What opportunities are available after high school: Employment

Action Plans > What opportunities are available after high school: Employment Action Plan

Employment Action Plan

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.

How To Get Started: To create a custom action plan for yourself or for someone you support:

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

Developing skills for the workplace

Learn to use time management strategies at home and in school (i.e., checklists, calendar, planner).

Approximate Age: As early as possible & ongoing | Who can help: Individual, Family

Resources: Time management supports Time management tips

Take on more chores at home.

Approximate Age: As early as possible & ongoing | Who can help: Individual, Family

Resources: List of age appropriate chores How to create a chore chart

Review work readiness skill checklists and target skills in need of further development.

Approximate Age: As early as possible & ongoing | Who can help: Individual, Family, School/IEP Team

Resources: Work ready checklist Soft skills 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).

Approximate Age: As early as possible & ongoing | Who can help: Individual, Family

Resources: Soft skills curriculum Apprenticeships NC Adult Basic Education | CareerOneStop

Consider higher education options (i.e., community college, University, trade school, certificate programs).

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

Resources: What’s Next: College?! guide NC postsecondary education programs What opportunities are available after high school: Postsecondary Education – Work Together NC

Learn about workplace rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act . Refer to the Self Advocacy action plan to further develop self advocacy skills.

Approximate Age: Start at 14 and ongoing | Who can help: Individual, School/IEP Team, EIPD

Resources: Self advocacy action plan Learn about my rights

Gaining volunteer or work experience

Begin exploration of personal learning styles and necessary accommodations/supports to be successful in a work setting.

Approximate Age: As early as possible & ongoing | Who can help: Individual, School/IEP Team

Resources: Job Accommodation Network

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).

Approximate Age: 13 (Middle School) and ongoing | Who can help: School/IEP Team

Resources: HS graduation requirements

Identify career interests and skills, complete interest and career inventories, and identify education or training requirements for careers.

Approximate Age: Starting in middle school and ongoing | Who can help: Individual, School/IEP Team

Resources: NC careers

Learn about different types of work and determine the best fit: self employment, customized employment, or traditional employment.

Approximate Age: Starting in middle school and ongoing | Who can help: Individual, School/IEP Team, EIPD

Resources: Customized employment Video about customized employment A guide to self employment

Explore assistive technology & communication tools that can increase employment opportunities.

Approximate Age: Starting at age 14 & ongoing | Who can help: Individual, School/IEP Team, EIPD

Resources: Assistive technology resources

Explore apprenticeship and/or internship options.

Approximate Age: Starting at age 14 & ongoing | Who can help: Individual, School/IEP Team, EIPD

Resources: Apprenticeships NC Project Search

Consider job shadowing or informational interviewing.

Approximate Age: Starting at age 14 & ongoing | Who can help: Pre Employment Transition Service Programs

Resources: Informational interviewing Do’s and don’ts of job shadowing Pre-ETS FAQ

Consider summer employment or volunteer experience.

Approximate Age: High school | Who can help: Individual and Family

Resources: Volunteer match NC careers Volunteering isn’t unpaid work

Accessing Resources

Explore Pre Employment Transition Service (Pre-ETS) Programs offered locally.

Approximate Age: Age 14-21 | Who can help: Individual, Family, School/IEP Team, EIPD

Resources: Pre-ETS FAQ

Learn about social security programs such as the Ticket to Work and Benefits Counseling and policies such as Work Incentives (i.e., Student Earned Income Exclusion).

Approximate Age: Benefits counseling services are available starting at age 14 | Who can help: Individual and Family, EIPD

Resources: Work incentives Student earned income exclusion

Set up a meeting with a benefits counselor.

Approximate Age: Benefits counseling services are available starting at age 14 | Who can help: Individual and Family, Community Agency (i.e., EIPD, Service Source)

Resources: NC benefits counseling services Benefits counseling to promote employment

Explore transportation options for getting to work.

Approximate Age: Age 15 | Who can help: Individual, School/IEP Team, and Family

Resources: Transportation Transportation action plan

Seek out an evaluation for services by NC EIPD *Note: Evaluation for EIPD adult services could risk in-school EIPD services if student is deemed ineligible for “competitive integrated employment.”

Approximate Age: Age 16 | Who can help: Individual and Family

Resources: Local EIPD offices

Request meeting with an EIPD Counselor, including inviting them to IEP meetings

Approximate Age: Age 16 | Who can help: Individual, school/IEP Team, EIPD

Resources: NC EIPD

Explore Work Together NC’s employment service library and contact service agencies of interest.

Approximate Age: Starting at age 16 & ongoing | Who can help: Individual, Family, School/IEP Team, EIPD

Resources: Employment services

Determine eligibility for SSI, and apply, if desired. Learn about asset limits (the impact of work income on benefits). See the adult services action plan for more details.

Approximate Age: Start the application at 17.5 | Who can help: Individual, School/IEP Team, EIPD or other benefits counseling agency (i.e., Service Source)

Resources: Supplemental security income

Adult Services Action Plan

Finding a job

Set short and long term employment goals based on student’s strengths and interests

Approximate Age: Starting at age 14 & ongoing | Who can help: Individual, School/IEP Team, EIPD

Resources: Setting and pursuing goals

Participate in mock interviews and job fairs

Approximate Age: Starting at age 14 & ongoing | Who can help: Individual, Pre Employment Transition Service Programs, School/IEP Team, EIPD

Resources: Job fair calendar Disability Solutions: Job-seeker Events – Work Together NC

Begin a resume and update it as needed.

Approximate Age: Starting at age 16 & ongoing | Who can help: Individual, school/IEP Team, EIPD

Resources: Resume resources

Match career interests/skills with vocational course work as well as school and community-based work experiences (called “work-based learning”).

Approximate Age: High school | Who can help: Individual, School transition facilitator/IEP Team

Resources: Internships, apprenticeships, and work based learning

Apply for jobs. Check out Work Together NC’s Alliance of IDD Inclusive Employers!

Approximate Age: High school | Who can help: Individual/Family, Pre Employment Transition Service Programs, EIPD

Resources: Employer alliance

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Disclaimer: These action plans are for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be comprehensive, and should not be taken as legal advice. Services and programs mentioned may vary by county. Please consult with professionals with expertise in this topic area for guidance specific to you, your family or student/client’s situation. The “approximate age” listed with each item is a general recommendation for when to get started on an action item; however, everyone has a different timeline and for many of the items, it’s never too late to take action! Have a suggested correction or addition to this checklist? Email worktogethernc@med.unc.edu.