Part One: Introduction
Employment Team Meeting Module 4Identify Passions
Schedule MeetingStudent-Led Employment Team MeetingTake
Actionwww.selfdirectedfutures.org
Prior to this module your student or students will have
identified their passions, strengths and career interests as they
relate to STEM careers or those in science, technology, engineering
and mathematics. In Module 4 your student, with your help will
schedule their Employment Team Meeting, Lead their Employment Team
Meeting in which they will present their passions to the group and
brainstorm potential employment exploration opportunities and then
take action in making those opportunities a reality. 2
Advantages of the Employment Team MeetingBuild on expertise and
exploratory labor of membersWealth of resourcesDifferent way of
thinkingBypass issues that impact disability service delivery
systemOpportunities for self-determinationFoundation is embedded in
communitywww.selfdirectedfutures.org
There are several advantages to the Employment Team Meeting
Approach: 1st - Build on expertise and exploratory labor of members
by pulling together those who have a vested interest in supporting
the student the brainstorming session allows the utilization of
expertise of the team members and uses their networking
capabilities to help facilitate the arrangement of employment
exploration opportunities2nd - Wealth of resources builds on the
resources of many individuals rather than just the teacher and
family of the student3rd - Different way of thinking It allows us
to move beyond the yes but mentality, the sky is the limit here. It
also moves the outcomes beyond the typical approach to employment
exploration activities where the student is simply placed in a
convenient setting rather than one that matches their passions and
interests.4th - Bypass issues that impact disability service
delivery system the disability service system can create barriers
to employment with the waiting game. This allows the student to
explore employment prior to or outside of the disability service
system.5th - Opportunities for self-determination through the
identification of passions and interests the student self-directs
their own employment exploration with the final outcome of desired
employment6th - Foundation is embedded in community: natural
supports are then more readily available and long term employment
more likely
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Comparative Outcomes Passion = BooksLibrary cataloging booksBook
retail store
Business within a business at book storeRead stories to
elementary school childrenUsed book businessBook RepairScanning for
accessibility
www.selfdirectedfutures.orgTraditionalETM
I would like to provide you with an example of the potential
outcomes using the traditional approach vs. the Employment Team
Meeting Approach 4
Question: Can the Employment Team Meeting be part of the
Students IEP Meeting ? www.selfdirectedfutures.org
Many ask us whether or not the Employment Team Meeting can be
embedded in the students scheduled IEP meeting. Although this is
possible we strongly discourage this approach for three reasons:The
tone of the ETMeeting is completely different from that of an IEP
meeting. In the ETM we focus on positive creativity and
brainstorming and support the collective empowerment of the group
with each person contributing.The members of the ETM may be
different than those of the IEP meetingThe outcomes are very
different - IEP focuses on the students educational progress while
the ETM focuses on future employment opportunities for the
student5
Purpose of the Employment Team Meeting The purpose of the
meeting is to plan for the students future employment through the
identification of potential employment exploration opportunities.4
employment exploration opportunitiesSchedule 8 hours for the
student to spend in each of the sitesCommunity based 5 mile radius
goal5 mile radius does not take higher priority than identifying
employment exploration sites that match the students passions
www.selfdirectedfutures.org
The purpose of the ETM is to plan for the students future
employment through the identification of potential employment
exploration opportunities.Identify 4 employment exploration
opportunitiesStudent can spend at least 8 hours in each setting Aim
to have those exploration opportunities within a 5 mile radius of
the school or students home. This radius may be expanded if the
student lives in a rural area however the purpose is so that it is
community based and transportation can be easily accomplished.
