PROCEDURE: Work Experience Program (Structure/Stipends)
SUBJECT: Vocational Education
PROGRAM GOAL: To prepare students with skills for employment.
PROGRAM OBJECTIVES:
During the program, students will:
- Be given instruction in organizational skills, communication skills, personal management skills, problem-solving skills, self-advocacy, and community awareness.
- Be introduced to a full range of employment opportunities.
REFERENCES: Transition to Work : Program Activity Guide for Blind and Low Vision
GRADING: Pass/Fail; 70% on the work evaluation checklist
ADVANCEMENT: Students will advance through levels as they demonstrate mastery (85%) at each level.
STIPEND RATE: Educational stipends are set at an hourly level but can represent single task performance if appropriate. These stipends are incentives tied to managing money and are in no way wages. Students also earn credit for Work Experience.
LEVEL 1 1.00
LEVEL 2 2.00
LEVEL 3 3.00
LEVEL 4 4.00
LEVEL 5 Independently employed
SKILLS PROGRESSION:
LEVEL 1: Students working on these skills will be working on campus in a group setting at stationary site with full assistance.
- Follow one-step directions
- Communicate needs
- Attendance
- On-task for 20 minutes
- Cooperation
- Basic personal hygiene
- Follow a routine
- Mobility skills
LEVEL 2: Students working on these skills will be doing crew-work in various locations on campus work sites with partial staff assistance.
- Work to complete a task
- Initiate communication of needs
- Appropriate worksite hygiene
- Follow multi-step directions
- Develop social appropriateness
- Independent mobility
LEVEL 3: Students working on these skills will be doing on-campus apprenticeship-style individual jobs and off-campus crew work with minimal staff assistance.
- Maturity skills (16+)
- Basic problem-solving
- Rote O&M skills
- Interpersonal skills
- Social awareness
- Personal management skills (time/money)
LEVEL 4: Students working on these skills will be in off-campus apprenticeships with short term job coaching and monitoring. Students participating at this level will demonstrate the following skills in preparation for workplace readiness:
- Independent mobility skills
- Safe and effective problem-solving
- Conduct effective employment search skills
- Strong self-advocacy skills
- Effective social emotional skills
LEVEL 5: Students working on these skills will independently seek, apply for and retain a job.