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25 Steps to Successful Discovery and Customization
The following steps will provide you with a tool to organize the interactions necessary for discovery and the customized process. We recommend that you use the Customized Activity Log as a data form to take you through the sequence of activities.
Complete identification information from Profile Form as a part of Step 1, before visiting the home. Have family confirm that information is complete and accurate. Avoid sensitive aspects as necessary such as specific ages of family members.
Clarify that the outcome for this individual of the Customized Process will be a customized job for regular wages in the community. Address questions and concerns of the individual and family/supporters. Ask if a benefits analysis could be scheduled.
Schedule an initial meeting with job seeker and family at the job seeker’s home (or alternate location if family or job seeker is not comfortable inviting you to their home). This is a critical aspect of discovery and an explanation of “why” may be necessary.
Following the initial meeting with the participant and family, as appropriate, fill out and complete Part I of the Profile, The Intake Interview. Use Part II of the Profile, The Discovery Profile, to guide areas of exploration for the subsequent steps of discovery.
While gathering information during Discovery, capture the person’s skills, contributions, and performance of job tasks we strongly recommend that you take observational/interview notes and digital pictures to assist in the development of a narrative or visual profile information and for their Representational Portfolio.
Before or immediately after the visit to the job seeker’s home, tour the neighborhood and observe surroundings, safety, businesses, culture, transportation, services near the home, etc. Make a list of businesses near the individual’s home.
Meet with job seeker and family for ¾ - 1 hour in their home
• interview the job seeker and family about their routines• ask about formal responsibilities, chores • inquire about community activities • if the job seeker is willing, have them show you their room• have them demonstrate how they do chores and what they
do for activities• observe interactions, living context, indications of interests,
Step 8. Interviewing persons who know the job seeker
Ask for names of individuals, both personal and professionals who the individual/family feels know the person the best.
With the job seeker’s permission and following the visit to the home, meet with and interview with these people (teachers, agency staff, counselors, other related services staff, friends, neighbors, etc.) to obtain more information about the job seeker’s interests, support needs, successful support strategies, and performance in various activities, as well as to identify connections.
From the information gathered, identify several typical life activities that the job seeker participates in successfully (at school, in a favorite community activity, church, a familiar store, etc.) and observe the job seeker as they engage in these activities to determine their performance, interests, connections and other important perspectives.
From the information gathered, identify several typical life activities that the job seeker participates in successfully (at school, in a favorite community activity, church, a familiar store, etc.) and participate with the job seeker as they engage in these activities to determine their performance, interests, connections and other important perspectives.
Return to job seeker’s home for additional information, unstructured conversation, observation, and further interviews. 1 – 3 additional visits are recommended.
These return visits are often more informal and can be longer, if approved by the job seeker and family.
Ask the individual and family to determine a context and an activity outside the home in which the individual is the most familiar and most competent. Accompany the individual as he/she participates in this activity to determine skills, relationships, supports, etc.
Based on the job seeker’s interests, determine an unfamiliar activity that they haven’t tried before or a place they haven’t gone before and participate in this activity with them. Observe to obtain more information about support needs, reactions, attention to natural cues, etc.
Review files, memorabilia and records of past and current activities services. Focus on files that reflect an optimistic, success-based perspective and avoid those that dwell on negatives. Seek out both professional and personal information for review, including old photos.
Step 15. Using your notes as the source of information
Record information obtained throughout Discovery in interview notes and observation notes as well as with digital photos. Be descriptive and positive in your note writing. Take notes following all discovery interactions. Gather all written information and notes, including records, prior to writing a profile.
Develop a written, visual or alternative format profile of the job seeker following the format provided in the profile training. This activity should take from 3 – 5 hours.
Provide a copy of draft Vocational Profile or other format to job seeker and family for their review, suggestions and approval. Any Profile format must be approved by the job seeker/family prior to the Customized Planning Meeting.
Hold a Customized Planning Meeting to develop a plan for job development. This meeting should be held between 1 - 2 weeks after Discovery and Profile are completed.