The Learn and Earn Program: Teaching Students with Disabilities

Job Skills Training

National Academic Advising AssociationConference

“Advising Locally, Thinking Globally”Rutgers University, NJ

Michele Sartori * Michelle A. Campbell * Sean Cruse Abilities, Inc. * 201 I. U. Willets Road, Albertson, NY 11507

Abilities, Inc. 201 I. U. Willets Road Albertson, NY

What is Learn and Earn?

The Learn and Earn Program is a One-Year, Two-Semester Supportive Transitional Program for Recent High School Graduates Diagnosed with Disabilities

Abilities, Inc. 201 I. U. Willets Road Albertson, NY

Goals

The Goals of the Learn and Earn Program are to Facilitate

Transition Into And

Retention Within

Post-Secondary Education and Adult Vocational Outcomes

Abilities, Inc. 201 I. U. Willets Road Albertson, NY

Target Population

The Learn and Earn Program Meets the Needs of Two Diverse Student Populations:

Students that fall between the cracks because they do not neatly fit into an post-secondary academic or vocational environment

Students with academic potential that would get lost or flounder without support and continued direction

Abilities, Inc. 201 I. U. Willets Road Albertson, NY

Location

The Learn and Earn Program is Situated on the Campuses of Three Community Colleges Located in Both Suburban and Urban Environments in the States of New York and New Jersey

Abilities, Inc. 201 I. U. Willets Road Albertson, NY

Bridging the Gap

Individualized Attention

Academic ShadowingFacilitates Retention by

Helping Students Commit to a Course of Action

Abilities, Inc. 201 I. U. Willets Road Albertson, NY

Self-Discovery

Self-Advocacy

Self-Direction

Self-Discipline

Student Growth

Abilities, Inc. 201 I. U. Willets Road Albertson, NY

Eligibility Requirements

High School Graduate

Diagnosed with a Disability

Recommendation by HS Counselor

Meets College Entry Requirements

Abilities, Inc. 201 I. U. Willets Road Albertson, NY

Program Components

Academic Component

Vocational Component

Career Research Component

One-on-One Counseling

Abilities, Inc. 201 I. U. Willets Road Albertson, NY

Program Outcomes

Full-time College

Full-time Employment

Training Programs

Combination

Abilities, Inc. 201 I. U. Willets Road Albertson, NY

Program Partners

Local Area High Schools & Local Businesses

Community Colleges

Abilities, Inc.

LocalState VR Agency & Grant Funding

•Lumina•Kessler Foundation

Abilities, Inc. 201 I. U. Willets Road Albertson, NY

Learn & Earn Program

Collaborative partnership with Abilities, Inc. grant funded through the Henry H. Kessler Foundation.

Based in New Jersey Foundation focus on Physical Disabilities

Program enhances available services provided to students with physical disabilities

Abilities, Inc. 201 I. U. Willets Road Albertson, NY

Abilities, Inc. 201 I. U. Willets Road Albertson, NY

Support Services for Students with Disabilities Center for Academic & Student Success (CASS)

Advisement & Counseling

Career & Transfer Services

Tutorial Services

Student Support Services Program

Educational Opportunity Fund

Disability Support Services

Abilities, Inc. 201 I. U. Willets Road Albertson, NY

Abilities, Inc. 201 I. U. Willets Road Albertson, NY

Disclosure and Responsibility

It is student’s decision to disclose their disability and provide documentation.

It is the student’s responsibility to request accommodations.

It is the student’s responsibility to share specific accommodations with each professor.

Abilities, Inc. 201 I. U. Willets Road Albertson, NY

Abilities, Inc. 201 I. U. Willets Road Albertson, NY

HCCC Student Profile Spring ‘08 & ‘09

29 undergraduate students with physical and/or learning disabilities

Age range 17 – 22

Diversity of majors Liberal Arts Accounting Culinary Arts

Education Sociology Psychology

Computer Science Criminal Justice

Abilities, Inc. 201 I. U. Willets Road Albertson, NY

Abilities, Inc. 201 I. U. Willets Road Albertson, NY

Identifying Students

Local Area High Schools

Undecided Student

Educating on Strengths and Abilities

College as a Viable Option

Abilities, Inc. 201 I. U. Willets Road Albertson, NY

Abilities, Inc. 201 I. U. Willets Road Albertson, NY

Layout of HCCC Semester First Semester students begin job

development (resumes, cover letters, ‘thank you’ letters, etc.); and career exploration using internet resources (career/job search engines, career assessments)

Second Semester continues job development, focusing on interviewing, telephone skills, preparing students to be work-ready through employer workshops and mock interviews.

