by Tammy Adams Janis Friend

1. Challenges & Opportunities for Success in Education and Employment for Individuals Who Are LFD or At Risk by Tammy Adams Janis Friend

2. High School’s Over…What Now? • I have a reading level of 3.2 • I have a math level of 2.5 • I have no work experience or training • I have never managed my own money or lived independently • I do not have a high school diploma but rather a Certificate of Completion

3. High School’s Over…What Now? • I went to a mainstream school and didn’t really have the opportunity to develop good ASL skills as my “interpreter” was not skilled in ASL. • Because I don’t have good communication skills, they say I am “intellectually challenged”. • My family thinks I should sit at home and draw SSI and not work…they don’t think I can do anything. • I don’t have any deaf friends with whom to socialize.

4. Desirable Characteristics of a Service Provider • Someone who believes in me and can make others aware of what I CAN do. • Someone who can make others realize I have much to contribute to the work-force, community & society. • Someone who can communicate effectively with me. • Someone who understands my situation and challenges. • Someone who respects me and gives me dignity.

5. Desirable Characteristics of a Service Provider • As an administrator looking to hire someone to work with individuals who are LFD or at risk, I look for the following: • Communication skills…either a native communicator or someone who can easily adapt their communication style to fit the consumer. • Desire to serve this population. • Flexible & adaptable.

6. Desirable Characteristics of a Service Provider • Ability to look at the whole person. • Strong background in deafness & experience with different levels of functioning. • Knowledgeable about learning styles and cognitive disabilities. • Knowledge of other disabilities • A mentor and/or someone who can model appropriate dress and behavior.

7. Desirable Characteristics of a Job Coach, Counselor, Etc. • Good communications skills and the willingness to use alternate communication strategies (CDI, communication coach, etc.) when necessary to help the individual communicate with him/her and with others in their environment. • Belief in the ability of the individual with whom they work to contribute to the employer.

8. Desirable Characteristics of a Job Coach, Counselor, Etc. • The ability to convey their belief in the ability of the individual to employers and co-workers. • Adaptability combined with the ability to easily manage a relationship with both the employer and the consumer. • Good communication skills to enable him/her to establish a relationship with employers & co-workers. • Creativity is essential

9. Desirable Characteristics of a Job Coach, Counselor, Etc. - Good sign and/or non-verbal communication skills • Attention to detail and non-verbal cues by the employer, co-workers and consumer. • Ability to see the big picture of what the goals are for the consumer and capability to negotiate resources to assist in achieving his/her goals. • Team player • Knowledge about technology/AT

10. Non-Negotiable Skills • Communication…direct communication is always to be desired. • “Heart” or desire for serving individuals who are LFD or at risk. • Patience to hang in for the “long haul” • Adaptability…willingness to be flexible and creative and able to adapt to different strategies and situations.

11. If a person has these characteristics, then the rest can be taught.

12. Training for Service Providers • Where can I find training for staff who work with individuals who are LFD or at risk? • The needs of individuals who are LFD or at risk are very diverse and complex and it requires specialized skills…where do we learn those skills? • There is no formalized training program for serving this population…each administrator has to put together whatever resources he/she can to enable the person to develop the needed skills.

13. Training for Service Providers • In 2004 The National Task Force on Serving Persons who are Deaf and Low Functioning developed a Nationwide Model of Service containing 4 areas of emphasis: • Standards of Service • Cohesive Programming • Trained Personnel • Research Due to lack of funding this model has not been implemented but it is vital to do so before we can even begin to say we are meeting the unique needs of this population.

14. Training for Service Providers • Training that previously existed (e.g. annual LFD conference in Houston) is no longer available due to either lack of funding or the failure of administrators to recognize the need or benefit of such training. • 2008 Model State Plan provides training and information on service provision to this population.

15. Training for Service Providers • More effort to get the educational and rehabilitation worlds to work together… more joint training & collaborative efforts • Strategies to work with individuals with cognitive issues are sometimes successful with individuals who are LFD or at risk. • Training for job coaches is available and a component for serving individuals who are LFD or at risk could be added to existing training.

16. Cross-Training for Service Providers • All those involved in service provision to an individual who is LFD or at risk should participate in training together… this helps to get everyone “on the same page”. • Provides the opportunity to determine what each agency can contribute to the overall well being of the individual.

17. Cross-Training for Service Providers • Teachers and rehabilitation professionals need to be cross-trained and that relationship cultivated. • Should also be incorporated into training for interpreters and evaluators. • Working as a team across all disciplines

18. How Do I Identify Someone Who Is LFD or At Risk? • The 25th Institute on Rehabilitation Issues in 1999 • Contains a listing of common characteristics of this population • Intake interview form • Assessment tool developed by the NIDRR Project at the University of Arkansas • Experience

19. How Can I Provide Effective Services? • If no funding is available for a special program or staff, focus on “pooling” resources to develop a team approach, e.g. take a LD specialist, teacher, evaluator, a “deaf specialist”, interpreter, etc. and create a LFD or deaf at risk team that could develop a system of service delivery that could then be replicated in other areas of the state.

20. How Can I Provide Effective Services? • Establish regional teams to problem-solve and identify resources. • Keep a checklist of what resources are needed to serve this population and where they are located within the state. • This will vary from one individual to the other due to the diversity of the population

21. How Can I Provide Effective Services? • Ensure that job coaches understand their relationship and responsibility with the consumer but also with the employer. Understanding the work culture of the business and the expectations of the employer will be an important factor in a successful placement.

22. How Can I Provide Effective Services? • Person-Centered Planning is a valuable tool to use to develop services for those for whom it is appropriate. • Focuses on the individual’s abilities (not their deficits) • Identifies barriers and opportunities • Uses teamwork to successfully overcome barriers and build on opportunities

23. And Then What??? • If all tools at our disposal are successfully used, the individual will achieve: • Independence • A job • A place in the community • Opportunities to socialize and make friends • In other words….have a life!