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Potential ParticipantsStudentFamily Member(s)TeacherTransition
CoordinatorRehabilitation CounselorJob Coach Case ManagerBenefits
SpecialistFamily FriendsOther
www.selfdirectedfutures.org
As you assist your student in Module 4 you will help them not
only to schedule the ETM but to identify those individuals who
should be members of the Employment Team. Potential participants
includeWe suggest that the number of participants not exceed 9
members as it may become more difficult to moderate and generate
real outcomes with too many members.Thus, you may need to assist
your student in identifying those members that may be appropriately
suited for the team.7
Scheduling Meeting Select Day of MeetingSelect Time of Day 90
min.Email or Paper Invitations?Select InvitationsDeliver
InvitationsCollect Responseswww.selfdirectedfutures.org
The primary bulk of Module 4 is assisting your student schedule
the Employment Team Meeting. Through this process your student will
learn and apply real life skills such as scheduling and sending out
invitations as well as computer skills. Your student will walk
through 5 steps in scheduling their employment team meeting:
Select Day of MeetingSelect Time of Day 90 min.Email or Paper
Invitations?Select InvitationsDeliver InvitationsCollect
Responses
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Location At SchoolIdentify RoomChecklist of
questionswww.selfdirectedfutures.org
Is the room available on the date we need it?Is it easy for
people to get to ?Is there enough parking?Is the meeting room the
right size?Do we have access to a computer and screen to allow the
student to present their Passions Movie?Are there tables and chairs
for everyone?Is the building and room accessible?Is the room a
comfortable place to meet and talk?9
Scheduling/InvitationsChoose a date that works for everyone
through email/printed responsePrint out invitations for email or
hand deliveryInvite people 1 to 2 weeks ahead of time and have the
student remind them 1-2 days before the
meetingwww.selfdirectedfutures.org
In Module 4 the student will apply real-life methods of
scheduling a meeting. They will use the technology in the module to
first identify potential dates and times that work for their team
membersYou may need to use your email if the student does not have
one of their own to contact the team members or you can have the
student hand deliver a list of potential dates and timesYou and or
your student will then receive the responses and determine which
time/date works best for the majority of team members.Your student
will then develop an invitation using our design templates to
create an invitation to mail or hand deliver confirming the date
and time of the meetingWe suggest that your student invite people
1-2 weeks ahead of the scheduled meeting. It is also good practice
to have your student remind the team members 1-2 days before the
meeting. 10
Passions Moviewww.selfdirectedfutures.org
As part of Module 4 your student will develop a flash movie
about their passions, strengths and career preferences
automatically generated based on the design preferences for your
student. If you are unable to have the technology available during
the Employment Team Meeting for your student to play the video your
student can print off ppt. slides generated by the program to use
in the meeting. 11
Planning for the Meetingwww.selfdirectedfutures.org
It is important for you and your student to be prepared for the
meeting, to do this you will need to do a little planning. 1. You
will want to review with your student the activities they have done
so far through the curriculum that have allowed them to discover
their interests and job preferences2. You will want your student to
be prepared to present their movie or ppt slides 3. You will want
to review two documents in this teacher section of the website: -
Employment Team Meeting Guide Notes for Teachers- Employment Team
Meeting Guide and Agenda (may want to print this for the meeting)4.
Get note paper and pens for the meeting5. May want to have snacks
for time of day6. Practice presentation with your student. 12
Student-Led Employment Team MeetingGuided by Students
PassionsExpectation of EmploymentMore Participants More IdeasThink
Outside the Boxwww.selfdirectedfutures.org
Not a question of whether or not the student can work but that
they will work and what can the team do to help facilitate
employment13
www.selfdirectedfutures.org
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Meeting Agenda Introduction and PurposeWhat are the Students
PassionsBrainstorm Ideas and Identify Networking
OpportunitiesStudent Choice2-4 OptionsTake Action
www.selfdirectedfutures.org
Passions include : What the student likes? What he/she typically
does? What he/she has shown interest in? What excites him/her? What
would they like to do? Prompt and remind student to share what she
learned about his/her interests and passions through the discussing
the video
BrainstormingExample passion for fish work at an aquarium or
nature center, a local fish store, aquarium maintenance and
cleaning business, river parks and services, fishing guide, fish
farm, fish food delivery service, aquarium figure designs etc. -
Examples page
- This is the place where peoples experience and community
connections are explored. Who do people know that share the
students passion? Where do people go where his/her passions are
acted on?
-Most often someone in the group will know someone or have a
previous experience related to each idea that is generated
What ideas seem doable, what is and isnt available in the
community and what sounds best to the individualTeam activities:
contacting specific individuals to facilitate the employment
exploration opportunities
What 2-4 options does the student like best How will team
members stay in contact15
Student Choice Identify 2-4 Options for Employment Exploration
OpportunitiesAssign Homework - Everyone
www.selfdirectedfutures.org
On-Going Communication Email Telephone Meet
Againwww.selfdirectedfutures.org
ActionSet DeadlinesPlan To Visit Sites for Employment
Exploration www.selfdirectedfutures.org
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Conclusion: How to assist your studentSet the tone of the
meetingPromote self-directionSupport creativity and
brainstormingwww.selfdirectedfutures.org
Tone of the meeting should be one of creativity and positivity
anything is possible
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QuestionsShea [email protected]
[email protected]
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