Discover the Power of Cairn Consultants

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Job Exploration Counseling is meant to provide students with a variety of

opportunities to gain information about careers, the skills needed for different jobs

and to uncover personal career interests.

Job Exploration Counseling includes activities and experiences that assist students to:

• Explore career options and identify career pathways of interest

• Uncover vocational interests using inventories

• Learn about skills needed in the workplace and for specific jobs

• Understand the labor market including in demand industries and occupations

• Learn about non-traditional employment option

Work Based Learning (WBL) is an educational approach or instructional method

that uses community workplaces to provide students with the knowledge and

skills that will help them connect school experiences to real-life work activities

and future career opportunities.

Work based learning includes activities and experiences that assist students to:

• Develop work skills through participation in paid and non-paid work

experiences in community integrated employment

• Apply classroom knowledge to the work place

• Gain greater understanding of the soft skills important to success in the work

place

• Learn from people currently practicing in the occupations and career of interest

to the student.

To improve employment outcomes and increase opportunities for students with

disabilities to access 21st century jobs, it is essential that students and their family

members are provided information and guidance on a variety of post-secondary

education and training opportunities.

The post-secondary options that should be explored include:

• Community Colleges (AA/AS degrees, certificate programs and classes)

• Universities (Public and Private)

• Career pathways related to workshops/training programs

• Trade/Technical Schools

• Military

• Post-secondary programs at community colleges and Universities for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities

Workplace readiness traits describe a number of skills that employers expect from

most employees. Workplace readiness skills are a set of skills and behaviors that

are necessary for any job, such as how to interact with supervisors and

co-workers and the importance of timeliness.

In addition to developing social and independent living skills, workplace readiness training may also include:

• Financial literacy

• Orientation and mobility skills

• Job-seeking skills

• Understanding employer expectations for punctuality and performance

The development of self-advocacy skills should be started at an early age. These

skills will be needed in education, workplace and community settings. Specifically,

they include an individual’s ability to effectively communicate, convey, negotiate

or assert his/her own interests and/or desires. We work with students

to develop self-determination, which means that students with disabilities have

the freedom to plan their own lives, pursue the things that are important to them

and experience the same life opportunities as other people in their communities.

Self-advocacy skills are developed when students are provided with experiences to develop:

• Knowledge of self

• Knowledge of rights and responsibilities

• Communication skills

• Leadership skills

Information coming soon ...