Finally, a glimmer of hope.

Time continued to tick away. August 2007 – Jessica had just turned 20. It was to be her next to the last year of school. Although getting “fired” from the 7 week Work Adjustment Training Program (because of the nature of her disability) was beyond discouraging, we had to pick ourselves back up and continue to put one foot in front of the other.

We were not giving up and had a plan for the upcoming school year which included:

IEP Goals for 2007-2008

• Develop desirable work habits
• Improve social skills by exhibiting age appropriate behavior
• Increase communication skills
• Participate in adaptive P.E. class
• Increase ability to use numbers and money
• Maintain and increase Braille reading and writing skills
• Increase assistive technology skills

Figuring out what Jess wanted to do with her life was not a mystery. For many years, Jessica had been able to readily verbalize what kind of job she wanted. She wanted to be a caregiver (like her mama.) She loved trying to help people who felt bad get better. Jessica loved soothing, patting and sweet talking. We just had to keep working toward developing the right skills and find a location to practice them.

Transition Service Plan (4/2007) Click here to see the entire transition plan

• Jessica wants to be a caregiver
  • Explore Job Options
• Post Secondary Training as a Voc Rehab Client
  • On-Job Training to increase work skills
• Goal is to be gainfully employed as a caregiver in the local community.
  • Jessica will attempt part-time employment as a caregiver in several settings.
    
• Jessica wants to live as independently as possible
  • Count Money
  • Participate in social functions
  • Manage a household
  • Study Public Transportation
  • Dress appropriately for job interviews
  • Give appropriate job interview answers
• Course of Study based on Present Level of Performance and Age Appropriate Transition: CBVI work program, Vocational Rehab program, Special Ed Diploma
  • Increase functional academics

Meaningful Work

Believing Jessica was capable and hoping to accommodate her desire to be a caregiver, her teacher explored volunteer options at local healthcare facilities. As part of Community Based Vocational Instruction (CBVI), he took her to a nursing home which was close to the CBVI bus route, and together they filled out an application to be a volunteer and then talked to the director of the facility.

Luckily, the director was a kind, loving, and caring individual who understood what we were trying to accomplish long-term. Our goal was to carve out a job that would fulfill Jessica’s desire to be a caregiver, but at the same time be an asset to the facility and clients/patients. We wanted to teach Jess appropriate work behaviors and habits, help her get to know co-workers, and work toward independence in the workplace. It would be an opportunity to practice all of those things in a real life setting. Specific training on a specific job site.

Before Jessica could be a volunteer at a healthcare facility, she had to do what other healthcare workers and volunteers do which is get a TB skin test, and go through a HIPPA class. She went through the class with her teacher, who summed it up very well to her with practice question and answer sessions with the phrase “none-ya” as the answer. It was actually quite hilarious because we got a lot of “none-ya” answers about all kids of things at home too. (She enjoyed saying that very much and still uses that phrase now.)

A Legit Volunteer

After fulfilling all the pre-requisites, we got the exciting news. Jess was approved to be a volunteer at a nursing home in the community. We were so thrilled! The next step would be to develop a plan.

• When would she start?
  
• How many days per week?
• How many hours per day?
• What would her responsibilities be?
• Who would go with her to the nursing home to teach, guide, and supervise?

and

• How fast could we go get her a nursing uniform, because she decided she needed one IMMEDIATELY 🙂

Could it be possible that her dream of being a caregiver was finally coming true?