Abilities, Inc. 201 I. U. Willets Road Albertson, NY

Abilities, Inc. 201 I. U. Willets Road Albertson, NY

Self-Advocacy Skills and Employment

Self-Advocacy and Disabilities Model Self-Advocacy in Action

Self-Advocacy in the Classroom Examples of Self-Advocacy in the Media

Self-Advocacy on the Job Real Life Examples in the Workplace

Increasing Self–Advocacy Improves a Students Ability to Interview and Address Supervisors About Their Needs

Abilities, Inc. 201 I. U. Willets Road Albertson, NY

Abilities, Inc. 201 I. U. Willets Road Albertson, NY

One-on-One Counseling Point of Contact Continuity

Targeted Classroom Curriculum Resume, Cover, Thank You Internet Career Exploration Classroom Discussion

Training Beyond the Classroom: Comprehensive Supports

Abilities, Inc. 201 I. U. Willets Road Albertson, NY

Abilities, Inc. 201 I. U. Willets Road Albertson, NY

Training Beyond the Classroom: Comprehensive Supports

Interactive Workshops (Abilities, Inc.)

Rights Under ADA

Workplace Accommodations

Mock Interviews New York Life Insurance Sovereign Bank UPS

Dress for Success

Abilities, Inc. 201 I. U. Willets Road Albertson, NY

Program Evaluation

Purpose

Methods of Collection

Quantitative

Qualitative

Abilities, Inc. 201 I. U. Willets Road Albertson, NY

Program Evaluation

Qualitative:

Focus Group Session

Quantitative:

Orientation Assessment Survey

Semester-End Satisfaction Survey

Long Term Outcome Evaluation Survey To be conducted

Abilities, Inc. 201 I. U. Willets Road Albertson, NY

Student Orientation- HCCC

Initial Student Indicators: Orientation to Learn and Earn was useful Students had been attending HCCC for average of

3 semesters 33% employed at the time of orientation

Expectations and Objectives: Employment Academic Personal

Abilities, Inc. 201 I. U. Willets Road Albertson, NY

Student Experiences-HCCC

100% were confident/very confident in the skills they gained to obtain a job.

79% were satisfied/very satisfied with the assistance they received from Learn and Earn

79% indicated that their grades had improved 71% of students were satisfied/very satisfied with

their grades after completing their semester with Learn and Earn

Abilities, Inc. 201 I. U. Willets Road Albertson, NY

What about Learn and Earn was helpful?

0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 30.0% 40.0% 50.0% 60.0% 70.0%

Skills Lab

Computer Programming

Tutoring Support

Career Exploration

Learn & Earn Orientation

Employment Assessment

Regular Counseling withMentor

Abilities, Inc. 201 I. U. Willets Road Albertson, NY

Student Experiences

Focus Group:

Students Highlighted:

Individualized Attention Confidence Building (Self-Advocacy)

Job Preparation Skills Obtaining Accommodations

“Never thought I would go to college, Learn and Earn helped to get here.”

Abilities, Inc. 201 I. U. Willets Road Albertson, NY

Helpful Program Aspects Based on Long Term Outcome Study of NY Programs

Computer Programs

11%

Skills Lab9%

Tutoring Support17%

Career Exploration19%

Pre Voc. 9%

One-on-one counseling

29%

Other6%

Computer Programs

11%

One-on-One Counseling

29%

Other: Resume Prepor Early Registration

6%

Skills Lab9%

Tutoring Support 11%

Pre-Vocational Instruction

9% Career Exploration19%

Abilities, Inc. 201 I. U. Willets Road Albertson, NY

Student OutcomesBased on Long Term Outcome Study of NY Programs

79% Surveyed Still Enrolled in College

68% of respondents attending school plan to continue their education after graduation

39% of respondents indicated that they were currently employed

Most Indicated Program Helped Them Determine a Direction in Areas of:

Academics Vocational Pursuits

Experience Improved their Life

Abilities, Inc. 201 I. U. Willets Road Albertson, NY

Replication

Select Population to be Served

Select Academic Institution

Partnership with State VR

Canvas Local High Schools

Obtain Curriculum and Technical Support

Abilities, Inc. 201 I. U. Willets Road Albertson, NY

Contact Information:For further information, technical assistance, or staff training, please contact:

Patricia Birbiglia, DirectorYouth Transition ServicesLearn and Earn Program516-465-1496pbirbiglia@abilitiesinc.org

Michelle A. Campbell, Sr. CoordinatorYouth Transition ServicesLearn and Earn Program516-465-3779mcampbell@abilitiesinc.org

Sean Cruse, EvaluatorResearch & Evaluation CenterAbilities!516.465.1608scruse@abilitiesonline.org

Michele Sartori, CounselorLearn and Earn Program Hudson County Community Collegemsatori@hccc.edu

Please visit our website: www.abilitiesinc.org

The Learn and Earn Program: Teaching Students with Disabilities

Job Skills Training

National Academic Advising AssociationConference

“Advising Locally, Thinking Globally”Rutgers University, NJ

Michele Sartori *Michelle A. Campbell* Sean Cruse Abilities, Inc. * 201 I. U. Willets Road, Albertson, NY 11507