Toll-Free:(800)TSB-KARE

WilliamDaugherty,Superintendent

TexasSchoolfortheBlindandVisuallyImpaired

1100W.45thStreetAustin,Texas78756

Voice:(512)454-8631

TDD:(512)206-9451

Toll-free:(800)TSB-KARE

AcenterforeducationalservicesforallblindandvisuallyimpairedstudentsinTexas

SWEAT: SummerWorkExperienceinAustin,TexasSummerProgramReport

Student:

DatesofProgram: June12–July14,2011ProgramCoordinator: RebeccaRoyerResidentialCoordinator:MichaelPolleiJobCoach: HanaCrumley

ResidentialInstructor: CoryMcKinney

OrientationMobilityInstructor: CarolinaGonzales

I.ProgramOverview

DescriptionofSWEATProgram:

SWEATisanintense,demanding,exciting,andfunfive-weekprogramthatpreparesacademicstudentsforsuccessintheworldofworkandadultlivingbyincreasingindependence,competence,andself-confidence.SWEATisthemostadvancedvocationalandindependentlivingprogramofferedatTSBVI,andtheexpectationsforstudentsarehigh.Studentsreceivevocationaltrainingatpaidjobsinthecommunity,classesthatfocusonjob-relatedskillsandindependentlivingskills,andOrientationandMobilitytraining.

DuringtheirfirstweekofSWEAT,thestudentsreceivedintensivetraininginindependentlivingskills(includingmobility),aswellasexposuretojob-relatedskillssuchasinterviewingandappropriateinterpersonalskills.Duringtheremainingfourweeks,theywereemployedatindividual,paidjobsintheAustincommunity.AfterparticipatingintheSWEATprogram,itisexpectedthatstudentswillbebetterpreparedtotakepartinsummerjobsofferedintheirlocalcommunity.

IndividualStudentJobDescription:

[STUDENT]workedattheDepartmentofAgingandDisabilityServicesinthebillingandpaymentdivision.Hisjobdutiesincludedfilingpapers,takingoutrecycling,stuffingenvelopes,andpapershredding.Hewasalsoaskedtohelpprepareamicrosoftexceldocument.

BOARDOFTRUSTEES:
ParentsofPersonswithVisualImpairments: / ConsumerswithVisualImpairments: / PersonsWorkingwiththeVisuallyImpaired: / FAX:
BusinessOffice / (512)206-9452
MaryK.Alexander,ValleyView / CynthiaFinley,Lubbock / GeneBrooks,Austin / CentralMailRoom / (512)206-9450
CarolineDaley,Kingwood / MichaelGarrett,MissouriCity / AnneCorn,Austin / OutreachServices / (512)206-9320
MichelleGoodwin,President,FortWorth / JosephMuniz,Harlingen / BobbyDruesedow,Jr.,Aledo / Superintendent / (512)206-9453
Admissions / (512)206-9148

II.WorkExperiences

Preparingtogotowork:

Intheweekpriortotheactualjobexperience,thestudentsparticipatedinajobpreparednesstrainingclasswiththeirpeers.Inthisweek-longclass,theylearnedthefoundationsforsuccessfuljobperformance.Thiscurriculumincludedinterviewskills,typesofjobsavailable,careerplanning,andhowtogetalongwithcoworkers.Thestudentsparticipatedinclasseswheretheylearnedproblem-solvingstrategiestodealwithissuesthatmightarisewhileatwork.Theyalsoparticipatedinteam-buildingactivitiesandrole-playingvariousproblemsthatmightarisewithcoworkers.Alargepartoftheclasswasdedicatedtoreviewingandlearningbasicexpectationsonthepartofemployers.

[STUDENT]participatedfullyinallclassactivitiesandcompletedhisassignmentsontime.[STUDENT]alsospentalargepartoftheinitialweeklearningtocommuteindependentlytohisjobsite.WithhisOrientationandMobility(O&M)instructor,helearnedhowtosafelytravelindependentlyonawalkingroutetoandfromhisworksite.Hisrouteinvolvedtwostreetcrossingsatalightedintersection.

Modificationsneededtoperformjob:

[STUDENT]usedacanetotraveltoandfromthejobsite.

Skillsandcompetenciesonthejob:

Student’sskillsareratedonascalefrom1to5incomparisontotheirsightedpeers.

1. Significantdifficulty2.Somedifficulty3. Moderateability4. Competent5.Proficient

BasicSkills
Reading / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / N/A
Writing / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / N/A
Mathematics / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / N/A
Listening / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / N/A
Speaking / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / N/A
Comments:

[STUDENT]displayedagoodaptitudeformathwhenadjustingrestaurantbillsfortip,keepingaweeklytimesheet,andpayingutilitybills.Hereadaloudduringclasswitheaseandhisspeakingvoicewasexceptional.Hisvocabularyandgrammarskillswerestrongandhespokewithconfidenceandmaturity.Helistenedattentivelyandgavefeedbacktoshowheunderstoodtheinformationbeinggiven.Hiswritingskillsweregoodbuthishandwritingwasattimesdifficulttoread.

ThinkingSkills
Creativethinking / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / N/A
Decisionmaking / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / N/A
Problemsolving / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / N/A
Knowinghowtolearn / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / N/A
Reasoning / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / N/A
Monitoringcorrectingperformance / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / N/A
Comments:

[STUDENT]wasanindependentandcreativethinker.Duringcasualconversationheconsistentlyhadoriginalandinsightfulinput.Hehadagreatrespectforauthorityandahighdegreeofprideinhisperformanceatworkandonthedorm.Oncegiveninstructionstaffcouldhavetotalconfidenceinhisabilitytocompleteatask.Herarelyneededinstructionsrepeatedandusedhisownreasoningskillstocompletehisworkinthemostefficientmannerpossible.Atworkhewasgivenfilingassignmentsthatwereestimatedtotakeaweekandhehadcompletedtheminjusttwodays

PersonalQualities
Responsibility / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / N/A
Self-esteem / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / N/A
Sociability / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / N/A
Self-management
(Includingtimemanagement) / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / N/A
Integrity/honesty / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / N/A
Participatesasateammember / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / N/A
Exercisesleadershipskills / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / N/A
Acceptsconstructivecriticism / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / N/A
Organizesinformationmaterials / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / N/A
Comments:

[STUDENT]wasagreatteammemberatwork.Heconfidentlyintroducedhimselftohissupervisorsandfellowemployeesandofferedassistancetoallofthem.Hewaswillingtotakeonanytaskandoncecompletedheimmediatelysoughtouthisnextassignment.Oftentimeshissupervisorswereoutoftownornotintheofficeso[STUDENT]tooktheinitiativetoformrelationshipswithotherworkers inhisdepartment.Throughtheserelationshipsheexpandedhisworkexperienceandfilledtheslowtimeswithextraassignments.Hisjobcoachreiteratedtohimtheimportanceofexplaininghisvisualimpairmenttotheemployeesgivinghimworkassignmentsandhewasveryreceptivetothisadvice.Hisselfesteemwashighbuthisdesiretopleasesometimeslead[STUDENT] tobeoverlycriticalofhimself.Hestoodoutasaleaderamongsthispeersbyactingasarolemodelandofferingguidanceandassistancewhereeverneeded.Hewaswelllikedbyallofhispeers.

Technology

Usesappropriatetechnology / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / N/A
Appliestechnologytotask / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / N/A
Maintainstroubleshootstechnology / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / N/A
Comments:

[STUDENT]usedacomputeronthedormtoregularlycheckworkrelatedemails.

III.OverallJob