIGATING SCHOOLS
SYSTEMS
Know the Players
– State & Local Transition Councils
– Transition Coordinators
• Special Population Coordinators
• Special, Regular & Voc Ed Teachers
• School Leadership
– Parent Groups
– Advocacy Groups
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Know the Processes
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IEP Process
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See ED’s “Guide to the IEP”
ED Pubs: www.ed.gov/pubs/edpubs
Local Transition Planning Criteria & Process
Interagency Agreements (VR, MH, DD, etc.)
School Improvement Plans
NCLB Yearly Progress Reports
Monitoring Reports, Court Decrees, etc.
BENEFITS PLANNING FOR
YOUTH
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Needs to be basic explanations of programs &
services
Probably Repetitive
YouthSpeak & engaging
Use technology
What to Address
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Health Issues
Vocational Rehabilitation
Income Support
Independent Living Skills
Postsecondary Education
Work
Health
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Living a Healthy Lifestyle
Health Insurance
– Finding coverage
– Public (Medicaid, Waivers, Buy-In, SCHIIP)
– Private Insurance
Moving to Adult System of Care
– Finding Primary Care Physician
– Finding Necessary Specialists
Relationship to Work
Vocational Rehabilitation
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What the program offers
How to become eligible
How to exercise informed choice
How to succeed in VR
How to maximize services
How to use the Ticket
Relationship to Work
Income Support
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Financial Planning
Family Support
Social Security
– Eligibility & Rules
– Redetermination
– Section 301
– Student Earned Income Exclusion
Part-time work
Other
Relationship to Work
Education
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Leaving Secondary Education
Postsecondary Education Options
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Financial Aid
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Vocational Schools
Community Colleges
University Settings
Grants, Loans & Work Study
Relationship to Work
Community Living
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Getting around town
– Orientation & Mobility
– Accessible Transportation Options
– Own wheels
Where to Live
Where to Go for Services
– Health Clinics, Hospitals, etc.
– Schools & Colleges
– One Stops, ILCs, etc.
– Banks, etc.
Where to Hang
Relationship to Work
Independent Living Skills
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What are they and why are they important
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Self Determination, Self Advocacy & Informed Choice
Personal grooming, cooking, cleaning, etc
How to use and arrange services, ie. PAS, AT, etc.
Other
Where to Learn Them
Relationship to Work
Working
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Making Ends Meet on Entry Level Salary
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Potential for Income Growth
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Build a Career
Relationship to all other benefits
Covering Necessary Expenses
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Relationship to all other benefits
Disability Related
Employer Provided
Non Employer Provided
Tax Incentives
Financial Planning & Management
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Savings
Key Resources for Locating
Contacts
ODEP Grantees: See Handouts
NICHY:
www.nichcy.org & 800-295-0285
NCSET:
www.ncset.org
PACER Center: www.taalliance.org &
800-537-2237
NYEC:
www.nyec.org
NAWB:
www.nawb.org
NCWD/Adults: www.onestops.info
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Contact
NCWD/Youth
1-877-871-0744 (toll free)
www.ncwd-youth.info
[email protected]
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High School/High Tech program
1-877-871-4748 (toll free)
www.highschoolhightech.net
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