follow the instructions respond with 300 words

Each of us has a particular way we assess individuals and begin to work towards employment. Based on your experience and on what you have read describe the most important (at least five) areas of assessment. Explain why each is important.

Assessment Components

Abilities, preferences, and needs of the individual are identified so that they can be matched to skill requirements, social environment, and supports of a job. The coach must collect information about vocational interests, adaptive behaviors, family attitudes, transportation access, work skills, social interests, and anything else that may be relevant to an individual’s situation. The purpose is to be able to find the job that best matches the individual abilities and interests. The coach must also assess the job and the environment of the workplace.

It is important to review records but remember to be cautious because records reflect the past and they are generally not about abilities. In fact, it is recommended that record review always come after you have gotten to know the individual. Be influenced first by the important abilities that are possessed by each individual.

Assessment and job development should occur simultaneously so that a job can be found that the individual likes and in which he/she can achieve success.

Assessment Information:

• Abilities – Consider sensory and perceptual abilities, work skills, personal skills, mobility, and community functioning. Observe the individual in multiple environments and conduct situational assessments.
• Interests – Learn about the individual’s career choices, work preferences, social preferences, hobbies, and desired activities.
• Expectations – What does the individual desire in terms of wages, benefits, hours, location, setting, and type of work.
• Current lifestyle – Consider housing and availability of financial and medical benefits.
• Employment – Work history (paid and volunteer experience) and interviews with past employers may be important.
• Education and training – Interviews with teachers could be important.
• Support systems – Consider the family, case managers, and friends as potentially important sources of support. A home visit may be very important in determining available support.
• Psychosocial Issues – Consider social skills, communication skills, and individual behaviors.
• Transportation – What are the options for transportation and what distance is the individual willing to travel? Are there family members or neighbors who will assist with transportation? Can public transportation be accessed?
• Medical facts, medication – Sources of information include the customer and his/her family, significant others, any important caregivers, medical personnel, and medical records. The coach needs to understand the effects of medications and to assure that medications are taken appropriately.
• Cognitive abilities and mental health issues – Sources include the individual and family, significant others, any important caregivers, and mental health personnel. It is important to know the symptoms of any disability and how these might be expressed.
• Any evidence of substance abuse must be investigated.

During the assessment process, interviews will be conducted and observations will take place in multiple environments. Formal records should be reviewed and assessed. Situational assessments should be conducted and communication with the family should occur. The individual should be interviewed and the coach/specialist must determine his/her job preferences and expectations. The job coach needs to ask questions in multiple ways and in different settings to be sure that he/she gets information that accurately reflects the individual’s feelings.

The job coach should observe the individual in multiple environments in order to assess the individual’s skills and behaviors. Formal records should be interpreted but conclusions should not be drawn based only on standardized tests or the customer’s history.

Situational assessments can be helpful when more information is needed or when the job coach needs to clarify existing information. This assessment gives the individual the opportunity to perform job tasks in a real work environment. It may be helpful to find a work site that has several different jobs so that the individual can try more than one job. Actual performance of a job with training and support is the best predictor of future performance in a supported employment situation. The job coach can observe the individual’s work characteristics including interests, skills, abilities, need for training, independent living skills, and social skills.

During the assessment, it is important to stay in touch with family members and to explain the supported employment process. The job coach must provide accurate information and encourage family involvement. It is important that family members and significant others understand the supported employment model so that they understand the supports that the individual will have.

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