Topic: Supported Employment

I’m bored at work; how do I keep going?  How do I get respect and promotions?  These are tough issues for most of us and particularly so for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This unit helps staff discuss with consumers the 3 main motivations for working: economic, psychological and social gains. Consumer worksheets help learners find methods for keeping their motivation strong. Through analyzing scenarios, consumers learn some of the keys for positive and work enhancing behaviors. This unit is part of the “Ready…Set…Work!” curriculum, which contains 31 teaching units.

The “Getting Ready for Sunnyside” multi-sensory teaching tool helps groups prepare for their volunteer site.  It uses a simple and effective approach incorporating photographs and objects as a self-checking guide. 

This tool is easy to replicate and can be adapted for any volunteer site.

Do the people you work with know how to explore work options that match their skills, strengths and interests?  The Career Exploration teaching unit will help people with developmental and intellectual disabilities examine what motivates them to work, the difference between a career and a job and the what skills are associated with different careers. Through hands-on activities, they will learn how to identify their strengths, skills and interests and match them with a career. This unit is part of the “Ready…Set…Work!” curriculum, which contains 31 teaching units.

What do I need to know before my first day on the job?  What should I do when I have a question on the job?  This unit helps people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) learn the questions to ask when hired, how to get information on the job when they feel confused as well as dozens of other new employee issues.

Worksheets, role-plays and games help consumers determine how much time they need to get ready for work, how to obtain office supplies, how to recognize when they have too little or too much work to handle and much more. This unit is part of the “Ready…Set…Work!” curriculum, which contains 31 teaching units.

Preparing for an interview is a daunting task for all of us.  When we don’t prepare thoroughly or feel confident our presentation suffers. For people with intellectual and disabilities (IDD), this preparation must be well supported by staff.  The lesson plans, activities and guides in this unit will help staff teach the importance of planning for an interview, how to plan using a timeline (3 days prior, the night before and the day of the interview), 9 steps to looking and feeling confident, plus methods for reducing anxiety.This unit is part of the “Ready, Set, Work” curriculum, which contains 31 teaching units.

In this Work Performance teaching unit from the “Ready…Set…Work!” curriculum, consumers will learn through discussion, role play and small group activities what makes someone a good worker. 

Concepts and skills include:

      *Flexibility
      *Good communication
      *Accepting feedback
      *Taking the initiative
      *Asking for help when necessary
      *Supporting coworkers/being a team player
      *Managing multiple tasks

Punctuality at work shows respect for your employer, your coworkers and your customers.  It’s also an important means of getting noticed as a motivated worker and one of the keys to keeping your job. This unit contains lesson plans, activities and worksheets to teach consumers these points along with a system for planning for punctuality.

Activities include, analyzing stories to find the sources of lateness, informing the supervisor when they will be late, acceptable and unacceptable reasons for being late, programming an alarm clock, and using sign in and punch clock systems. This unit is part of the “Ready…Set…Work!” curriculum, which contains 31 teaching units.

First impressions can make or break a job interview or an introduction to a new friend. How much perfume is too much? How do I know if my hairstyle is unprofessional? This unit on Grooming for Success will teach people with   intellectual and developmental disabilities how to prepare their hair, beard, nails and makeup for a great first impression and continued professional look.  They will also learn how to self-evaluate and adjust their appearance through a head-to-toe check.  This unit is part of the “Ready…Set…Work!” curriculum, which contains 31 teaching units.

Do the people you work with understand the difference between being friendly and being too friendly?  Do they know the appropriate times to socialize at work and the topics that are appropriate to discuss there?This unit teaches skills needed for appropriate socializing in the workplace.  Topics include the difference between a “home friend” and a “work friend,” too little versus too much socializing and the skill of small talk. This unit is part of the “Ready…Set…Work!” curriculum, which contains 31 teaching units.

What impact does a “hangover” have on my job performance?  Will marijuana really effect my health?  This unit will educate people with intellectual and developmental disabilities about the consequences of using illegal drugs and alcohol. The Drugs and Alcohol lesson plan and guides teach identification of illegal drugs, the impact of drug and alcohol abuse on friendship, work and health, as well as the practice of drug testing for placement in numerous jobs. This unit is part of the “Ready…Set…Work!” curriculum, which contains 31 teaching units.

Going on an interview is stressful for even the most confident person.  For people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who may have difficulty answering questions quickly, and who may give too much or too little information, the challenge is much greater. This teaching unit contains a lesson plan and consumer activities/worksheets including:

      *Questions that are frequently asked
      *How to answer difficult questions
      *Matching strengths with the job description to present your best self
      *Steps of the interview
      *What questions am I going to ask?

