Working
Young people with developmental disabilities should be actively involved in activities that will expose them to and offer the opportunity to practice not only the actual skills needed for a particular career, but also the work readiness skills needed to find and maintain employment.
What does Working look like?
Examples of career exploration activities include the following:
- Career interest assessments, job shadowing, job and career fairs, and workplace visits and tours
- Career-related goal setting and planning
- Internships;
- Work experience, including summer employment
- Information on entrepreneurship
- Networking activities
- Mock interviews
- Work readiness workshops
- Visits from representatives of specific industries to speak to youth participants about the employment opportunities and details of working within their industry
- Mock job searches, including locating positions online and in the newspaper, "cold-calling," preparing resumes, and writing cover letters and thank-you letters
- Visits to education or training programs
- Job coaching or mentoring
- Learning activities using computers and other current workplace technology
Test your knowledge by taking our Quiz on Disability History and Working!