Employment

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Individuals with disabilities are employable. NC’s Division of Employment and Independence for People with Disabilities is an important partner in the process of helping youth with career exploration, employment readiness skills, and job placement.

Find Employment Resources

Acronym Key: IEP = Individualized Education Program | Pre ETS = Pre Employment Transition Services | EIPD = Division of Employment and Independence for People with Disabilities

Add Employment Items to My Action Plan

Build your Action Plan by selecting relevant items below to add goals for yourself or someone you support. Click “Add to Action Plan” to save items. Your selections from all categories will appear in “My Action Plan.” To remove an item, click “Remove from Action Plan.”

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Narrow down your options using the filters to quickly find what fits your needs.

What type of employment help are you looking for?

What is the age range of the person needing help?

- test - Review how course of study pathways can support the student’s employment options (i.e., certificate versus, occupational course of study and future ready diploma pathway).
Who can help:
Approximate age:

Resources:

TEST TEST:
https://www.dpi.nc.gov/districts-schools/high-school-graduation-requirements#Future-ReadyCourseofStudy22creditsStudentsenteringGrade9in2021-2022-1951

Complete Work Together NC’s Employment Toolkit, which covers a variety of important work readiness tasks.
Who can help: Individual, School/IEP team, EIPD, Adult Service providers
Approximate age: Starting at age 14 and ongoing

Resources:

Work Together NC’s Employment Toolkit Work Together NC’s Employment Toolkit:
https://worktogethernc.com/resource/an-employment-toolkit-for-people-with-intellectual-and-developmental-disabilities/

Learn to use time management strategies at home and in school (i.e., checklists, calendar, planner).
Who can help: Individual, Family Resources: Time management supports Time management tips
Approximate age: As early as possible & ongoing

Resources:

Time management tips Time management tips:
https://worktogethernc.com/resource/time-management-tips/

Time management supports Time management supports:
https://worktogethernc.com/resource/time-management-supports/

Take on more chores at home.
Who can help: Individual, Family
Approximate age: As early as possible & ongoing

Resources:

How to create a chore chart How to create a chore chart:
https://worktogethernc.com/resource/11695/

List of age appropriate chores List of age appropriate chores:
https://worktogethernc.com/resource/the-ultimate-list-of-age-appropriate-chores/

Review work readiness skill checklists and target skills in need of further development.
Who can help: Individual, Family, School/IEP Team
Approximate age: As early as possible & ongoing

Resources:

Soft skills checklist Soft skills checklist:
https://worktogethernc.com/resource/workplace-soft-skills-checklist/

Work ready checklist Work ready checklist:
https://worktogethernc.com/resource/workplace-essential-skills-work-ready-checklist/

Consider taking community-based classes to expand hard and soft skills and explore interests (i.e., Adult Basic Ed programs at community colleges, programs at Parks & Rec or local library, toastmasters, webinars).
Who can help: Individual, Family
Approximate age: As early as possible & ongoing

Resources:

Adult Basic Education | CareerOneStop Adult Basic Education | CareerOneStop:
https://www.careeronestop.org/FindTraining/Types/adult-basic-education.aspx

Apprenticeships NC Apprenticeships NC:
https://worktogethernc.com/resource/apprenticeship-nc/

Soft skills curriculum Soft skills curriculum:
https://worktogethernc.com/resource/soft-skills-to-pay-the-bills-mastering-soft-skills-for-workplace-success/

Consider higher education options (i.e., community college, University, trade school, certificate programs).
Who can help: Individual, Family, School/IEP Team
Approximate age: Start at 14 and ongoing (i.e., community college, University, trade school, adult basic education programs)

Resources:

What opportunities are available after high school: Postsecondary Education – Work Together NC What opportunities are available after high school: Postsecondary Education – Work Together NC:
https://worktogethernc.com/action-plans/what-opportunities-are-available-after-high-school/what-opportunities-are-available-after-high-school-postsecondary-education/

NC postsecondary education programs NC postsecondary education programs:
https://worktogethernc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022-23-PSE-Opportunities.pdf

What’s Next: College?! guide h school: Postsecondary Education – Work Together NC What’s Next: College?! guide h school: Postsecondary Education – Work Together NC:
https://worktogethernc.com/resource/whats-next-college-a-guided-exploration-of-nc-inclusive-postsecondary-options-for-students-with-disabilities/

Learn about workplace rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act . Refer to the Self Advocacy action plan to further develop self advocacy skills.
Who can help: Individual, School/IEP Team, EIPD
Approximate age: Start at 14 and ongoing

Resources:

Learn about my rights Learn about my rights:
https://worktogethernc.com/resources-for-all/self-advocates/learn-about-my-rights/

Self advocacy action plan Self advocacy action plan:
https://worktogethernc.com/action-plans/what-opportunities-are-available-after-high-school/what-opportunities-are-available-after-high-school-employment/#:~:text=Resources%3A-,Self%20advocacy%20action%20plan,-Learn%20about%20my

Match career interests/skills with vocational course work as well as school and community-based work experiences (called “work-based learning”).
Who can help: Individual, School transition facilitator/IEP Team
Approximate age: High school

Resources:

Internships, apprenticeships, and work based learning Internships, apprenticeships, and work based learning:
https://worktogethernc.com/employer-training

Begin exploration of personal learning styles and necessary accommodations/supports to be successful in a work setting.
Who can help: Individual, School/IEP Team
Approximate age: As early as possible & ongoing

Resources:

Job Accommodation Network Job Accommodation Network:
https://worktogethernc.com/resource/job-accommodation-network-jan/

Review how course of study pathways can support the student’s employment options (i.e., certificate versus, occupational course of study and future ready diploma pathway).
Who can help: School/IEP Team
Approximate age: 13 (Middle School) and ongoing

Resources:

HS graduation requirements HS graduation requirements:
https://www.dpi.nc.gov/districts-schools/high-school-graduation-requirements#Future-ReadyCourseofStudy22creditsStudentsenteringGrade9in2021-2022-1951

Consider job shadowing or informational interviewing.
Who can help: Pre Employment Transition Service Programs
Approximate age: Starting at age 14 & ongoing

Resources:

Pre-ETS FAQ Pre-ETS FAQ:
https://worktogethernc.com/resource/pre-employment-transition-services-faq-2/

Do’s and don’ts of job shadowing Do’s and don’ts of job shadowing:
https://worktogethernc.com/resource/21-dos-and-donts-of-job-shadowing-plus-its-importance/

Informational interviewing Informational interviewing:
https://worktogethernc.com/resource/informational-interviewing/

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