Work and technology: Perspectives on transition from school to adult work

1
Work and technology Perspectives on transition
from school to adult work

• Richard Luecking
• TransCen, Inc.

2
Purposes of Presentation

• To illustrate possibilities for youth with
  disabilities who are transitioning from school to
  work
• To explore perspectives youth and employers have
  about workplace technology
• To share three case examples that illustrate what
  it takes to insure workplace success

3
What is possible

• Work experience success for all categories of
  students receiving secondary special education,
  regardless of technology and accommodation needs
• Post secondary employment success for nearly all
  categories of youth exiting special education

4
What is the norm

• Sporadic or episodic work experiences during
  secondary school
• Poor post-school employment success, especially
  for
• Youth with multiple accommodation needs
• Youth requiring post-school support

5
Why the disparity?

• Educational and adult service systems are seldom
  in synch
• entitlement vs. eligibility is only part of the
  story
• Early, pre-exit collaboration between systems is
  not common
• Resource integration is rare, especially re
  adaptive equipment

6
Minimizing the disparity

• Youth self-determination
• Work-based experiences and paid work
• Employer partnerships
• Interagency collaborations

7
Key Factors that Influence Employer Participation

• Competent assistance for youth referrals
• Good matches of skills to tasks
• Support for training and monitoring youth
• Input into accommodations

8
Kyndal at Sinai Hospital

• Worked in telecommunications department
• Assistive devices
• Wireless head set
• Adapted keyboard
• Computer macros

9
Tron at E Street Fabrics

• Assists with customer data base
• Workplace accommodations
• Raised desk
• Computer macros
• Negotiated productivity expectations

10
Michelle Masterpieces on the Right

• Small business owner
• Assistive devices
• Dynamite communication device
• Adapted keyboard and computer macros

11
Benefits to youth

• Work assignments matched to interests
• Adaptations were personalized for specific work
  environment
• Adaptations/devices in place prior to school exit
• Interagency collaboration to get job and pay for
  equipment

12
Benefits to employers

• Specific operational need addressed
• Competent professionals assist with workplace
  adaptations and youth support
• Accommodations/devices specific to workplace