The Way to Work: How to Facilitate Work Experiences for Youth in Transition

About this book

Employment is one of the biggest contributors to quality of life for people with disabilitiesand that means well-planned work experiences should be an integral part of transition preparation for every secondary and postsecondary school aged youth. Make that happen with this practical guide developed to help educators transition specialists and employment specialists facilitate individualized person-centered work experiences and jobs for high school students and young adults with a wide range of disabilities. Readers will get the specific ready-to-use guidance they need to uncover students strengths needs and interests through formal and informal assessments recruit and retain employer partners who gladly host youth in their workplaces help students decide when and how to disclose a disability to an employer guide students in advocating effectively for accommodations on the job support students and employers in making the most of work experiences involve families in supporting the work experience collaborate with other professionals to develop and sustain work experiences and much more To help with every step of facilitating meaningful employment readers will get examples of model programs stories that illustrate what works and doesnt work more than a dozen photocopiable tools and forms and end-of-chapter "Learning Labs" with reflection questions and thought-provoking activities. Teachers and transition specialists will rely on this strategy-filled guidebook to connect students with the early work experiences they really wantand make lifelong career satisfaction the rule not the exception for people with disabilities. Includes helpful tools & forms! Positive Personal Profile Work Experience/Job Search Plan Inventory of Employers Needs and Tasks Work Experience Proposal Template Youth Performance Feedback Form Satisfaction Questionnaire for Employers and more!