OVERVIEW OF THE CURRICULUM

The first unit, Social Skills, provides training on standard social skills such as communication skills, anger management, and conflict resolution. In addition, lessons are available on making friends and getting along with co-workers and roommates. Much of the training in this unit relies on practicing the skills to help a person become more socially competent.

The second unit, Decision-Making Skills, is short, but important. Problem-solving and decision-making skills are probably the most important skills a person can develop. Making good decisions and the ability to solve problems can make up for a lot of skill deficits. For example, a person may not know how to ride a bus to work, but the ability to solve problems may help him figure out who he needs to talk to in order to make sure he gets to work each day. This unit provides three different problem solving techniques.

Unit three, Employability, covers a wide range of skills that are necessary to retain a job. Because there are extensive resources on job readiness and job seeking available in print and on the Internet, trainers will find little information on obtaining a job. Lessons on getting to work on time, understanding standard procedures during the first few days on the job, and wearing proper attire can assist students in getting off on the right foot on the job. A lesson on sexual behavior in the workplace provides training in the areas of sexual harassment and dating co-workers. Other lessons in the unit provide an overview of standard expectations of employers regarding safety, productivity, attitude, and acting appropriately.

Unit four, Money Management, has a little more complicated material due to the nature of the skills. As mentioned earlier, basic money handling skills will not be covered. The material has been simplified as much as possible while keeping enough information in the lesson to provide comprehensive training. Standard money management topics are included such as understanding the benefits of the job, budgeting, using a bank, and using credit. Additional topics include protecting your money and staying out of debt.

Transportation is the fifth unit. Transportation covers a wide range of skills, from teaching someone to ride a bus in a step-by-step sequence to teaching someone about the process of buying a car. This unit addresses the fact that people in vocational rehabilitation settings have different skills and different financial means. A person who has limited financial resources and does not have the ability to drive would not be appropriate for training on owning a car. Training on using public transportation would be more appropriate. This unit provides an excellent example of how the training can be used to fit the needs of each individual.

Unit six, Health, provides training on maintaining a healthy lifestyle. There is a wealth of information on staying healthy. This unit gives students information that will help them avoid getting sick and perform well at work. Topics include fitness, nutrition, the problems of drug and alcohol use related to the job, and accessing and using medical services appropriately. The unit contains a lesson on how to use sick leave benefits appropriately.

Unit seven, Family Responsibilities, provides necessary information about pregnancy, securing child care and how to balance working with the responsibilities of caring for a sick, elderly, or disabled family member.

Basic Understanding of the Law is unit eight. This unit covers information that many students need to stay out of trouble at work and in society. The unit also contains information about hiring a lawyer. A final area of focus is understanding and using the laws of the Americans with Disabilities Act to receive necessary accommodations at work, in public buildings, and while using public transportation.

The last unit, Telephone Skills, provides basic training on obtaining phone numbers, getting information over the phone, and using proper phone manners when looking for a job and while on the job. There is also a lesson on making long distance phone calls.

The appendices contain information in four basic areas. First, there are several appendices that contain government documents used in the training. All of these documents are public domain and availble on the Internet. Instead of the actual documents, links to the sites to obtain these forms are provided.  

Second, appendix H contains reviews of educational materials on the market. Due to the cost of ordering preview copies, a few products from each company were ordered to get a sampling of the overall quality of the products. Any product that was received was reviewed, and a summary and recommendation for use can be found in this section. Due to the enormous cost of some of these products, it is impractical for any one agency to purchase the materials necessary to put together a well-rounded curriculum. There are some comprehensive life skill packages available, but they tend to very expensive. Some materials cost $1,000 or more. The resource directory is intended to provide the reader a review of the materials so he/she can make a more informed decision.

Third, appendix I includes companies that sell life skills training products. Although this list is not comprehensive, it will provide trainers a list of companies to contact if they are interested in obtaining a catalog to purchase life skill educational materials.

Finally, appendix J contains links to WEB pages related to vocational rehabilitation, disability, and life skill training materials.

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