Guest guest Posted November 14, 2011 Report Share Posted November 14, 2011 That’s great, that Walgreens Office Max and others are providing trainers from their companies in addition to whatever staff Turning Pointe will have full-time to present the curriculum in a way that the students/clients understand. Here are more questions: 1. Will there be screening procedures you use to ‘admit’ candidates with certain skillsets/abilities right off the bat? Am thinking of a typical college or trade school where you need to take tests, present evidence of certain skills (reading abilities, social/communication competencies, provide references etc?) What are the requirements to enter this new training program for candidates? 2. Should families/candidates look at this as a one-year program? You take the classes, do the internship, and then either get offered a job or you don’t, but then you’re done, correct? 3. Can you provide more info about the jobs that have been developed. We’ve all been in a Walgreens store & know how employees there are expected to multi-task. I remember saying they wanted to create some new kinds of jobs – did that happen? Job titles, will these be behind the scenes or out with customers on the floor of a store, etc? Full time/part time? Both? Approx. how many? Just a ballpark would be great. 4. Lastly, WHEN will these jobs become available? And will only the people who sign up with Turning Pointe be considered for whatever openings there will be? Sorry for so many questions, but this is a brand-new concept and it’s kind of hard to understand. At least for me. Thanks for your thorough answers to the posts so far. I’m sure the group is learning a lot. Laurie From: chris s Sent: Monday, November 14, 2011 7:47 PM IPADDUnite Subject: Re: Question for Chris The goal of the program is to generate qualified candidates for career opportunities with the companies we partnered with. We also look at how to build skills geared towards independent living, organization, social communication, self advocacy and lifelong learning. The idea of the training environment is to prepare the individual for the position with the company. Emmet and Walgreens distribution in Carolina have seen great success by using this training model and have been able to place people within their company. There were over 100 people with disabilities placed in the distribution center by creating a disability outreach program. This training model was developed specifically so companies are able to have qualified candidates to place. This model is not intended to be inclusive to individual with disabilities. Walgreens has used this model in South Carolina for training purposes for employees with and without disabilities. The ultimate goal is to employ all candidates and support them within their employment but employment can unfortunately never be guaranteed. The skills and tasks are taught by Turning Pointe, Office Max and Walgreens employees. Both corporations want to have part in the training process so the candidates will understand the philosophy of the companies and learn from the managers they will report to. This program is not meant to segregate candidates out of society but to effectively and successfully include individuals into the competitive workforce and their community. We are interested in providing a place where individuals can build on their independence. Simler Owner/Consultant Integrated Behavioral Systems, Inc. www.integratedbehavioralsystems.com Director of Career Development Turning Pointe Autism Foundation www.turningpointeaf.org Cell Phone Number: 630-212-2249 From: ELLEN BRONFELD <mailto:egskb%40sbcglobal.net> Subject: Question for Chris mailto:IPADDUnite%40 Date: Monday, November 14, 2011, 10:06 PM Hi Chris: I was wondering about what the ultimate goal of the program is? Getting job skills is great but is there a guarantee of employment? For that kind of money, do you help with job placement? Who helps with generalization of skills to the real work setting? It is my experience, at least with my son who has autism, that he learns best in the setting in which he will be working. He gets bored in " manufactured " environments and in fact, the skills don't transfer very well... I appreciate that these companies are helping in some way, but wouldn't it be more practical for these companies to provide employment opportunities in their businesses, with the support that is needed to make each individual successful? I feel as though we are going backwards in terms of segregated learning environments...at the end of the day...where is this going? Please don't interpret this as hostile...I am just very concerned about how we include and integrate individuals into the mainstream of society and build acceptance from the outside...I am not understanding how this happens at Turning Pointe in the segregated classroom, or in this new endeavor...help me understand it. Thanks. Ellen Ellen Garber Bronfeld mailto:egskb%40sbcglobal.net Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 14, 2011 Report Share Posted November 14, 2011 The questions today have been great and I realize this is a new concept and very different. I have been working with Emmett for the last few years on this concept and it has taken just as long to build. We are looking at new and innovative ways to place people. We are concerned and want to provide each individual an opportunity in the community setting. 1.      There will be an intake process for each candidate. This process is still in a development phase. The process looks at Social Communication, behavior and assesses the curriculum that Drew has posted. We are looking at way to receive a greater understanding of each person but also understand where the need is for assistance and guidance. Every individual is unique and the screening process will define were they fit within the program. There are 2 components to the program one where the courses develop and build on self advocacy, self determination, independent living, social communication, lifelong learning and life skills. The second component will be the training environments with the companies that we have partnered with. We do plan to align with new corporations to meet the different needs of individuals we are working with. 2.      We see it from an individualized standpoint. Each person will need different time spans within the center. Some may need 5 months and others may need 1.5 years. The program is designed to reach the goal of independence in both the life skills and training curriculum. We feel to reach the goal of independence will be different for all involved. There will be job coaches once the individual is placed. Our plan is to support our candidates through the entire process. 3.      The positions will be both part/full time. The exact number has not yet been identified. The position offered at Office Max and Walgreens retail is a customer position (Cashier, stocking, computer services, expiration date rotation, unloading trucks, ribboning and/or facing). Each store we have learned treats these positions differently some will have to multi-task and other individualize each position. Office Max Distribution the candidates will be working on the line performing many different jobs (Returns, shipping, picking, packing and shipping) 4.      The openings will come as each store needs new employees. This part is hard to guarantee but we do have the access to the stores in the greater Chicago area not just Naperville. The plan once again is to roll this out through the state of Illinois and nationally allowing us greater opportunities for job placement. Office Max and Walgreens will continue to hire people outside of Turning Pointe but their main choice would be Turning Pointe because of the partnership and we can guarantee the candidates our qualified and immediately ready to be placed. This also helps lesson the overall costs for training that is typically done for each new hire in a traditional format.  Thank you again Laurie and everyone else involved!! Simler                                         \                                         \                                         \                               Owner/Consultant                                \                                         \                                       Integrated Behavioral Systems, Inc. www.integratedbehavioralsystems.com  Director of Career Development Turning Pointe Autism Foundation www.turningpointeaf.org  Cell Phone Number: 630-212-2249      From: ELLEN BRONFELD <mailto:egskb%40sbcglobal.net> Subject: Question for Chris mailto:IPADDUnite%40 Date: Monday, November 14, 2011, 10:06 PM Hi Chris: I was wondering about what the ultimate goal of the program is? Getting job skills is great but is there a guarantee of employment? For that kind of money, do you help with job placement? Who helps with generalization of skills to the real work setting? It is my experience, at least with my son who has autism, that he learns best in the setting in which he will be working. He gets bored in " manufactured " environments and in fact, the skills don't transfer very well... I appreciate that these companies are helping in some way, but wouldn't it be more practical for these companies to provide employment opportunities in their businesses, with the support that is needed to make each individual successful? I feel as though we are going backwards in terms of segregated learning environments...at the end of the day...where is this going? Please don't interpret this as hostile...I am just very concerned about how we include and integrate individuals into the mainstream of society and build acceptance from the outside...I am not understanding how this happens at Turning Pointe in the segregated classroom, or in this new endeavor...help me understand it. Thanks. Ellen Ellen Garber Bronfeld mailto:egskb%40sbcglobal.net Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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