Classroom Topics Covered

1
ANNUAL SPECIAL EDUCATION CONFERENCE Airport
Marriott Hotel Nashville February 28,
2008 Visit us at www.mc.vanderbilt.edu/projecto
pportunity
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Making the Link

• Working-age individuals with disabilities have
  the highest unemployment rate of any other
  demographic.
• High turnover in entry-level, highly repetitive
  positions creates a business need at Vanderbilt
  Medical Center.

3
Our Ultimate Goal Fill a business need using
qualified employees with disabilities
Saras UNOFFICIAL goal Facilitate the
development of competent self advocates who are
productive and happy citizens of their community
4
Participant Criteria

• VR eligible Priority Category 1
• 18-22 years old
• Desire to be employed in the community
• Be willing to access transportation options
• Have appropriate social, grooming, and hygiene
  skills
• Have independent toileting and feeding skills
• Able to pass a drug screening and felony check
• Have updated immunizations

5
An IDEAL Candidate.

• Desires and seeks independence
• Is willing to access transportation options
• Accepts and improves from constructive feedback
• Participates in chores at home
• Communicates needs and preferences effectively

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Key Components

• This program provides a package of individualized
  on-site work experiences for young adults with
  disabilities.
• Rotations are designed to teach transferable
  skills through meaningful tasks in a variety of
  areas.
• In addition to job experience, students also
  build skills in communication, employability, and
  problem solving.
• Students are given tools to make realistic career
  choices and empowerment to seek meaningful
  employment at Vanderbilt or elsewhere.

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Classroom Curriculum

• Fire Safety
• Hospital Safety
• Protective Equipment
• Dress Code
• Communication
• Money Skills
• Resume Development
• Workplace Behavior
• Self Advocacy
• Independence!

8
What are Rotations?

• Parts of existing jobs (specific tasks) at
  Vanderbilt Medical Center
• Designed to teach transferable skills
• Taught by Project Opportunity staff with
  consistent job coaching support
• Practiced in the classroom but actually conducted
  on-site throughout the Hospital among regular
  employees

9
Example RotationsMail Processing/Delivery

• Open and date Books From Birth program
  registration forms
• Sort applications by county
• Operate combination lock to retrieve mail for
  clinic offices
• Deliver to at least 30 different mail boxes

10
Example RotationsChecking Champs

• Gathering supplies (cart, boxes of champs, etc)
• Navigating hospital
• Accessing utility areas (operating combination
  lock, interacting with nurses/professionals)
• Inventory
• Stocking

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Example Rotations Stocking Sneeze Stations

• Accessing materials in Environmental Services
  maintenance area
• Re-stocking supplies when appropriate
• Cleaning and sanitizing sneeze station area
• Navigating hospital, including riding two
  different sets of elevators
• Driving cart throughout hospital!

12
Example Rotations Oxygen Tank Delivery

• Handling hazardous materials per hospital
  protocol (trained directly by Respiratory
  Therapy)
• Identifying rooms with empty and full tanks
• Reading and interpreting meters on individual
  tanks
• Supplying full tanks for two Service Centers
• Driving cart throughout hospital!

13
Example RotationsTransport Infection Control

• Cleaning/sanitizing wagons according to hospital
  protocol
• Wayfinding
• Attention to detail
• Interacting with hospital personnel
• Operating pressure washer/cleaning chemicals
• Wearing protective equipment

14
Example RotationsSterile Processing

• Wearing appropriate protective garb
• Using computer to log surgical instruments into
  database
• Disassembling surgical kits directly from
  operating rooms
• Sorting and prewashing instruments according to
  hospital protocol
• Operating sterilization equipment

15
The Leap to Employment

• When appropriate, student intern begins the job
  search
• Jobs are NOT created or carved. student interns
  fill existing openings
• Student interns participate in interviews with
  coaching, as necessary
• Once placed, job coaching fades but follow up
  continues
• Employment Coordinator facilitates the
  development of natural supports

16
Project Opportunity works...and worksand works
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In our first two years

• 15 interns have graduated from the training
  program
• 13 were placed into regular positions at
  Vanderbilt Medical Center upon graduation
• 9 are currently employed in full or part-time
  regular positions

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Placement Challenges

• Moms and Dads
• Transportation
• Transitioning from student life to work life
  (typical problems!)
• Making new employee orientation accessible to our
  students
• Encouraging appropriate behavior of the
  DEPARTMENTS as well as our students
• Acknowledging square pegs in round holes