Slide 2 Spring, 2012 Slide 3 Purpose of the Project The purpose
of the proposed project is to refine and enhance the existing Girls
at Work curriculum to create a new and validated Self- Directed
Futures (SD.Futures) curriculum that will teach students with
severe disabilities in 18 to 21 programs how to self-direct their
own employment exploration and attainment through the facilitation
of a cognitively accessible website. Slide 4 Girls at Work The
Girls at Work model utilizes a computerized curriculum to assist
high school girls with completing an 8-step goal- oriented problem
solving process focusing on postsecondary education or non-
traditional employment outcomes Slide 5 Girls at Work Outcomes 83%
of the women who finished high school were either employed or
attending post-secondary education. Of the 17% remaining, one is in
a sheltered workshop, one is in a day program, and one is pregnant
but plans to attend community college. Slide 6 SD.Futures
Conceptual Framework Slide 7 Description of Users Limited literacy
skills Early symbolic Visually distracted Extended processing time
Navigational challenges Limited fine motor skill Receptive language
often better than expressive Utilize assistive technology Need
motivational features Pose challenges with cognitive associations
Slide 8 Cognitive Accessibility Features Image driven Audio
instructions Scanning Capabilities Video files 12 point font
Printable pages - reports Predictable placement of content
Choice-making and confirmation Single page content Bookmark
progress On-going feedback Linear navigation Slide 9 Levels of
Accessibility Level 1 Symbol, visual scan, and audio Level 2
Symbol, mouse, and audio Level 3 Symbol, mouse, and written words
Slide 10 Major Curriculum Components 1. Interest Inventory 2.
Employment Team Meeting 3. Community-Based Job Exploration 4.
Employment Options 5. Employment Supports 6. Final Plan for
Employment Learning the Job Slide 11 Field Test Kansas 30 students
and Rhode Island 20 students Recruitment criteria Students in 18-21
programs Significant Disabilities Need to have access to
transportation during the school day for two to four employment
site visits Handheld Pilot Slide 12 Teacher Responsibilities Set-Up
The Students Online Account Perform Pre and Post Surveys Support
Students As They Move Through the Curriculum Convene Employment
Team Meeting Arrange for Employment Exploration Arrange for
Transportation To And From Employment Exploration Sites Provide Any
Traditional Supports Slide 13 Timeline Based on Students Flexible
Hope to Complete By the End of the School Year Supports Technical
Assistance Employment Exploration Assistance Slide 14 Stipends
Students - $20 Teachers - $40 Completion of W-2 forms Slide 15 Lets
Get Moving Training Follow-Up Email Immediate Questions Shea Tanis
[email protected]@cu.edu
