workplace inclusion & sustainable employment · • walk away with person-centered plan,...

Workplace Inclusion & Sustainable Employment


Ryan Cole, M.S., CRC

Lucy Gafford, M.S., CRC

2019 Texas Workforce Conference

Grapevine, TX

December 2019

Transition ProgramsBest Practices & Lessons Learned


• Program within the Department of Rehabilitation and Health Services at the University of North Texas

• UNT WISE offers several services including:

• Continuing Education• Live/Recorded Webinars

• Texas Credential & Endorsement Programs

• Transition Trainings

• Employment & Disability-Related Trainings

• Transition Summer Programs

• UNT ENGAGE

UNT WISE: Who Are We?


• Designed to help job seekers secure the employment, education, training and support services needed to succeed in the workforce

• Matches employers with the skilled workers they need to compete in the global market

• The following core programs are authorized under WIOA:• Employment and training for adults, dislocated workers and youth

• Wagner-Peyser employment services

• Adult education and literacy programs

• Vocational Rehabilitation state grant programs that assist individuals with disabilities in obtaining employment

Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act (WIOA)


• Live & Learn Summer Program

• College WISE Summer Program

• STEM Programs

• Transition Trainings – “Houston Transition Summit”

UNT WISE Transition Programs


• Two-week overnight program

• Independent living, vocational, and social/recreation skills

• Participants ages 14 – 22

• Participants have an interest going into the workforce, OJT, or certificate training programs

• Counselors are undergrad, graduate, and doctoral students

• Classroom learning, hands on labs activities, guest speakers, worksite observations

• Walk away with person-centered plan, resume, mock interview feedback, and vocational evaluation results

Live & Learn Summer Program

Live & Learn Activities

• Transportation Training

• Vocational Evaluations

• Resume Writing

• Mock Interviews

• Self Advocacy & Disability Disclosure

• Communication Skills

• Worksite Observation Tours

• Creative Career Forum

• Technology Petting Zoo

• Activities of Daily Living

• Physical Fitness Lab

• Food & Kitchen Safety Lab

• Cooking Lab

• Nutrition Lab

• Escape Room

• Climbing Wall

• Media Library

• Leisure Pool

• Denton Square Outing

• Team Sports


Live & Learn Photos


• One-week overnight program

• Independent living, vocational, and social/recreation skills


• Participants have an interest in pursuing post-secondary education either at a community college or university

• Counselors are undergrad, graduate, and doctoral students

• Classroom learning, hands on labs activities, guest speakers

• Walk away with PATH Plan and vocational evaluation results

College WISE Summer Program

College WISE Activities

• Classroom Instruction

• Guest Speakers*

• On-Campus Academic Resources*

• Vocational Evaluations*

• Exploration of Majors & Occupations*

• Self Advocacy & Disability Disclosure

• Professional Communication*

• Transportation Training

• High School Career Connect*

• Activities of Daily Living

[* = activities different than Live & Learn]

• Physical Fitness Lab

• Food & Kitchen Safety Lab

• Cooking Lab

• Nutrition Lab

• Escape Room

• Media Library

• Climbing Wall

• Leisure Pool

• Denton Square Outing

• Team Sports

College WISE Photos


• Last year was not residential, hopeful to create a residential component

• Last year focus was on exploring areas within STEM, hopeful to add independent living and social/recreation components


• Participants have an interest within STEM

• Counselors are undergrad and graduate students

• Classroom learning, hands on activities/experiments, guest speakers

• Walk away with UNT WISE STEM Program Completion Certificate

STEM Programs

STEM at the Park 2018 Activities

• Electronic Snap Circuits Kits

• Rover Programming

• Atmospheric Chemistry

• 3D Printing: Designing and Fabricating

• Virtual Reality Lab

• Civil Engineering Builds


Explore STEM! Computer Science 2019 Activities

• Network fundamentals

• Website programming with CCS/HTML

• Guest Speakers:

• Apple

• Vistra


Explore STEM! Computer Engineering 2019 Activities

• Basic Programming/Rover Programming

• Internet of Things (IoT) Activity

• Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Soldering

• Guest Speakers

• Boeing

• Lockheed Martin


STEM Maker Camp 2019 Activities

• Day 1: Woodworking

• Guest Speaker: Hilti Corp

• Day 2: Mechanical Linkages

• Guest Speaker: Raytheon

• Day 3: Electronics

• Day 4: Scratch Programming/Makey Makey

• Guest Speaker: Siemens

• Day 5: Arduino


• One-day event

• Focus is to increase skills needed for employment

• Session topics:

• Exploring Careers

• Is College for me?

• Disclosure and Self-Advocacy

• Job Readiness…am I ready?

• Skills for the Future

• Business Etiquette

• Sessions lead by UNT WISE Staff & UNT Faculty

• Walk away with a Transition Summit Completion Certificate

Transition Training - Houston Transition Summit


Transition Trainings – Houston Transition Summit Photos


• Reinforce lectures/discussion with hands on learning

• Provide different modes for learning (lectures, discussions, labs, role playing, small breakout groups)

• Begin programming with ice breaker activities

• Lesson topics should begin with the basics and build to more advanced concepts

• Intersperse social/recreation, independent living, and vocational lessons throughout programming, try to incorporate multiple aspects into one lesson

Best Practices


• Create a take-away product/plan (certificate, person centered plan, PATH plan)

• Provide at least one week long training for all summer program staff

• Consider a residential component to be able to address holistic needs and increase access to participants

• Digitize programming for easier accessibility

• Ensure programming and the delivery of programming are age appropriate and adjustable based on need

• The smaller the ratio the better

Best Practices Continued…


• Use peer mentors when possible

• Keep activities to 40-50 minute intervals when possible

• Gamify when possible

• Offer incentives and a lot of positive praise

• Set high expectations, follow through with consequences

Best Practices Continued….


• Think through the logistics of programming, limit extensive walking

• No sessions during lunch time

• Registration – have a point of contact (VRC) that registers participants

• Make sure to allot plenty of time for programming so additional supports can be provided as needed

Lessons Learned


• Residential vs. non-residential

• Cell phone issues/distractions

• Make sure all parties understand purpose and limitations of programming (families not disclosing student needs or asking us to go outside of our purpose)

• Set project responsibilities (making sure everyone know POC and responsibilities)

Lessons Learned Continued…


• Limit tablet use to only when needed for activities

• Emergency procedures are imperative

• Make sure releases are VERY clear (digital release, participation form)

• Leave plenty of time for planning and document the planning timeline for future programming

Lessons Learned Continued….


• Money Smart for Young Adults

• The 411 on Disability Disclosure

• Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP)

• Jobs Y’all

• TEXASgenuine Assessment

• Texas Reality Check

Resources

https://www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/moneysmart/adult.html

http://www.ncwd-youth.info/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/411_Disability_Disclosure_complete.pdf

https://www.dol.gov/odep/

https://jobsyall.com/

http://assessment.texasgenuine.org/

https://texasrealitycheck.com/

Contact Information

Ryan Cole, M.S. CRC - [email protected]

Lucy Gafford, M.S. CRC - [email protected]

University of North Texas

UNTWISE

940-565-4000

: @UNTXWISE

http://www.facebook.com/UNTXWISE

workplace inclusion & sustainable employment · • walk away with person-centered plan,...

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