Missouri Specific Resource Links:

• Vocational Rehabilitation – Transition Services. Assistance with finding a job. https://dese.mo.gov/adult-learning-rehabilitation-services/vocational-rehabilitation/transition-services
• Missouri Job Center – https://jobs.mo.gov/
• Boone County Family Resources – https://www.bcfr.org/
• STRIVE – Self-Determined Transition Readiness through Individual Vocational Experience – https://thompsoncenter.missouri.edu/autism-training/strive/
• Pre-ETS (MU) https://education.missouri.edu/outreach/pre-employment-transition-services/
• PAWS (MU) – https://education.missouri.edu/special-education/projects-centers/paws/
• Rehabilitation Services for the Blind – https://dss.mo.gov/fsd/rsb/
• Columbia Employment Consortium Members –http://www.cec-como.org/members.html

Important Self-Care Skills:

Classic Household Chores:

• laundry (color separation, amount of detergent, what to hang vs. dry),
• cooking (sequencing, safety, healthy meals, and knowing expirations of food),
• transportation (driving, bus transportation, scheduling an assisted van company)
• cleaning (washing dishes, putting dishes away, cleaning bathroom, making the bed, dusting, vacuuming, etc.)

Self-Care:

•  safely shaving
• showering (importance of doing it daily, putting on deodorant following shower)
• importance of brushing your teeth morning and night
• dressing appropriately for the weather (what is the weather and what is appropriate to wear, etc.)
• sexual health and wellness

Considering a job?

• related skills like building a resume,
• how to complete an interview appropriately
• how will you utilize transportation to get to the job

Additional Resources

Preparing a child with a disability for employment and what families can do in the home:

• PACER – Employment Resource Guide/Workbook https://mn.gov/deed/assets/employment-resource-workbook_tcm1045-315677.pdf
  • Tips for employment (PACER)
    1. Have high expectations! Share with son or daughter or teachers. Just because they have a disability does not mean they cannot be employed
    2. Make work experience a priority – practice what it means to work. This leads to employment success in future

• Use your personal networks – use your networks to help your child. Family, friends, organizations can all be a part of a network. They are more extensive than you think
• Employers want good employees – understand this! They want young, enthusiastic, understand what the business is about. Motivation and good attitude, willing to learn new things can be helpful! Do your best job for your employer
• Learn what supports are available – every state has Voc. Rehab! Community rehabilitation providers. American job centers, disability specific organizations, advocacy organizations.
• American Job Centers – https://www.pacer.org/transition/resource-library/publications/NPC-61.pdf
• LifeCourse – https://www.lifecoursetools.com/lifecourse-library/lifecourse-framework/
• MN employment and economic development – https://mn.gov/deed/job-seekers/disabilities/youth/parents/
• Transition toolkit for families – https://www.pacer.org/publications/MDE-Toolkit-2017.pdf

Questions to ask:

What are your employment expectations or plans?

• This is an important question to ask to determine your goals and direction for the future!
• An example of this could include having the expectations of working for a company integrated into the community

What skills does the family have that they can help the individual?

• It is important to get a full understanding of the family’s skills and resources that can help the individual in need.
• Some examples of helpful skills could include network connections, a positive attitude for your child, or supporting the decisions of your child.

What interest does the individual have that could lead to a job?

• It is important that the individual is doing something that they enjoy and that fulfills their wants and needs.
• An example of this is supporting your child to the fullest by helping them find something that they would enjoy.