Vocational Evaluations - DOC

							                  Vocational Evaluations
Purpose
Desirable Program Characteristics
Effective Referral
                            Purpose
• Assess client’s vocational
  – Aptitudes
  – Interests
  – Behavior
• In order to determine
  – Potential employment goals
  – Services needed to achieve them
The vocational evaluation

• describe current level of social, educational, psychological, and
  physiological functioning;
• provide a detailed analysis of client vocational functioning;
• estimate the individual's potential for behavior change and/or
  skill acquisition;
• identify a client's most effective learning style;
Vocational evaluation, con’t
• identify jobs the client could do without additional vocational
  services;
• identify educational or special training programs that might
  increase vocational potential;
• identify feasible jobs for the client with further vocational
  services; and
• identify community support services that might augment job
  retention following successful client placement.
   The purpose of vocational evaluation is to
facilitate the client's self-understanding of his or
         her current functional capacities.
                                Considerations
• Do you have enough information to proceed with the planning process.
    – Feasible vocational objectives
    – Available services
• Is there an appropriate program available?
• Does your client express interest in participating in a vocational
  evaluation?
• Is your client’s condition stable enough to allow for accurate assessment
  of vocational potential?
                           Choosing a Provider
                                Evaluation Staff
•   use and interpretation of work samples,
•   behavioral observation
•   analysis in work related settings,
•   specialized individual and group psychometric tests,
•   Computerized versions tests/reference material
•   client satisfaction

Evaluation Staff, con’t
• interpreting and synthesizing evaluation data, and
• developing comprehensive written evaluation reports

Desirable Characteristics
•   wide variety of instruments (interest inventories, aptitudes)
•   verbal and performance (standardized and criterion referenced)
•   low and high functioning levels
•   work samples
•   Simulated/situational
•   on-the-job evaluations
                    Desirable Characteristics, con’t
• Able to effectively address
    –   Test anxiety
    –   Learning styles
    –   Effects of specific conditions (accommodations and non-standard administration)
    –   Culture (value of work, meaning of disability)
    –   Gender
    – Reading level, language proficiency
    – Reliability, validity, representative norms
                               Evaluation Plan
• Start with referral questions
• Identify tools and techniques to be used to gather the necessary
  information
                   A comprehensive evaluation
•   reason for referral,
•   disability information,
•   behavioral observations and their vocational significance,
•   results of tests and work samples,
•   information pertinent to daily living or social functioning,
•   a summary statement of assets and limitations,
•   recommendations
                Checklist to evaluate the report
•   Does the report respond to the referral questions?
•   Are the rehab planning implications of the report clear?
•   Are the recommendations well documented?
•   Are there inconsistencies between data and recommendations?
Checklist, con’t
• Are there inconsistencies among results of different
  evaluations?
• Are the recommendations specific and realistic?
• Are the training and employment recommendations consistent
  with local opportunities?
• Is the report brief but concise?

                   Making an Effective Referral
• Consider both the characteristics of the client and the
  characteristics of the available vocational evaluation program
    – Typical consumer
    – Primary emphasis
    Ask around, visit evaluation sites, talk to clients who have been through
      the process,
                         Client preparation
•   Review purpose of evaluation
•   Discuss confidentiality/release of information
•   provide information about process
•   Address client anxiety
•   set realistic expectations for results
•   generate specific referral questions
•   opportunity to assess client satisfaction

                     Information to Evaluator
• Social
• Vocational
• Educational
• Medical/Psychological
• Potential objectives
To eliminate unnecessary procedures
To include all relevant information
Occupational Resources
•   General Aptitude Test Battery (GATB)
•   Minnesota Importance Questionnaire (MIQ),
•   Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH)
•   Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT).
•   Guide for Occupational Exploration (GOE)
•   VDARE - Vocational/Diagnostic Assessment of Residual
    Employability