Linking Employment, Abilities

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Linking Employment, Abilities Potential (LEAP)

• Youth Transition
• Job Link
• and
• High School/High Tech
• Building for the Future State Planning Institute
• May 13th, 2009, Charlotte, NC

2
Dropout Prevention Guide from the Institute of
Education Sciences
Dynarski, M., Clarke, L., Cobb, B., Finn, J.,
Rumberger, R., and Smink, J. (2008). Dropout
Prevention A Practice Guide (NCEE 20084025).
Washington, DC National Center for Education
Evaluation and Regional Assistance, Institute of
Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education.
Retrieved from http//ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc
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IES Recommendation - Diagnostic

• 1. Utilize data systems that support a realistic
  diagnosis of the number of students who drop out
  and that help identify individual students at
  high risk of dropping out.
• Level of Evidence Low

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IES Recommendation Targeted interventions

• 2. Assign adult advocates to students at risk of
  dropping out.
• Evidence Level Moderate

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IES Recommendation Targeted interventions

• 3. Provide academic support and enrichment to
  improve academic performance.
• Evidence Level Moderate

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IES Recommendation Targeted interventions

• 4. Implement programs to improve students
  classroom behavior and social skills.
• Evidence Level Low

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IES Recommendation- Schoolwide interventions

• 5. Personalize the learning environment and
  instructional process.
• Evidence Level Moderate

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IES Recommendation- Schoolwide interventions

• 6. Provide rigorous and relevant instruction to
  better engage students in learning and provide
  the skills needed to graduate and to serve them
  after they leave school.
• Evidence Level Moderate

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Job Link School-to-Work Transition Program

• Program Goal - To assist youth with disabilities
  to make a successful transition from school to
  employment upon graduation
• Year round youth development and employment
  programming provides
• Work related and life skills training
• Community based training and work experience
• Services and support for obtaining and retaining
  employment upon graduation

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Job Link

• Currently serving students at six Cleveland
  Metropolitan High Schools
• 10th, 11th, 12th grades
• Developmental Disabilities
• Multiple Disabilities
• Deaf or Hard of Hearing

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Job Link

• Small group structure based upon level of
  functioning and years of participation
• A Program Coordinator and Employment Specialist
  are assigned to each school
• Staff are scheduled with each student 2-3 times
  per week in the school setting
• One-on-one meetings to address individual needs /
  issues

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Job Link

• Curriculum
• Focus On The Individual
• Relationship Building With Family Friends
• Individual Future Planning
• Building Relationships With The Community
• Employment Issues Getting Keeping A Job

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Job Link

• Summer Employment Program at Community Sites
• Various positions matched to students interests
  and abilities
• Evaluation of skills, endurance, capacity to
  work, aptitude, quality and quantity of work and
  issues that may impact employment
• Interpreting / translation services

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Job Link

• Increased awareness of different jobs
• Skills developed during school year continue to
  be reinforced
• On-site assessment, training, job coaching

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Job Link

• Individual Services Include
• Case coordination and community support services
• Academic Support/Intervention for Dropout
  Prevention
• Referral for RSC and MRDD eligibility
• Coordinate / advocate for appropriate community
  agency services
• Represent / advocate at SSA, Job Family
  Services, Juvenile Court, etc.

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Job Link

• Referral to Disability Benefits Assistance
• Public transit Discount Farecard or Paratransit
  service application
• Travel assessment and training on public transit
• State ID acquisition / Drivers License
  preparation
• Interpreting / Translation services

Learning to use public transit
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Job Link

• Youth Development activities include
• Service Learning Projects
• Community Service / Volunteer Opportunities
• Youth Leadership Training and Activities
• All Ohio Youth Leadership Summit
• Ohio Youth Leadership Forum
• National Youth Leadership Network
• Leadership Projects
• LEAP Youth Advocacy Group

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Job Link

• Employment Services
• Employment Specialist meets weekly with each
  graduating senior
• Vocational Profile Collects evaluation data,
  creates history of work experience, records
  interests, preferences and learning and
  performance characteristics, identifies special
  needs and potential accommodations
• Career Exploration, Job Shadowing

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Job Link

• Job Seeking Skills Training
• Help with developing resume, assistance with job
  applications
• Mock Interviews with community employers are
  videotaped for self-assessment
• Community Based Work Experience developed for
  skills assessment and career exploration
• Job Development Job Placement, Job Coaching,
  Follow-along for Job Retention

