employment and individuals labeled deaf and low functioning
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Employment and Individuals Labeled Deaf and Low Functioning. Cheryl Davis, Ph.D. Theresa Johnson, M.Ed. Today’s Agenda. Who are you? What obstacles do you face? How can we move past them?. CD. What do you see as challenges? What do these consumers present with?. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Employment and Individuals Labeled Deaf
and Low Functioning
Cheryl Davis, Ph.D.Theresa Johnson, M.Ed.
Today’s Agenda
Who are you? What obstacles do you face? How can we move past them?
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What do you see as challenges?What do these consumers present with?
Consumer’s lack of knowledge of work Few employment options
The economy Family resistance Difficulty assessing ability Consumer’s communication skills Limited resources in educational system Lack of support services Lack of interpreters
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What can you do?
What can you do?CD
Vocational Awareness Developmental Process
What were the life experiences that lead to your vocational dreams/goals? Interactions with friends and family members Communication with immediate and extended
family Incidental (and imperative) learning is a powerful
influence
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You can’t blame this population for being a product of their environments!
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No Room for Blame
Parents aren’t experts Shared learning experience
Teachers aren’t experts Interpreters aren’t experts Transition Specialists aren’t experts VR counselors aren’t experts We are all just doing the best we can, but…
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Checking Our Expectations
What are the characteristics you want to see in a consumer who is seeking services?
What are the characteristics that will likely make you think the person isn’t ready for services?
Which characteristics match those of someone who is deaf and has a secondary disability?
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Gatekeeper Expectations
You expect the person/family to want a job You expect the person to want to keep the job
Deaf plus might not
Redefine employment This may be their “paper route/babysitting job”
The experience is valuable. It is not a waste. The hard fact:
There is no other system where they can work this out. You, gatekeeper, are it.
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Assessment: What do you need to know?
Accurate information about the consumer Current communication strategies and needs Mental Health: Psychological/Substance abuse Mental Health: Emotional/Behavioral issues Social adjustment Independent Living skills Vocational adjustment Need for ongoing support
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How will you get this information? Standardized tests
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SIB-R Cluster Standard Scores (x=100)
Percentile Skill Level
Motor Skills 51 .2 Limited
Social Interaction/ Comm skills
14 .1 Negligible
Personal Living Skills
12 .1 Very Limited
Community Living Skills
2 .1 Negligible
Broad Independence (Full Scale)
10 .1 Very Limited
How will you get this information? Environmental Assessment
Was able to sign 50 common nouns (e.g., Coke, bowl, car)
Dresses appropriately for situation Will initiate conversation, may repeat several times When he doesn’t know how to answer, he repeats
the question Family uses some home signs; with some training
could help develop language skills Has developed ways to greet people with gestures
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Communication-The Key
Idea of “no communication skills” is overwhelming And it probably isn’t true
Interpreters may not be the answer What do you need to communicate
functionally? Labeling (identifying) people Labeling (identifying) things Describing Understanding & giving directions Sequencing events
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Environmental Assessment
Observe at home Observe in a work setting Observe in community (commerce, social,
religious) Interview family Interview individual Interview employer or coworkers Interview educators
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Another Place to Get Level of Functioning: IDEA Requirements
Indicator 13
Coordinated Set of Activities Summary of Performance
Collaborate with schools
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Assessing Workplace Communication Skills with Traditionally Underserved Persons who are Deaf
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Assessing Workplace Communication Skills with Traditionally Underserved Persons who are Deaf
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But we don’t have anyone who has that expertise!
In 1 minute, write down all of the possible uses you can think of for this cup
Vase Jewelry box Sand scooper Stomp on it Hat for cat Art project Catch bugs Pitcher Hoop for paper ball Scoop water Drink from it Hold paperclips
What you need is someone who can think like this about your consumer
You want someone who can focus on what they need to do in that environment and on what supports would get them there
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Growing Your Own What not to do:
Put someone with no experience with a person with challenges without support
Put someone with no experience in a setting they’ve never been before (e.g., TBI Center)
Don‘t check in afterwards Have a closed mind about resources (e.g.,
church, family members)
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Growing Your Own What to do:
Pair an experienced interpreter with a novice Pair a deaf person (CDI) with an interpreter Leverage your resources Find the deaf leaders in your community for
references Pair someone with the language skills with
someone with the disability skills Orient the newbie to the environment before they
are ever called on for the job (job shadow-observe & report)
Team up with your university (teacher education, interpreter training, human services, ASL classes). Service learning grows future professionals!
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One Communication Caution
Home signs can be beneficial to a point They may prevent others from being able to
communicate with the individual without “inside information”
A goal would be to develop use of standardized language (ASL)
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Making an Impact on Systems
Low Incidence Population with High Need: Contact
TACE Centers (Technical Assistance and Continuing Education Centers)
State Rehabilitation Councils Make sure they are collecting data on the need Make sure addressing these needs gets in the
State Plan
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Resources
Long (1996) Assessing Workplace Communication Skills with Traditionally Underserved Persons who are Deaf http://resources.pepnet.org/files/121_2009_8_14_15_59_PM.pdf
25th Institute on Rehabilitation Issues (1999): Serving Individuals who are Low-functioning Deaf http://www.gwu.edu/~iri/pdf/25.pdf
Strategies for Community Rehabilitation Programs to serve consumers who are deaf, hard of hearing, late deafened or deafblind http://pdcorder.pepnet.org/media/1179crp_resources.pdf
Unrealized dreams: Stories of deaf individuals with unique needs http://resources.pepnet.org/workgroup/resource_basic.aspx and type in
Unrealized Dreams. DVD and booklet. $5.00 TJ
Contact InformationCheryl D. Davis, Ph.D.Regional Resource Center on DeafnessWestern Oregon [email protected]
Theresa JohnsonEducational Resource Center on
DeafnessTexas School for the [email protected]