Here is a scenario I'd like you to respond to. I realize that in real life you have a lot more to go on, but start with this and see what you can do with it. Jason comes to you seeking employment support services. His mother is older and is worried about his future, realizing that “she’s not going to be around forever.” Jason is 23 and lives at home. He has not worked since he finished high school last year, where he had a part-time job as part of his IEP and transition program. He has intellectual disability and Down’s Syndrome. Jason worked in a kitchen scrubbing pots and washing dishes. He was very good at it, his coworkers loved him, and they didn't want him to leave. Unfortunately, the school placed people on temporarily in "work experience" jobs (the flaw in their plan is that he didn't graduate with a job) and his "turn" was up. In any event, he says he "hated" that job because it was dirty and hot. The school got him the job and sent someone to work to help him every day he worked for four months. His teachers told his mother that this was the only kind of work Jason was able to do. She’s really concerned and wants him to work. His mom says he has limited academic skills but he is strong and he likes being around people and he can learn things if you take the time to show him how to do it and you give him a chance. She says he spends a few days each week collecting aluminum cans for recycling. He donates them to the local high school athletic department to support their teams. He’s always been into sports. In high school he was a big fan, attending lots of athletic events. Even now, he continues to go whenever he can, and is well-known for his enthusiasm. Jason does not speak much, but understands what people say and is pretty adept at communicating what he wants. In interviewing him, you find that he wants to work full-time, but is willing to start part-time with at least 25 hours per week; he needs to earn close to $13 per hour; he prefers active environments – he doesn't like to sit or be stationary; he prefers being around “guys”; he responds well to familiarity and needs direction and support to learn new things, but he also likes a little variety (like when he collects cans he goes to the same places to get them, but switches up which place he goes on which day) and he adjusts to some changes provided the core routine or tasks remain the same. Jason says he wants a job “like my brother.” He doesn't actually want the same job, he just wants a job. He says he wants to be a professional wrestler and is pretty adamant that it is the only thing he’ll consider. Considering what you are learning about job design, job carving, job modification, and accommodation, please share your thoughts about where you would start with this. I look forward to hearing your thoughts!
I agree with Kayla Chesser I would. I think I would start with jobs in the athletic department first and see if he liked those first since that is one of his bigger interest.
Jason expresses his career interest in sports. I would assess his skills and abilities to evaluate his strength and weakness for job(s) he likes. I would interview his brother for job input, and find out more from Jason on particularly what inspire his desired goal as a professional wrestler. Situational assessment would be useful to identify his capabilities and jobs toward his career goal.
After reading about his interest and skills but taking in his likes and dislikes I have come up with a variety of suggestions. First I would reach out into the community to see if he can find a position within the local Highschool within the sports department. Maybe find a osiyion helping out the wrestling team or other sports within the school athletic system if available. Then depending on my outcomes I will present the positions available to him to see if he would enjoy these opportunities.
Taking in his skills and interest first and then seeking out into the community or surrounding areas to see what all is out there and available that would hire Jason. Once you know then it would be best to sit down with Jason and allow him to decide where he would like to persue a job. Allowing Jason to pick and seeing first hand what the job would look like would give him a better idea if this is what he would like to do. If Jason picks any of those options then the next step would be to physically and virbually show him what is expected of him.
Learning more about Jason and letting him grow to trust me and the program that we're setting up to work for him are first and perhaps most fundamental. Finding out exactly what he really wants to do and helping him understand what is involved in that process, maybe by a bit of on-the-job observation. Working from there, I think we'll be able to help him understand what is required and involved in a variety of jobs -- even the professional wrestling that he says he wants so much.
I think it'd be more appealing for Jason to start with area sports teams - high schools, professional or minor league teams, college teams, and work on job carving within those. I understand this might be a too-specific way to start, so I like Kayla P's suggestions. It's important to know Jason well to see what he's willing to do, which may differ from what he wants to do, or thinks he can or thinks he wants to do.
First I'd explored the possibilites in the things and jobs that interest him. I'd take him to several possible job sites that may or may not interest him. If we find something that interests him I would help him to pursue the job opportunity and support him to secure it.
I think since Jason has so many different interests and desires, it would be good to start off by sketching out a detailed list of possible positions he may want to consider. Then, when the list is formed, you could meet with Jason and go over the list to see if any of the positions seem like something he would be more drawn to. Then you can narrow the list down. Once you've established certain jobs he may actually like, you can work on possible accommodations where they are needed. Once that is done, you can begin to work on actually reaching out to possible companies with the prospect of hiring Jason to work.
Taking some time to get to know more about Jason and his likes, interests and hobbies as well as his skill set. Using the Discovery tool would be an advantage in gathering important information as well. It appears that he likes sports, being in that type of atmosphere, and being around males would open up several possibilities. For example if he were to obtain employment in a sports equipment store, the job could be carved out to allow him to stock the new inventory while maintaining current stock. We could revise a stockers list of tasks to limit the verbal communication required while still allowing him to be hands on.
Initially the first thing I would do is spend time with Jason. I find that relationship and trust building is first and foremost. During that time building trust and a relationship we would work in Discovery, I would like to see Jason and activities he enjoys first hand. Some times when someone says they like something, they may not actually enjoy it in a professional setting. There are a lot of clues that can be uncovered in the discovery process.
Because Jason has so many interest,I would start with a situational observation and go around his area and find all the places that are included in his interests and are willing to hire him. I then would take jason to these places and let him observe the enviorment, maybe get some hands on experience, or a tour to determine which job he would like to persue.