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Job Link

• In December 2001, Job Link was recognized by the
  National Youth Employment Coalition with a
  Promising and Effective Practices Network
  (PEPNet) Award for youth employment and
  development
• Job Link is also highlighted in the National
  Collaborative on Workforce and Disabilitys
  Pro-Bank, an online database of promising
  programs and practices in the workforce
  development system that effectively address the
  needs of youth with disabilities

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Job Link
Christopher, a graduate of the Job Link Program,
is a Medical Supply Aid at the VA Medical Center.
Due to Christophers story being such a success,
United Way Services of Greater Cleveland featured
him in their 2007 Annual Report and Campaign
materials!
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Job Link Outcomes 1994-2008

• 95 Program Completion/School Retention
  (including Graduation)
• 81 Placed upon Graduation into Employment and/or
  Further Training
• 83 Annual Average Job Retention for those placed
  into employment

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High School / High Tech

• Program Goal - To assist high school youth with
  disabilities to become independent, productive
  members of the technology-driven workforce

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High School / High Tech

• High School/High Tech (HS/HT) is a
  community-based enrichment program designed to
• Expose high school students with disabilities to
  a variety of career opportunities,
• Ready them for post-secondary education, and
• Encourage them to achieve long-term success

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High School / High Tech

• The program is open to high school students in
  the Greater Cleveland area with the capacity and
  interest to pursue technology related careers
• Currently serving 10-20 students per year
• Sensory disabilities
• Physical disabilities
• Autism spectrum

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High School / High Tech

• The HS/HT program creatively exposes youth with
  disabilities to science, technology, engineering,
  math and medical (STEM) based career
  opportunities through
• Preparatory experiences
• Connecting activities
• Work experiences
• Leadership development
• These design features are based on the latest in
  evidence-based research and ODEP is integrating
  these four design features into its youth-related
  policy initiatives, including HS/HT.
• For more information about the HS/HT model visit
  www.ncwd-youth.info

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High School / High Tech

• Preparatory Experiences Activities for
  exploration of careers and post-secondary
  education, career assessment, opportunity
  awareness, and work-readiness skills in
  technology fields

A visit to Cuyahoga Community College
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High School / High Tech

• Connecting Activities Activities featuring
  in-program and post-program support, and that are
  designed to benefit each individual participant

Travel Training to the Internship site
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High School / High Tech

• Work-based Experiences Including work site
  visits, job shadowing and summer internships

A visit to Thundertech (graphic design)
Learning some CAD basics at Affiliated Metal, Inc.
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High School / High Tech

• Leadership Development Activities which include
  exposing youth to leadership skills such as
  self-advocacy and self-determination, as well as
  activities that build self-esteem, interpersonal
  skills and team building

Workshop on Communication Styles
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High School / High Tech

• Zack, who has skills and interest in graphic
  design, interned in the Public Information and
  Communication depart. of the Cuyahoga County
  Board of MR/DD
• His duties included designing flyers and posters
  for programs and events

Zacks Internship in Public Information and
Communication
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High School / High Tech

• Through HS/HT, David took advantage of college
  tours and class audits, and set his goal for the
  fields of Audio Technology and IT
• David had a 4 week internship with Best Buys
  Geek Squad in which he gained valuable skills in
  Technology Support

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High School / High Tech

• David worked as a Technical Support intern with
  Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry
• He provided technical support to staff,
  troubleshooting problems and performing hardware
  and software installations
• David attends Cuyahoga Community College

David at work at LMM
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High School/High Tech Outcomes2005-2008

• 93 Program Completion/School Retention
  (including Graduation)
• 73 Entered Post-Secondary Education upon High
  School Graduation

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IES Recommendations aligned with LEAP Youth
Transition model

• 2. Assign adult advocates to students at risk of
  dropping out.
• 3. Provide academic support and enrichment to
  improve academic performance.
• 4. Implement programs to improve students
  classroom behavior and social skills.
• 5. Personalize the learning environment and
  instructional process.
• 6. Provide rigorous and relevant instruction to
  better engage students in learning and provide
  the skills needed to graduate and to serve them
  after they leave school (introduce to
  post-secondary options).

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Contact Information

• Sandra Carlson
• Youth Transition Program Director
• Linking Employment, Abilities and Potential
  (LEAP)
• 1468 West 25th Street
• Cleveland, Ohio 44113
• 216-696-2716 ext. 110
• scarlson_at_leapinfo.org