Charting the Cs: Cooperation, Communication and Collaboration. Statewide Professional Development to Support the Workforce and Low Incidence Disability Areas. Charting the Cs Conference 2024. Customized Employment and Visual Resumes Presented by: Margie Webb, MS, CRC, Customized Employment Specialist for MN Vocational Rehabilitation Services What is Customized Employment Customized employment (CE) is an interest-based negotiation between the job seeker and employer. CE is a process that allows individuals with disabilities and employers the opportunity to negotiate job tasks and/or reassign job duties to improve overall contribution in the workplace. For employers, customized employment allows an employer to examine its specific workforce needs and fulfill those needs with an employee’s specific skills. Customized Employment in a “Nutshell” Customized Employment (CE): An alternative approach to the competitive employment process Originally created for those with the most significant challenges to find employment, but can be used for anyone including yourself Typically, more time intensive – truly person-centered and focused on individuals = 1 person at a time Elements of Customized Employment Negotiated job tasks with employer Assumes all people can contribute-not are “ready” to work Employee often requires less supports than anticipated Job tasks are grouped and designed for one individual Employment meets the: Tasks, skills of job seeker Ideal conditions of job seeker Individual interests Customized Employment Phases Discovery Components Home visit Interviews with people who know the individual Neighborhood Information gathering Participation in Life Activities both familiar 3-4 and one new Theme development-reoccurring, unifying patterns Discovery Components Cont. Theme testing-making sure vocational themes meet 3 components of skills, interests, and conditions of employment Information interviews with businesses that match themes-not jobs Development of Visual Resume, video or marketing materials Summary team meeting to develop CEP-Customized Employment plan for employment 3-Legged Stool Customized Employment finds: The skills of the job seeker The interests of the job seeker The ideal conditions for the job seeker Focusing on a person’s strengths: What they do and how they contribute Timing of Discovery Individual is stable so we get accurate information Team is on board with the process If individual needs supported employment those supports are available or person has funding access Individual allows for engagement with others Who is a good candidate for Discovery An individual with significant impact of disability who requires CE A person traditional placement has not been successful A person who has communication challenges People with significant intellectual abilities When other methods of planning are not leading to employment When there is a lack of information, employment experience, skill/interest knowledge An individual who cannot complete job descriptions, but completes sspecific tasks Person who can accommodate 8-10 weeks of Discovery process Funding for Customized Employment Waivers-check with county case manager Vocational Rehabilitation Services VRS requires all providers to obtain certification Certification includes 40-hour course certificate & pass a Competency Review Process (submitting an approved work sample and visual resume/marketing materials) Private pay Why We Create Visual Resumes Breaks down biases and barriers Shows skills that do not translate from a paper resume It’s a low stress way of bragging about skills (non-verbal, slow processing, interviewing is high stress) Traditional resumes do not work for many of our job seekers (lacking references, experience and previous job loss) Types of Visual Resumes PowerPoint Video resume Pictures of actions Portfolio- Examples of completed work Key Components of Visual Resumes Cover page- portrait photo & name Skills & attributes page Quality photos- 3-5 photos of task engagement Where I am at my best page- ideal conditions Potential contributions Conclusion/contact page Typically, 8-12 pages Coyote Gym An employee who will get the job done! Snow Removal Shovel Operate snow blower Check oil & gas, add any fluids I’m at my Best when.. Working outdoors Work materials are accessible to me, in my area Completing physical tasks Contributing to preserve our natural environment Reusing or repurposing items and materials to minimize waste Working on my own or in a small group with few public interactions required Ice Fishing Use hand ice auger Set up depth finder Set up fish locater Tie jigs on lines Catch fish Fillet & eat fish Tree Pruning at Three Rivers Checking trees for disease by inspecting the bark Removing damaged limbs Trimming branches that have grown into trail areas Removing debris from trails Pruning extra growth to promote health in trees and shrubs in the park Skills and Attributes Artistic Follows directions Gets assignments completed Eye for detail Safety conscious Trained in First Aid & CPR Attained rank of Eagle Scout Checks and maintains equipment Environmentally conscious Enjoys being outdoors Designs and crafts hand made gifts Eagle Scout Project Planned Pier Nature Observation deck Obtained donations from Lowes Planned pier project Organized scout crew for construction Built nature pier at the Marine on St. Croix in Stillwater Engine Maintenance Unscrew drain bolt Drain oil Refill oil to full Unscrew plug to drain oil Refill to full Snowshoe trail tour at Lebanon Hills Snowshoe 1.5-mile trail Coyote pointed out various tree types by name Found matching set of deer antlers just off the trail lying in the snow Picture of Coyote in the lodge with the antlers, which he donated to the nature center for education purposes Wood burning Practice and warm up board Use electric wood burning tool to create intricate wood nature sketches Manipulate tool to create sketch patterns Apply protective coating on wood Canoe paddle Coyote made as a gift for his father Pencil Sketching Deck Construction Load and unload materials for deck construction into shop Measure deck boards for cutting Assemble metal support brackets by inserting and tightening bolts Screw decking boards to base Contributions to Your Business Plant, tree, nature identification Safety skills, first aid training Use of small hand & power tools Trim, prune, extract invasive trees, bushes, and shrubs Physical strength and stamina in all weather conditions Operate, maintain lawn & snow equipment Load, unload, move raw materials Pencil drawings, wood burning Accurately measure lengths Eye for detail and observations Explore employment options with Coyote! Please contact my assistant Margie Webb Margie.webb@state.mn.us 612-799-8776 Closing Slide, Thank you! Margie Webb, MS, CRC, Customized Employment Specialist for MN Vocational Rehabilitation Services, margie.webb@state.mn.us