This unit is part of the “Ready, Set, Work” curriculum, which contains 31 teaching units.

What is a good reason for taking off a day of work?  When do I notify my boss that I will be absent from work?  This Attendance unit will teach people with intellectual and developmental disabilities how to answer these questions.  They will also learn how to inform their supervisor when a sick day is needed, how absences may affect their personal finances, professional standing and their coworkers. This unit is part of the “Ready…Set…Work!” curriculum, which contains 31 teaching units.

What is a resume?  How do I write a resume that will get my foot in the door?  This user-friendly teaching unit will help consumers learn the art of resume development.  It includes activities and easy templates to help consumers highlight their strengths and skills, use action words to make an impact, and create a resume of their own. This unit is part of the “Ready…Set…Work!” curriculum, which contains 31 teaching units.

Social skills can make or break a successful work experience. For people with developmental disabilities, the challenge of being socially appropriate at work requires practice through different models and materials.  The Social Skills at Work Game is an engaging teaching tool that makes social skills practice fun and promotes learning through laughter and debate. 

This game was developed for the PREP (Planned Readiness and Employability Program) groups at the YAI Day Habilitation Programs. It can be adapted for regular Day Hab use and for employment training programs.

Communication is the cornerstone of human interaction.  It can make or break a professional or personal relationship. It is also a great challenge for many people with developmental and intellectual disabilities. This unit teaches the tools of good communication including how to be a good listener, 3 Rules Before Speaking, conversation manners and nonverbal cues. 

The unit also teaches how to politely respond to directives from a supervisor and how to communicate assertively at work or at play. This unit is part of the “Ready…Set…Work!” curriculum, which contains 31 teaching units.

What questions are illegal for an interviewer to ask?  What are the repercussions of not answering a question? Should I disclose information about my disability to my boss?  This Disclosure teaching unit will help consumers answer these questions.  Concepts and skills covered include:

      - The difference between lying and not disclosing information
      - When it might be necessary to disclose information and
      - How to present oneself and potentially negative information in a positive manner. 

Consumer worksheets for this unit include “Complete the Story,” “Inappropriate Topics to Discuss,” “Inner Voice Role Play” and “Did She Lie or Not Disclose?” This unit is part of the “Ready…Set…Work!” curriculum, which contains 31 teaching units.

What does it mean to be “flexible” at work and in social situations? This unit will teach people with intellectual and developmental disabilities how flexibility and inflexibility play a role in their daily lives.  Role play alternatives will teach consumers what it means to work as a team, when to support the team and when someone might be taking advantage of them. This Flexibility and Teamwork unit is part of the “Ready…Set…Work!” curriculum, which contains 31 teaching units.

Is the interview my last chance to make a good impression? This teaching unit helps consumers learn the importance and art of writing a thank-you letter following an interview, a job offer and even a rejection. (You never know what could happen in the future!) It contains sample letters, templates and tips for what, when, and how to write a thank-you letters. This unit is part of the “Ready…Set…Work!” curriculum, which contains 31 teaching units.

What is a cover letter?  How does it help me get hired?  This unit will teach people with intellectual and developmental disabilities how a cover letter can help their job prospects.  It will also teach consumers how to write a cover letter using an easy to follow worksheet and template. This unit is part of the “Ready…Set…Work!” curriculum, which contains 31 teaching units.

Our appearance impacts all of our social and professional interactions.  Many people with ID are unaware of the impression their hygiene practice makes on others.  They may be unaware of all the components of hygiene that help them look approachable and pleasing to others.

The “Hygiene” teaching unit contains lesson plans, guides, and games ideas for teaching these important skills and for maintaining them while on the job.

This unit is part of the “Ready, Set, Work” curriculum, which contains 31 teaching units.

This is a quick, one-page document with tips for how to effectively counsel individuals in an employment program. Reflect, probe, support, model, role play and more.

This is a perfect tool to keep posted by your desk as a quick reference and reminder!

This unit, better known as “Arguing and Making Up,” teaches consumers the critical skills of conflict resolution. It examines the differences between aggressive, passive and and assertive communication styles.

The unit includes an easy step-by-step process for dealing with conflict. The teaching guide raises questions about why conflict occurs and how it can result in both positive and negative consequences.

Teaching tools include role plays and guides for resolving conflicts with coworkers, friends and family members. This unit is part of the “Ready, Set, Work” curriculum, which contains 31 teaching units.

