Module 1.1: Guideposts to Success in Employment for Youth with Disabilities

Upon completion of this module, participants will be able to:

Explain the genesis and necessity of Pre-ETS

Explain their role in WIOA's call to action

List 3 laws designed to improve the quality of life for people with disabilities

Recall three salient statistics regarding people with disabilities relative to education and employment

List 4 barriers to success for youth with disabilities

List and explain the 5 Guideposts to Success

Module 1.2: Pre-Employment Transition Services: An Overview

Upon completion of this module, learners will be able to describe:

Each Pre-Employment Transition Service (Pre-ETS) and their intents.

Evidence-based research which supports the effectiveness of each service.

Key roles played by VR professionals in the provision of Pre-ETS

Module 1.3: Tailoring Pre-ETS to Student Needs

Identify the difference between disability, functional limitations, impediments to employment, and accommodations.

Access online resources to gather necessary information regarding Career Exploration, Disability Information, and Disability History and Culture

Facilitate key engagements with youth to help them understand and explain their disabilities, make informed decisions about their careers, and request necessary accommodations

Identify key engagement points and related activities in Pre-ETS:

Helping students gather information and make informed decisions

Helping students develop self-advocacy skills

Helping students address disability disclosure and accommodations

Preparing students for training, informational interview preparation, and counseling on post-secondary educational options

01. Meeting the Pre-ETS Needs of Youth with Disabilities

Module 2.1: Providing Individual Counseling to Adolescents with Disabilities

Upon completion of this module, learners will be able to:

List the challenges that youth with disabilities face today

Identify the underlying philosophy or spirit of Motivational Interviewing

Identify the foundational skills of Motivational Interviewing

Identify the "special sauce" of Motivational Interviewing

Module 2.2: Group Work with Adolescents with Disabilities

Explain why group work is valuable for youth and VR counselors

Identify the purpose and intended outcome

List the learning objectives for youth with disabilities

List steps to prepare for and conduct a group session

Identify ways to tailor group work for youth with disabilities

Recognize successful outcomes of group work

To increase the confidence and competence of VR professionals in their counseling youth with disabilities and parents by providing them opportunities to practice applying their knowledge and skills.

Participants will be observed for the following demonstrations of competency:

Focusing: Gathering information and focusing on what is important to the youth and parent.

Evoking: Sharing information to facilitate change and decision-making.

Planning: Encouraging planning for the next steps.

Upon completion of this module on Facilitating Group Work with Adolescents with Disabilities, participants will be able to formulate and process life-skill development through group work, 

so they can effectively provide career planning and preparation experience.

The exercises in this activity include two 1-2 hour synchronous role-play sessions focused on facilitating group work with adolescents with disabilities.

The scenarios will be specific to discussions with a group of young people with disabilities about work-based opportunities and their specific vocational interests. In the first session, you and your colleagues will introduce the topic with the intention of sparking interest. The second session allows you to use your skills to go deeper into the topic with the group.

Promoting a positive interchange among group members

02. Counseling Strategies for Pre-Employment Transition Services

Module 3.1: The Employment of People with Disabilities via Business Services

Upon completing this course, participants will be able to:

List communication strategies necessary to build trust and credibility with employers

Identify which businesses employ the most people

Identify the top concerns of businesses today

Identify the intent of each business service provided by VR Business Service teams

Identify the biggest barrier to employment for people with disabilities

Identify common misconceptions about the employment of people with disabilities and counter them with facts

Locate and share notable disability awareness campaigns with employers

Locate and share accommodation information with employers

Locate and share financial incentive information with employers

Recognize the salient aspects of Customized Employment

Recognize the salient aspects of Integrated Competitive Employment

List the components of an evidence-based counseling strategy for employment with youth with disabilities and employers.

To increase the confidence and competence of VR professionals in their work with employers by providing them opportunities to practice applying their knowledge and skills.

Participants will rate their confidence in engaging with employers before and after the exercise.

Display of positive regard, respect, and authenticity to build rapport with the employer.

Participant demonstrated clarity in explaining business services and their benefits to the employer.

Demonstration of clarity in explaining the vision and mission of Pre-Employment Transition Services.

Demonstration of ability to use open-ended questions, clarification, & summarization to help the employer identify 1) unmet business needs and 2) concerns regarding the employment of PWD, and 3) questions regarding business services and benefits.

Display of empathy in responding to the employer's concerns and presented facts to counter misconceptions.

Display of responsiveness by specifying what s/he would do and when to respond to the employer's request for further information.

03. Engaging Employers and Others to Support Pre-Employment Transition Services Efforts

We are offering a variety of synchronous simulation-based learning exercises. Build your skills with colleagues in online groups, role-playing with youth and employers using one of these platforms:

Engaging with avatars in a virtual simulation environment

 You have the option to register for the online courses only, without engaging in the skill enhancement exercises.

As the abundance of information overwhelms us all, we find we don’t simply need more information. We need people to assimilate, understand, and make sense of what’s out there.

The AIR4VR team has spent time doing just that. We first defined core challenges and solutions in the delivery of Pre-Employment Transition Services and serving youth with disabilities. Then we used technology to give that information to you in innovative ways of learning.

You will find that our online courses are designed to fit into your busy work week. They also include different approaches to learning:

Remote learning using innovative technology and flexible delivery

Remote learning using innovative technology and flexible delivery

Courses

Course 01
Meeting the Pre-ETS Needs of Youth with Disabilities

Course 02
Counseling Strategies for Pre-Employment Transition Services

Optional Skill Enhancement Exercises

Course 03
Engaging Employers and Others to Support Pre-Employment Transition Services Efforts

Optional Skill Enhancement Exercises

Remote learning using innovative technology and flexible delivery

Courses

Course 01 Meeting the Pre-ETS Needs of Youth with Disabilities

Course 02 Counseling Strategies for Pre-Employment Transition Services

Optional Skill Enhancement Exercises

Course 03 Engaging Employers and Others to Support Pre-Employment Transition Services Efforts

Optional Skill Enhancement Exercises

Course 01
Meeting the Pre-ETS Needs of Youth with Disabilities

Course 02
Counseling Strategies for Pre-Employment Transition Services

Course 03
Engaging Employers and Others to Support Pre-Employment Transition Services Efforts