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Planning for Successful Employment


 Welcome back as we continue to discuss Employability Skills and the Local Industry standards. We will continue to look at ways you can support your individual NOW for competitive employment. We will pick back up looking at Workplace Tolerances. 



Physical Abilities and Workplace Tolerances: Demonstrate Work Stamina for at least 4 Hours

Competitive part-time employment typically has a minimum of four hours per shift. This is why this standard was set the way it was. After four hours is when a lunch or longer break can be given. In addition, part-time employment is typically preferred by Vocational Rehabilitation. 


Family Practice Ideas: 

  1. Encourage enjoyable physical activity for 30 minutes 3-5 days a week. 

  2. Keep an 80/20 nourishing diet as possible. 

  3. Encourage hydration with water and electrolytes. 

  4. Limit screen time, I know, I know. But, there is quite a bit of evidence connecting screen time, attention and sleep. Here is a supporting article from Penn State. 

  5. Encourage good sleep hygiene. Good sleep hygiene includes keeping generally the same bedtime and wake time daily, even on weekends as you are able, and stopping screen time 1-2 hours before bed. 


School Practice Ideas:

  1. Encourage limited screen time as possible. 

  2. Encourage movement of some sort through senior year as possible. 

  3. Encourage the extinguishing of extra breaks when possible. 

  4. Enroll students in work programs as they are available and get students towards two hours of work as the school schedule allows. 



How can you and your individual’s IEP team begin using these ideas now? Check back in the next blog for the next installment of how you can begin supporting your individual now for competitive employment. 

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