marc gold & associates© 1 25 steps to successful discovery and customization the following...

Marc Gold & Associates©

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25 Steps to Successful Discovery and Customization

The following steps will provide you with a tool to organize the interactions necessary for discovery and the customized process. We recommend that you use the Customized Activity Log as a data form to take you through the sequence of activities.


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1. Getting Started

Explain Customized Employment, Discovery process, and Vocational Profile to job seeker and family in an office/school environment.

School Environment

Marc Gold & Associates©3


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2. “Paperwork” aspects

Complete identification information from Profile Form as a part of Step 1, before visiting the home. Have family confirm that information is complete and accurate. Avoid sensitive aspects as necessary such as specific ages of family members.


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3. Outcome of process

Clarify that the outcome for this individual of the Customized Process will be a customized job for regular wages in the community. Address questions and concerns of the individual and family/supporters. Ask if a benefits analysis could be scheduled.


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4. Scheduling initial visit to job seeker’s home

Schedule an initial meeting with job seeker and family at the job seeker’s home (or alternate location if family or job seeker is not comfortable inviting you to their home). This is a critical aspect of discovery and an explanation of “why” may be necessary.

Alternate location


Step 5: Develop Part I of the Profile

Following the initial meeting with the participant and family, as appropriate, fill out and complete Part I of the Profile, The Intake Interview. Use Part II of the Profile, The Discovery Profile, to guide areas of exploration for the subsequent steps of discovery.


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Procedural note

While gathering information during Discovery, capture the person’s skills, contributions, and performance of job tasks we strongly recommend that you take observational/interview notes and digital pictures to assist in the development of a narrative or visual profile information and for their Representational Portfolio.


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Step 6. Scoping out the neighborhood

Before or immediately after the visit to the job seeker’s home, tour the neighborhood and observe surroundings, safety, businesses, culture, transportation, services near the home, etc. Make a list of businesses near the individual’s home.


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Step 7. Initial visit to the home

Meet with job seeker and family for ¾ - 1 hour in their home

• interview the job seeker and family about their routines• ask about formal responsibilities, chores • inquire about community activities • if the job seeker is willing, have them show you their room• have them demonstrate how they do chores and what they

do for activities• observe interactions, living context, indications of interests,

current skills


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Step 8. Interviewing persons who know the job seeker

Ask for names of individuals, both personal and professionals who the individual/family feels know the person the best.

With the job seeker’s permission and following the visit to the home, meet with and interview with these people (teachers, agency staff, counselors, other related services staff, friends, neighbors, etc.) to obtain more information about the job seeker’s interests, support needs, successful support strategies, and performance in various activities, as well as to identify connections.

Close Friend


High School Teacher


Friends at Church



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Step 9. Observation of life activities

From the information gathered, identify several typical life activities that the job seeker participates in successfully (at school, in a favorite community activity, church, a familiar store, etc.) and observe the job seeker as they engage in these activities to determine their performance, interests, connections and other important perspectives.

Observation


Sadie at School


General work experience


Step 10: Participation in Typical Life Routines

From the information gathered, identify several typical life activities that the job seeker participates in successfully (at school, in a favorite community activity, church, a familiar store, etc.) and participate with the job seeker as they engage in these activities to determine their performance, interests, connections and other important perspectives.


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Dinner with Friends



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Step 11. Return visits to home

Return to job seeker’s home for additional information, unstructured conversation, observation, and further interviews. 1 – 3 additional visits are recommended.

These return visits are often more informal and can be longer, if approved by the job seeker and family.

Return Visit Home



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Step 12. Participation in familiar activity

Ask the individual and family to determine a context and an activity outside the home in which the individual is the most familiar and most competent. Accompany the individual as he/she participates in this activity to determine skills, relationships, supports, etc.


Shopping at Darby’s


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Step 13. Participation in a novel activity

Based on the job seeker’s interests, determine an unfamiliar activity that they haven’t tried before or a place they haven’t gone before and participate in this activity with them. Observe to obtain more information about support needs, reactions, attention to natural cues, etc.

Christmas Sale



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Step 14. Review of information

Review files, memorabilia and records of past and current activities services. Focus on files that reflect an optimistic, success-based perspective and avoid those that dwell on negatives. Seek out both professional and personal information for review, including old photos.


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Step 15. Using your notes as the source of information

Record information obtained throughout Discovery in interview notes and observation notes as well as with digital photos. Be descriptive and positive in your note writing. Take notes following all discovery interactions. Gather all written information and notes, including records, prior to writing a profile.

Prom



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Step 16. Develop the Profile, Parts II & III

Develop a written, visual or alternative format profile of the job seeker following the format provided in the profile training. This activity should take from 3 – 5 hours.


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Step 17. Disseminate Profile, Parts I - III

Provide a copy of draft Vocational Profile or other format to job seeker and family for their review, suggestions and approval. Any Profile format must be approved by the job seeker/family prior to the Customized Planning Meeting.

Review by Family



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Step 18. Schedule Planning Meeting

Schedule a Customized Planning Meeting with input and assistance from the job seeker/family within two weeks of the completion of the profile.


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Step 19. Hold CE Planning Meeting

Hold a Customized Planning Meeting to develop a plan for job development. This meeting should be held between 1 - 2 weeks after Discovery and Profile are completed.

Planning Meeting


marc gold & associates© 1 25 steps to successful discovery and customization the following...

Documents

customized job

discovery profile

job seekers home schedule

discovery process

home interview

home meet

individuals home

performance of job tasks