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Three Steps to Employment

We have broken down the steps to employment into three bite size modules that take 30 minutes each to complete. Watch the trailers below and read more about all of our Side by Side modules here.

Step 1. Thinking About Employment

This module will help you to think more about the employment.  The module will explain obstacles that might make it difficult to find a job, as well as the benefits and importance of employment.  This module features presentations from a range of leading professional and self-advocates, including Fredda Rosen, Steve Dymond, and Jack Pearpoint.

After finishing this module, you will be able to:

– Understand the obstacles that might make it difficult for you to find a job.

– Explain the many benefits and the importance of employment,

– Discuss whether employment is something you would like to think about more.

Step 2. Types of Employment

If you are thinking about employment, it is good to know that there are lots of different options and different ways that you can start work.  This module explains the following types of employment: unpaid work, paid employment, customized employment, and sef-employment.

This module features presentations from a range of leading professions and self advocates including: Fredda Rosen, Katrina Reese, Steve Dymond, and Brad Goldman.

After completing this module, you will be able to:

– Understand the benefits and risks of unpaid work.

– Describe what paid employment is.

– Explain what customized employment is and how it is different from traditional employment.

Step 3. Finding and Keeping Employment

This module will explain how you can find and keep employment.

This module features presentations from a range of leading professionals and self-advocates including Jack Pearpoint, Harvey Pacht, Rachel Pollack, and Fredda Rosen.

After completing this module, you will be ale to:

– Understand who can help you to find employment and how they can help you.

– Explain the importance of the discovery process and the need to plan with others.

– Describe the process of applying and interviewing for employment.

– Explain how you can keep a job once you have found one.

 

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Difficult Families?

What can we learn from the families we support and work with?

This video is a celebration of families and what we can learn from them. The moving and thoughtful words of the families who made this video will help you to learn from the experience and understand the perspectives of the families that you work with.

New module here!

 

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Five Things You Can Do

“Five Things You Can Do,” is a list of things you can think about and do when you are supporting a person whose behavior is troubling you.

This is not a list of “quick fix” strategies for stopping unwanted behavior. It is a list of ideas for uncovering the real things that a person might need so that you can be more supportive.

This module includes video presentations from David Pitonyak and Peter Leidy.

On successful completion of this module, you will be able to

– Explain the importance of getting to know the person.

– Understand that all behavior is meaningful.

– Describe the need for people to have a support plan.

– Consider your own support needs.

– Explain why we should always assume competence.

Learn more about all of our modules here.

The largest part of David Pitonyak’s work involves meeting people who are said to exhibit “difficult behaviors.”  Most of these people exhibit difficult behaviors because they are misunderstood and/or because they are living lives that don’t make sense.  Of they are lonely, powerless, or without joy.  Often they feel devalued by others or lack the kinds of educational experiences that most of us take for granted.  Too often their troubling behaviors are the result of an illness, or even a delayed response to traumatic events.  You might say their behaviors are “messages” which can tell us important things about their lives.  Learning to listen to the person’s difficult behaviors is the first step in helping the person to find a new (and healthier) story.

Peter Leidy has been learning from people with disabilities since 1983.  Leidy is a consultant, facilitator, listener, learner, improviser, and speaker who focuses on personalized supports and community membership for people with disabilities.  Leidy promotes positive support, inclusion, building healthy relationships and thinking differently about people who are called “challenging.”