eliminating jersey shore syndrome – bringing a dose of reality to career goals

Eliminating Jersey Shore Syndrome – Bringing a Dose of Reality to Career

Goals

presented byJoe Strechay

jstrechay@afb.net&

Scott Truaxstruax@afb.net

What is the purpose of this session?

• WE need to get everyone on board the realistic career goal TRAIN!

• Time to wake our students/clients up and give them a big glass of REALITY

S1: Professionals’ Survey

• Unrealistic Career Goals for Teens with Visual Impairments

• Launched: November 6, 2010 (Nationwide)• Informal National Survey

S2: Family Survey

• Unrealistic Career Goals for Teens with Visual Impairments

• Launched: May 20, 2012• Informal, Online, National Survey

S1: Who are you? (Professional role or relationship to the teen or teens)

• Teacher of the Visually Impaired 64.4% 38• Orientation & Mobility Instructor 16.9% 10• Rehabilitation Professional 3.4% 2• Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor 1.7% 1• Parent / Family Member 0.0% 0• Other 13.6% 8

S2: Who are you?

• Father: 8 percent• Mother: 82 percent• Grandparent: 3 percent• Other Family Member: 3 percent• Guardian: 3 percent

S1. Estimate the amount of time that you spend with an individual student/client on exploring and developing career goals with in a year?

• One Day 5.1%• Multiple Days (more than one day, but less

than a week) 20.3%• One Week 11.9%• Multiple Weeks (more than one week, but

less than a month) 25.4%• One Month 1.7% • More than a Month 35.6%

S2. Estimate the amount of time that you spend discussing careers and career goals with in a year?

• Never 24 percent• One Day 12 percent• Multiple Days (more than one day, but less than

a week) 26 percent• One Week 0 percent• Multiple Weeks (more than one week, but less

than a month) 15 percent• One Month 6 percent• More than a Month 17 percent

S1. Estimate what percentage of your students/clients have unrealistic career goals? (career goals that do not match their educational track, skills, or ability level)

• 5 percent 13.8%• 10 percent 5.2%• 20 percent 15.5%• 30 percent 27.6%• 40 percent 5.2%• 50 percent or More 32.8%• One non-response

S1. Provide an example of an unrealistic career goal that a student/client with a visual impairment has expressed?

• Professional Athlete (basketball, football, etc..) But, have never participated in competitive sports

• D.J. / Rapper / Singer / Actor / Musician (many reasons)

• Sportscaster (doesn’t communicate well)• Lawyer (not on an appropriate educational

track / lacking scores)

S1. Provide an example of an unrealistic career goal that a student/client with a visual impairment has expressed?

• Gun Smith (never used or held a gun / parents support this idea)

• Hunting Guide (never hunted)• Runway Model (no vision)• Blood Splat Analyst (watches too much CSI)• Animal Psychic (What is spot saying? - Not bad!)• Marine (soldier on the front lines)• Nurse (lacking the academics)

S1. What are some tools that you use to promote realistic career goals with your students/clients?

• Interest Inventories / Assessment• APH Transition Tote & Karen Wolffe’s Trans. Checklist• AFB CareerConnect• College campuses & Disability Centers• O-Net Online

S1. What are some tools that you use to promote realistic career goals with your students/clients?

• Discussion• Work with their families early• Introduce them to as many jobs & related jobs as

possible• “Success Stories”• Mentors• www.bridges.com Bridges• Occupational Outlook Handbook

More…

• Job shadowing• Interviews• Work experiences• Observations• Volunteering• Work Experience

S1. What is one tip or piece of advice that you would want to give to others about promoting realistic career goals? (Tip, advice, or best practice)

• Introduce them to mentors• Explore career characteristics / Requirements• Guide them, don’t tell them!• Work with their parents early on• Job shadowing• Network with people in that field• Be honest and upfront• Don’t say, “can’t” because they hear that all of the time• Experiences• “Don’t kill their dreams!”

S2. Do you feel that you have access to the career exploration resources that you need?

• Yes: 35 percent• No: 26 percent• Unsure: 38 percent

S2. What resources are you using to help with career exploration?

Common answers:•School or School for the Blind•VR•Internet•Discussion

Interesting…

• My child is 13, so we are not worrying about that yet.

• School: majority of answers• VR: second most common

S1. Estimate what percentage of your students that you believe will reach their career goal?

• 10 percent 13.6%• 30 percent 28.8%• 50 percent 32.2%• 70 percent 16.9%• 90 percent 8.5%• 100 percent 0.0%

Goal Setting, Mapping, & Career Goals

ERASE low expectation and aim for achievable goals

• Exploring interests, values, and abilities• Researching goals• Are the goals Achievable• Set objectives• Execute and Evaluate Progress!

Mapping Out Career Goals

• Map out the future• It can & will change• Set objectives and work to achieve them• It is important to always have goals &

objectives• Inform others• Be accountable

Promoting TRUE Independence

Who helps with accommodations on the job or in school?

• Problem solving• Accommodating for themselves as much as

possible• Learn to put in the extra time

AFB CareerConnect• Mentors• Virtual Work Sites• Explore Careers: Career Clusters• Job Seeker’s Toolkit (Free)• For teens & adults1. Self-Awareness2. Career Exploration Tools3. Pre-Interview Skills & Tools4. Interview & Follow-Up

FamilyConnect

• Families can make Connections• Programs, Services, and Events• Read content by age range

VisionAware

• NEW!• Relevant information persons dealing with

vision loss• All areas of life• Blogs• Content covering from young adults to

seniors

AccessWorld

• AccessWorld App is free!• Product evaluations• Mainstream and assistive technology• Cell phones• Home appliances & personal medical

equipment

Resources

• AFB CareerConnect - free• Job Seeker’s Toolkit - free• Career Clusters (AFB CareerConnect)• AccessWorld – free• APH Transition Tote (Fall ‘12)• Mentoring! Mentors with vision loss & sighted• Internships – as many as possible

Other Resources

• USAJOBS.com – Federal Jobs• GettingHired.com• NIB & NIB CareersWithVision• DisabledPerson, Inc.• VR• Career Centers• Job Fairs• Knocking on doors!• Networking

Other Resources

• Volunteering• Hadley School for the Blind: offers

employment course, business writing, AT Courses, & Self Employment)

• ODEP

Contact Information

Joe StrechayCareerConnect Program Managerjstrechay@afb.net&Scott TruaxFamilyConnect Program Managerstruax@afb.net