Rich & Tim's Second Meeting

Reviewing the Vocational Evaluation

Tim: Hi Rich. Come on in.

Rich: Hi.

Tim: Well, we finally got back the report on your Voc Eval from Medallion.  How was the evaluation for you?  Did everything seem to go OK?

Rich: Sure.  Everything seemed fine.

Tim: Do you feel like you have any better ideas about what kind of job you would like to look for?

Rich: Not really.  We talked about some stuff, like sales or manager, or maybe something involving music. I told them I thought computers might be interesting.

Tim: Hmm... but nothing really jumped out at you, huh? Let's go over the report and see what they suggested.  Just looking at the beginning of the report here, they see your motivation to work as a good strength. But they felt like your academic skills were kind of weak and, depending on the job you choose, you might need some basic adult education to improve those.  In the Academics part of the report, it looks like your lowest skills were in writing and in math, so we will need to be aware of that.

Based on all of that, it also looks like they didn't think office skills were going to be a strength for you. So an office job might be a real challenge for you... The Vocational Interest tests should give us a better sense of some jobs that might be interesting to you. The results show your interest in computer training, but the specific occupation they mention in the first part is sales or stock clerk.  Your Career Assessment results mention several sales-type jobs... buyer, travel agent, pharmacy technician, insurance agent. You don't seem to have any interest in arts or in mechanical work... And it says you don't like school coursework.  Would you say that's right?

Rich: Yeah, I didn't like going to school.  I have a learning disability, and the teachers really don't usually know how to teach in a way that I can learn well.  Everything goes so fast.  I can learn it if they just go slow, but... And I don't like all the tests and such.

Tim: OK.  Well that is a good thing for us to keep in mind. And this last part of the vocational interest section says that social service jobs would be a possibility, and they recommend you look into that or a sales job. So we have several pointers there for a sales or sales-related job that you might want to explore. The learning style section says you prefer to work in small groups of students rather than by yourself, and you like to have things explained to you or shown to you rather than to read them.  Does that fit with your experience?

Rich: Yes.

Tim: Now the aptitude tests didn't turn up any strong similarities between you and any job types.  That doesn't mean you can't do any job, it just means that, looking at the types of personalities that tend to show up in these particular job categories, you don't have that kind of personality.  It is not a problem for us, but sometimes these can give a sense of direction. So, overall, what I'm seeing here says that sales would probably be a potential career area for you to examine.  You have some interests and strengths in clerical or office work, but you also have some limitations with finger dexterity, math abilities, ability to interpret patterns, and ability to learn new tasks quickly. The most specific job recommendation they had was a stock clerk or a similar job.  And, looking back at your employment history, you have done some work similar to that in the past, right?

Rich: I guess so.  That is kind of what I was doing at Discount Mart.

Tim: Was that job OK for you?

Rich: Sure. I mean, back then I needed some time off, because of stress and such, and that caused some problems because they just didn't understand. But now my medications are better... what about, like, some computer training, though?

Tim: What sort of training? Do you have a specific type of computer-related job in mind?

Rich: I just know that lots of people talk about computer jobs...

Tim: Well, Rich, there are a lot of different kinds of computer jobs, but most of those are for people who have studied computers in college.  And you sounded like you aren't interested in more school, right?

Rich: Yeah.

Tim: Also, you said you had problems with sitting a lot. Plus your scores on typing weren't very strong, and that is very important for working with computers.  Now, if there is a specific computer job that you want to try, we can try to set up a job-shadow so you can try it out, but I don't think it's really that good a choice for you. It's just my opinion. And it's the opinion of the folks at Medallion. But if you have some specific jobs you want us to consider for you, we'll take a look at them. Are there any?

Rich: No, not really.

Tim: I think, for now, we should concentrate on jobs that match your strengths and interests... which is retail sales, working with people, and something with a steady routine. You were already successful for several years doing stocking and warehouse work.  It sounds like the two biggest problems you had were getting your medication under control, which you have done now, and getting appropriate accommodations from your supervisor... and we will make sure that happens this time.  We'll get you a job coach if you need one. Or flex time.  Whatever it takes to help you be successful. OK?

Rich: OK.

Tim: Now, the most immediate recommendation the folks at Medallion had was some job readiness training, which they can provide. Those would be things like help with job interviews, help with resume writing, help with job-hunting skills.  They would be there to give you whatever support you need while you job hunt.  Does that sound like it would be useful?

Rich: Sure.

Tim: OK. Well, I can write up the IWRP to get that going. Did the funding for your transportation work out for you during the evaluation? Do we need to add anything or change anything?

Rich: No. Everything was fine.

Tim: Good. Then I'll get things set up with Anna George at Medallion and see if we can't get you signed up to start job readiness training in the next week or so. I'll let you know the exact date once I find out. That will last for four weeks, and during that you will be getting some help on job seeking skills and looking for a job. So let's see how that goes.

Rich: OK.

Tim: And I'll need you to stop by in a couple of days to review the IWRP I write for this and sign it. How is your schedule for next Tuesday around 10:30?

Rich: OK I guess. I don't think I have anything going on.

Tim: Good! Then I'll see you then.

Rich: OK.

Name of Client: Richard Marks
Contact made: [_] Home [X] Office [_] Phone [_] Other
Date: 7/11/96, 11: 30 am
Contact with: Rich

PURPOSE:

Case discussion/IWRP development.

ACTION TAKEN:

VRC met with client to discuss his recently completed vocational assessment. The client attended Medallion Enterprises for a two-week vocational evaluation and the results of his assessment finally became available to VRC. The client is cognitively challenged. He has a full scale IQ of 75 and therefore the types of employment that he can seriously consider will be limited. Client also has an undiagnosed hip condition, however, he believes that it is real and he walks with a noticeable limp. The client's posture is not good and his physical conditioning is less than average. Medallion recommended that the client return to Medallion for job readiness training and VR agrees with this recommendation. VRC discussed this with the client who was also receptive to the idea of returning to Medallion for the training to help him improve his job search skills. The client could benefit from this assistance in helping him with his interview skills as well as updating and upgrading his resume and his ability to complete employment applications, etc. VRC contacted Medallion Enterprises and scheduled the client to begin a four week period of Job Readiness Training on Monday, July 22, 1996, at 9:00 am. VR will provide the client with daily transportation assistance as well as daily noon meal lunch money during his four week program. Client will concentrate his efforts on finding employment in the retail sales business as a warehouseman or stockperson. The client had a similar job several years ago at Discount Mart and expressed an interest in getting back into that type of employment. The client does not want to work in fast food and he is unable to work in some other fields that require a higher degree of functioning.

NEXT ACTION:

 VRC will formulate a Job Readiness Training (JRT) IWRP and review it with the client and then submit for approval.

Signed: TIM STOCKNER

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