Parent InvolvementParent InvolvementTransition School to WorkTransition School to Work

Preparing Your Child for Preparing Your Child for EmploymentEmployment

Why Focus on Employment?Why Focus on Employment?

Work-based learning during the school Work-based learning during the school years leads to better post-school years leads to better post-school employment outcomes (Hughes, Moore, & employment outcomes (Hughes, Moore, & Bailey, 1999). Bailey, 1999).

Volunteer experiences and unpaid Volunteer experiences and unpaid internships, in addition to paid internships, in addition to paid employment, can be steppingstones to employment, can be steppingstones to future employment. future employment.

Why?Why?

Recent studies demonstrate the Recent studies demonstrate the effectiveness of using personal networks effectiveness of using personal networks as a job search strategy (Timmons, as a job search strategy (Timmons, Hamner, & Boes, 2003), and highlight the Hamner, & Boes, 2003), and highlight the fact that families make key contributions to fact that families make key contributions to successful employment outcomes for successful employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities (26th Institute individuals with disabilities (26th Institute on Rehabilitation Issues, 2000). on Rehabilitation Issues, 2000).

How can Parents Help?How can Parents Help?

Combine community relationships, a Combine community relationships, a

young person’s interests, and family or young person’s interests, and family or

personal networks to help a young person personal networks to help a young person

effectively explore work-based learning effectively explore work-based learning

outside of school settings. outside of school settings.

How?How?

Help your sons or daughters explore their Help your sons or daughters explore their

unique abilities, strengths, and interests—all unique abilities, strengths, and interests—all

of which may lead to an appropriate career of which may lead to an appropriate career

path. path.

How?How?

Use practical strategies to prepare them Use practical strategies to prepare them for employment by:for employment by:– assigning chores at home assigning chores at home – encouraging youth to volunteer in their encouraging youth to volunteer in their

community community – keeping an eye open for employment keeping an eye open for employment

opportunitiesopportunities– discussing different careers in the communitydiscussing different careers in the community

How?How?

– Teach youth to be self-advocates while Teach youth to be self-advocates while searching for a good job.searching for a good job.

– share your insight and information, with the share your insight and information, with the IEP Team, which may serve as a basis to IEP Team, which may serve as a basis to determine strategies and services for the determine strategies and services for the transition IEP goals.transition IEP goals.

What are Self Determination Skills?What are Self Determination Skills?

Self-knowledge. Know skills, abilities, Self-knowledge. Know skills, abilities, strengths, and limitations.strengths, and limitations.

Goal setting. Set appropriate goals and Goal setting. Set appropriate goals and work toward them.work toward them.

Problem solving/decision making/choice Problem solving/decision making/choice making skills.making skills.

Self advocacy. Speak up for oneself, Self advocacy. Speak up for oneself, know rights, understand health & disability.know rights, understand health & disability.

Why Teach Self Determination?Why Teach Self Determination?

Ultimately, to be successful in the Ultimately, to be successful in the

workplace, youth must develop skills to workplace, youth must develop skills to

become as independent as possible.become as independent as possible.

Research supports the idea that youth who Research supports the idea that youth who leave high school with self-determination skills leave high school with self-determination skills have a greater chance of achieving positive have a greater chance of achieving positive post-school outcomes than those who do not. post-school outcomes than those who do not. (Wehmeyer & Schwartz, 1997). (Wehmeyer & Schwartz, 1997).

How Can Parents Help?How Can Parents Help?

Parents can help their children develop Parents can help their children develop self-determination skills by creating a self-determination skills by creating a supportive environment, which allows supportive environment, which allows youth to take risks, test their abilities and youth to take risks, test their abilities and limitations, develop their problem solving limitations, develop their problem solving skills, and practice positive work habits skills, and practice positive work habits and behaviors. and behaviors.

Whose Future Is It?Whose Future Is It?

Although parents can do much to launch Although parents can do much to launch

their sons and daughters into the work force, their sons and daughters into the work force,

their children’s future is their own.their children’s future is their own.

You You cancan make a difference make a difference through positive transition through positive transition

planning!planning!

Questions?Questions?

If you would like more information about If you would like more information about the transition process contact Jane the transition process contact Jane Winstead, Director of Transition Services, Winstead, Director of Transition Services, Tennessee Department of Education, Tennessee Department of Education, Division of Special Education at:Division of Special Education at:

Jane.winstead@state.tn.usJane.winstead@state.tn.us

ReferencesReferences

Material adapted from a publication of the Material adapted from a publication of the National Center for Secondary Education and National Center for Secondary Education and Transition (NCSET):Transition (NCSET):

Preparing for Employment: On the Home FrontPreparing for Employment: On the Home Front

The entire publication is available on the Web at: The entire publication is available on the Web at: http://www.ncset.org/publications/viewdesc.asp?http://www.ncset.org/publications/viewdesc.asp?id=2844id=2844