Project HOPE, “Helping Other People Eat”, was set up to teach people how they can work together to help members of their community.  Groups put together bagged meals and deliver them to people who are homeless.  This is a wonderful program that can be easily duplicated!

Issues of sexual harassment are a challenge for all of us. People with developmental and intellectual disabilities face additional difficulties. They may feel uncomfortable in these situations but may be unable to articulate the problem. They may not realize that harassing behavior is illegal. Even when they understand that harassment is not OK, they may not have effective methods for fending off unwanted attention or the vehicles for reporting it. They may also unwittingly be the perpetrators of sexual harassment. 

This unit contains many hands-on activities that will teach consumers how to identify, handle and avoid sexual harassment. Activities include role plays that differentiate between our intent and the impact of what we say and do and scenarios that examine subtle and overt harassment. This unit is part of the “Ready…Set…Work!” curriculum, which contains 31 teaching units

Self esteem is critical for effective personal and professional success.  Many people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities see only the negative or “can’t do” aspects of themselves. They often lack the confidence to give an effective interview and to get ahead on the job. The “Feeling Good” curriculum contains lesson plans and consumer worksheets for helping consumers build and project confidence.  It is part of the “Ready…Set…Work!” curriculum, which contains 31 teaching units.

Along with appearance, a greeting is a critical component of a first impression. Many people with intellectual and developmental disabilities make mistakes such as greeting a supervisor or acquaintance too familiarly.  This unit contains lesson plans, role plays and guides that will teach people with intellectual and developmental disabilities what to say and do when greeting friends, coworkers, supervisors, customers and job interviewers. It also provides tools for learning how to speak on the telephone.  This Greetings unit is part of the “Ready…Set…Work!” curriculum, which contains 31 teaching units.

What is honesty? What are the possible consequences of being dishonest?  This unit will teach people with ID which behaviors at work are considered dishonest.  Worksheets help learners evaluate multiple ways of reacting to a coworker’s dishonesty.  Activities also teach the difference between honesty and tact by asking consumers to label statements as “sensitive or insensitive.” This unit is part of the “Ready..Set…Work!” curriculum, which contains 31 teaching units.

This introductory document includes a list of all 31 available teaching units, along with guidelines about how to use the curriculum. In addition, there are useful sections abouthow to run an effective and interesting training group,and effectively using language in the context of teaching this curriculum.

Consider this resource as a “first stop” when preparing to teach the Ready… Set… Work! curriculum.

In this teaching unit, consumers will learn the challenging art of working with a supervisor.

The unit covers concepts and issues including:

      *Understanding the role of a supervisor
      *Accepting constructive criticism and feedback from a supervisor
      *What to do if they do not understand a directive
      *How to deal with multiple supervisors, multiple tasks and conflicting demands
      *How to advocate for themselves for shifts, money, position, etc.

This unit is part of the “Ready…Set…Work!” curriculum, which contains 31 teaching units.

Finding opportunities for employment is a difficult task for anyone. For people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), this task is daunting on many levels including interpreting information, making inquiries and being prepared to make a first impression even before formally interviewed.  This unit contains lesson plans and consumer activities to help consumers learn the art of job development. 
Activities include:
    - finding your way around the “Help Wanted” ads
    - translating the ad abbreviations
    - pulling out pertinent information from an advertisement
    - finding other potential job leads
    - the role of the telephone and the internet in finding employment and
    - courtesy on the phone and how to handle walk-in opportunities.

This unit is part of the “Ready…Set…Work!” curriculum, which contains 31 teaching units.

Do the people you work with recognize their comfort level when working with people of different ages, gender, race and ethnicity?  Do they have coping strategies for working with people they are uncomfortable with? Do they have strategies for coping with people who are uncomfortable with or disrespectful to them?

Through the activities in this Diversity unit, consumers will come to understand their own preference. They will also learn how to recognize and handle situations where others are uncomfortable with them.This unit is part of the “Ready…Set…Work!” curriculum, which contains 31 teaching units.

How do I establish a good relationship with my boss and coworkers?  In this unit, people with intellectual and development disabilities (IDD) will learn how positive professional behavior leads to a positive image at work.

Through discussion and role-plays, consumers will learn some of key ways to project a positive attitude including: avoid sharing too much information, admit and correct mistakes, don’t bring personal problems to work and avoid gossip. This unit is part of the “Ready…Set…Work!” curriculum, which contains 31 teaching units.